We investigate and provide LCI data for your Software
The collection of life cycle inventory (LCI) data can be time-consuming and demanding. ESU-services offers several data for life cycle assessment as well as emission factors for single indicators in electronic format in order to facilitate this work. Several customers already use this opportunity and use our data tailored to their demand.
We elaborated all datasets according to the EcoSpold v1 format, which the ecoinvent project developed. The EcoSpold format follows the guidelines of ISO 14048, and many commercial LCA software products can directly implement its XML files. The documentation transparently describes the full life cycle inventory on a unit process basis. We elaborated the data according to the methodology and quality standards applied in the ecoinvent database. Users can transfer the EcoSpold v1 data to formats used by different software products (e.g., SimaPro, openLCA, Umberto, and LCA for Experts).
Order data on demand according to your needs and questions
We sell cumulative data for 300 CHF per system process data set in SimaPro or EcoSpold format. Unit process raw data (UPR) are available for 300 CHF (exchange rates) each. We deliver the data after receiving payment. For the full modelling you need ecoinvent data and normally more than one UPR. An offer for emission factors such as the carbon footprint can be provided as well.
You can find examples of full process trees of unit process raw data below. Further information on inventory reports, prices and special discounts are available from our LCI specialists. For a detailed offer, we need to know the following:
- What are the products you would like to have data for (see full list XLS)?
- In which format do you want to get the data?
- To which ecoinvent version (v2.2 or v3.x) should the data be linked?
- Do you need system processes, unit processes, or only the results for a few indicators such as carbon footprint?
- Do you have a licence for ecoinvent data and in which programme do you use the data?
If you look for another material, you can also ask us for an offer.
Data types
| Features | LCIA results | Electronic documen-tation | System process (LCI) | Unit process (UPR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCIA indicator results | yes | no | possible | possible |
| Cumulative LCI results | no | no | yes | possible |
| Unit process raw data (UPR) | no | no | no | yes |
| Further electronic documentation in X-Process and X-Source | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Uncertainty information | no | no | no | yes |
| Full transparency | no | no | no | yes |
| Change of data for own calculations | no | no | no | possible |
| Excel format | yes | no | possible | possible |
| Excel CSV SimaPro format | no | no | yes | yes |
| XML EcoSpold format | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Html format | no | yes | possible | possible |
| Additional datasets (might be) necessary | no | no | no | yes |
Confidentiality Agreement
The purchasing company may use the data and the report solely for its internal studies. ESU-services Ltd. expressly prohibits distributing, selling, or sharing them with third parties without prior written permission in order to protect its proprietary rights. ESU-services Ltd. further prohibits disclosing any part of the original inventory data in publications or in any other form to the public.
Liability Statement
Information contained in the report and data have been compiled or arrived at ESU-services Ltd. from sources believed to be reliable. Nevertheless, ESU-services Ltd. or the authors do not accept liability for any loss or damage arising from the use thereof. Thus, using the given information is strictly your own responsibility.
Examples of LCI data
Below are some examples from our database offer. See our Excel file for a full list of all data.
| Material | Pages/Unit processes | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Datasets for operation of transport devices including elementary flows necessary for LCIA of noise emissions | About 50 datasets | Fixed price 300 CHF for all datasets necessary to update ecoinvent v2.2 data. |
| World food database | more than 1500 datasets | Electronic documentation (1995-to date) |
| Biomass-to-liquid fuels, synthetic or second generation fuels including use | about 50 | Project report |
| Textiles: T-Shirts from cotton and synthetics, distribution in shops | ca. 10 | |
| Jatropha seeds, kernel meal and oil | 8/11 | In English |
| Leather, shoes | In German | |
| Phase change materials (PCM): expanded graphite, natrium acetate | 4/5 | In English |
| Tap water in several countries, water supply network, water works | more than 10 countries | In German |
| Vanadium Pentoxide (V2O5) produced from power plant granulate or furnace slag | 27 | Abstract, see below |
Life Cycle Assessment for Vanadium Pentoxide (V2O5) from Secondary Resources
The first part of this study provides general information about vanadium production. The reserves, production volumes and uses are described. The chapter also provides an overview of the major companies in the market. The environmental impacts of vanadium pentoxide production from secondary resources are investigated in the second part, from cradle to gate in a life cycle assessment (LCA).
The first case study is based on the detailed information of one producer, which has been provided in a questionnaire. The production process uses granulate from an oil power plant, which contains about 10% vanadium. The second inventory is based on the stoichiometric calculation for chemicals used in the production process and the assumption of the electricity use, based on thermodynamic calculation. The inventory is based on the type of processing used at a power plant in Japan, where e.g. N, S and V2O5 are recovered from boiler soot (also from an oil feed power plant). About 24 to 43MJ-eq of non-renewable energy resources are used to produce one kilogram of vanadium pentoxide. Major energy uses in the life cycle arise due to the direct demand during processing and the production of required chemicals.
The environmental impacts for vanadium pentoxide may vary considerably depending on the type of raw material and the type of process used. The emission patterns are influenced by the impurities of the raw material and the chemicals used. The results of the inventory are meant to be used in LCA studies of technical products, such as batteries, where vanadium pentoxide is one of the required materials. Due to the large differences and the small database, it was not possible to calculate an average inventory for all production sites. Thus, the use of the results of the more reliable first case study is recommended. Results from the second case study, with higher environmental impacts, should be considered in a sensitivity analysis (Order and further information).
Life Cycle Assessment for Lithium and Lithium Compounds
The environmental consultancy ESU-services has investigated the environmental impacts of lithium production in a life cycle assessment (LCA) study. The first part of this study gives general information for lithium production. The resources, production and uses are described. The chapter also provides an overview of the major companies in the market.
The environmental impacts of lithium production are investigated in the second part, from cradle to gate, in a life cycle assessment (LCA). The inventory is split up into four main stages according to the intermediate products of lithium processing: concentration of lithium brine in South America, production of lithium carbonate, lithium chloride and metallic lithium. Additionally, water pumps and the production of potassium chloride are investigated for the inventory. Internal data on the environmental impacts of production processes of the two major producers of lithium were not available. Thus, the study uses mainly published information. Over 700MJ-eq of different energy resources are used to produce one kilogram of lithium.
The environmental impacts for the pre-products lithium carbonate and lithium chloride are much lower than for the metallic lithium. The mining of lithium in South American deserts could also have important local effects on the groundwater level that cannot be accounted for with the method LCA and its “global view”. The results of the inventory are meant to be used in LCA studies of technical products, such as batteries, where lithium or lithium compounds are one of the necessary materials.
