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Critical review of elementary flows in LCA data
Ashley Edelen1, Wesley W Ingwersen2, Cristina Rodríguez3
1Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, 37831 TN, USA.
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
|February 20, 2018
Summary
Life cycle assessment (LCA) elementary flows lack standardization, hindering data consistency and global database integration. Implementing typologies and unique identifiers is crucial for accurate LCA and data exchange.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Industrial Ecology
Background:
- Elementary flows are critical for life cycle assessment (LCA) data.
- Current data sources lack a standardized approach to elementary flow management.
- Inconsistent flows impede accurate life cycle inventory analysis and impact assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review elementary flow usage and management in LCA data sources.
- To identify challenges hindering the development of a global network of LCA databases.
- To propose solutions for improving elementary flow standardization.
Main Methods:
- Collected elementary flows from various LCI databases, LCIA methods, and LCA software.
- Developed a typology to categorize elementary flows (e.g., chemicals, minerals, land).
- Evaluated flows against twelve criteria including clarity, consistency, and uniqueness.
Main Results:
- Analyzed over 134,000 elementary flows from global sources.
- Found most flows are 'Element or Compound' or 'Group of Chemicals'.
- Identified significant deficiencies in context, directionality, identifiers, and metadata, with poor extensibility due to inconsistent nomenclature.
Conclusions:
- Current elementary flow inconsistencies complicate user selection and data creation in LCA.
- Data translation and conversion between different reference lists are challenging and lead to information loss.
- Standardization is essential for reliable LCA and interoperability of global LCA databases.
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