Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2025

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning
Published on: March 21, 2025
A dataset of characterization factors for biodiversity impact assessment in OpenLCA and LCA for experts
Julian Quandt1,2,3, Jan Paul Lindner1, Nico Mumm1,2
1Institute for Materials Resource Management, Augsburg University, Am Technologiezentrum 8, Augsburg 86159, Germany.
Abstract:
The accelerating loss of biodiversity and ongoing ecosystem degradation rank among the most pressing global challenges today. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has emerged as a pivotal tool for evaluating the environmental sustainability of production systems; however, the integration of biodiversity impact assessments into LCA studies remains constrained by significant data gaps, limited spatial resolution, and methodological complexity. This dataset addresses these challenges by providing and integrating ready-to-use characterization factors for biodiversity impact assessment in current LCA software packages. Characterization factors (CF) were calculated for land occupation flows of three LCA databases (Agribalyse 3.1.1, Ecoinvent 3.10, and Sphera LCA For Experts) following the Biodiversity Value Increment (BVI) method. The CF are applicable at global and country level, considering both land-use intensity and location. The integration into current LCA Software packages (OpenLCA 2.1.0 and Sphera LCA For Experts), enhances accessibility for LCA practitioners, supporting more comprehensive evaluations especially in terms of biodiversity impact assessments.
Related Concept Videos
What is Biodiversity?
Habitat Fragmentation
Threats to Biodiversity
Ecological Disturbance
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Case Studies

