131
7.3.7 SimaPro and Other LCA Tools
In this chapter SimaPro is being used as an example of an LCA tool, as opposed to
the LCIA tools discussed above. SimaPro also sources data from many different
places, including the ecoinvent and USLCI databases, and the sources encompass
both process-based and IO data (PRé). More information on LCI data in SimaPro
can be found at https://simapro.com/databases/. The GaBi LCA software uses the
GaBi database, which gets information from the USLCI and ecoinvent databases
(Sphera). There is significant overlap in the data that services LCA tools aimed at
experts and LCIA tools aimed at designers, showing that these studies are built on
the same reliable LCI foundations.
7.4 Agreement in LCI Data
Across the databases, there is a lot of overlap between the data sources and specific
LCI data (Reis 2013). One example of this is the way that the GaBi database and the
USLCI database both feed into each other, which causes significant overlap in data.
Beyond that, many primary sources of the data are the same leading to very similar,
if not identical, data points. New databases are evaluated based on their general
agreements with existing, verified databases (Jolliet et al. 2015). From an outside
perspective, skepticism in the LCI data and overall LCA process can be a barrier to
designers adopting this information flow into their practices (Saunders et al. 2013).
However, an understanding of the rigor taken in collecting and ensuring the databases, in addition to the agreement across them, is a sound foundation on which
designers can build trustworthy workflow.
References
Athena Sustainable Materials Institute (n.d.) www.athenasmi.org. Accessed June 2020
Bionova (n.d.) One Click LCA. www.oneclicklca.com. Accessed June 2020
Ciroth A, Muller S, Weidema B et al (2016) Empirically based uncertainty factors for the pedigree matrix in ecoinvent. Int J Life Cycle Assess 21:1338–1348. https://doi.org/10.1007/
s11367- 013- 0670- 5
Curran MA (ed) (2012) Life cycle assessment handbook: a guide for environmentally sustainable
products. Scrivener Publishing\Wiley, Salem\Hoboken, pp 105–106, 115
ecoinvent Centre (n.d.) https://www.ecoinvent.org. Accessed July 2020
Frischknecht R, Jungbluth N, Althaus HJ, et al (2005) The ecoinvent database: overview and methodological framework. Int J Life Cycle Assess 10:3–9. https://doi.org/10.1065/lca2004.10.181.1
Grabowski A, Selke SEM, Auras R et al (2015) Life cycle inventory data quality issues for bioplastics feedstocks. Int J Life Cycle Assess 20:584–596. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367- 015- 0853- 3
Hester J, Miller TR, Gregory J et al (2018) Actionable insights with less data: guiding early building design decisions with streamlined probabilistic life cycle assessment. Int J Life Cycle
Assess 23:1903–1915. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367- 017- 1431- 7
References
7.3.7 SimaPro and Other LCA Tools
In this chapter SimaPro is being used as an example of an LCA tool, as opposed to
the LCIA tools discussed above. SimaPro also sources data from many different
places, including the ecoinvent and USLCI databases, and the sources encompass
both process-based and IO data (PRé). More information on LCI data in SimaPro
can be found at https://simapro.com/databases/. The GaBi LCA software uses the
GaBi database, which gets information from the USLCI and ecoinvent databases
(Sphera). There is significant overlap in the data that services LCA tools aimed at
experts and LCIA tools aimed at designers, showing that these studies are built on
the same reliable LCI foundations.
7.4 Agreement in LCI Data
Across the databases, there is a lot of overlap between the data sources and specific
LCI data (Reis 2013). One example of this is the way that the GaBi database and the
USLCI database both feed into each other, which causes significant overlap in data.
Beyond that, many primary sources of the data are the same leading to very similar,
if not identical, data points. New databases are evaluated based on their general
agreements with existing, verified databases (Jolliet et al. 2015). From an outside
perspective, skepticism in the LCI data and overall LCA process can be a barrier to
designers adopting this information flow into their practices (Saunders et al. 2013).
However, an understanding of the rigor taken in collecting and ensuring the databases, in addition to the agreement across them, is a sound foundation on which
designers can build trustworthy workflow.
References
Athena Sustainable Materials Institute (n.d.) www.athenasmi.org. Accessed June 2020
Bionova (n.d.) One Click LCA. www.oneclicklca.com. Accessed June 2020
Ciroth A, Muller S, Weidema B et al (2016) Empirically based uncertainty factors for the pedigree matrix in ecoinvent. Int J Life Cycle Assess 21:1338–1348. https://doi.org/10.1007/
s11367- 013- 0670- 5
Curran MA (ed) (2012) Life cycle assessment handbook: a guide for environmentally sustainable
products. Scrivener Publishing\Wiley, Salem\Hoboken, pp 105–106, 115
ecoinvent Centre (n.d.) https://www.ecoinvent.org. Accessed July 2020
Frischknecht R, Jungbluth N, Althaus HJ, et al (2005) The ecoinvent database: overview and methodological framework. Int J Life Cycle Assess 10:3–9. https://doi.org/10.1065/lca2004.10.181.1
Grabowski A, Selke SEM, Auras R et al (2015) Life cycle inventory data quality issues for bioplastics feedstocks. Int J Life Cycle Assess 20:584–596. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367- 015- 0853- 3
Hester J, Miller TR, Gregory J et al (2018) Actionable insights with less data: guiding early building design decisions with streamlined probabilistic life cycle assessment. Int J Life Cycle
Assess 23:1903–1915. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367- 017- 1431- 7
References