LCA Databases Focused on

Construction Materials

SALAN XIERZATI
SORAYYA KARIMI SISI

SUSTAINABILITY IN CONSTRUCTION
CONSTRUCTION MOUDOLE
Professor. MARCO SAVOIA
The Selected Article
Introduction

LCA Databases
The Procedures
Databases Comparison

Examples of Applications

Conclusion
The Evaluation Of LCA Databases

To facilitate the comparison of different LCA databases, six specific features and
their criteria are selected.

Scope Completeness Transparency Comprehensiveness Update Licence

Territory Variety Traceability Documentation Last Update Required?

Categories Methodology
LCA databases for construction materials

For this study, they have specifically chosen LCA databases that focus on construction
materials from a comprehensive list of over 40 available databases.

• Athena
• Eco invent American
Database • U.S. LCA
European • ELCD Database Inventory
Databases • GaBi
• Plastics Europe

• Base Carbone
• BEDEC database
National • CPM LCA
Databases
• ProBas

Other Input-
Databases Output
LCA databases

Table 3. Comparison of LCA databases based on six described features

where, – means the feature is not accomplished.
N.A. means the feature is not accessible.
+++ means the feature is completely accomplished.
++ means the feature is accomplished but could reach a higher level of completeness
 Terr.
MCDA technique 3

2
COMPR. Cat.
1
Terr.
3 0

2 Cat. Meth.
COMPR. COMPL.
1

0 Trac.
ELCD
Meth. COMPL. License ✕
Terr.
3
Trac.
2 Cat.
Ecoinvent COMPR.
1
License ✓
0

Meth. COMPL.
 When it comes to the territory criteria, one point indicates that the
database is focused on a single nation, two points on two nations, Trac.
and three points on many nations or entire continents. GaBi
License ✓
PlasticsEurope Athena
Terr.
License ✕ 3
Terr. 3 License ✓
2
COMPR.
2
Cat. COMPR. Cat.
1
1
0
0

Meth. COMPL.
Meth. COMPL.

Trac. Trac.

Terr. Terr.
3 3
2 2
COMPR. Cat. COMPR. Cat.
1 1 Base Carbone
U.S.LCI 0 0
License ✕ License ✕
Meth. COMPL. Meth. COMPL.

Trac. Trac.
 Terr.
MCDA technique 3

2
COMPR. Cat.
1
Terr.
3 0

2 Cat.
COMPR. Meth. COMPL.
1

0 Trac.

CPM LCA
Meth. COMPL.
License ✕ Terr.
3
Trac.
2
BEDEC COMPR. Cat.
1
License ✕ 0

Meth. COMPL.
 Ecoinvent and GaBi data base stand out for their completeness
 ELCD data base and PlasticsEurope have been identified as the Trac.
best free databases
ProBas
License ✕
 Eurofer(WSA)
Examples of application nuclear
hydroelectric
3%
13%

Example1: Steel fossil

84%

Em bodied ener gy and Em is s ions of s teel pr o -

ducti on f r om diff er ent LCA databas es fossil
ELCD
Embodied energy (MJ/kg) Emission (kgCo2/kg)
40
35
35

30 27.9
Ecoinvent
25
hydroelectric
4%
20
nu-
16.4 clear
15 11%
10.6
10

5 3.19 2.88
1.71 1.03 1.26 fossil
0 85%
0
Base Carbone BEDEC Ecoinvent ELCD Eurofer(WSA)
 Ecoinvent

Examples of application hydroelectric

5%
nuclear
19%

Example2: Concrete
fossil
75%

Em bodied ener gy and Em is s ions of concr ete GaBi

pr oducti on f r om diff er ent LCA databas es hydroelectric
5%
Embodied energy (MJ/kg) Emission (kgCo2/kg) nuclear
11%
0.7

0.658
0.6 0.635
0.618

0.5
fossil
0.437 84%
0.4
ELCD (PE)
0.3
hydroelectric

0.2
nuclear
0.1 0.112 0.121 0.118
0.088 0.0745
0
Base
0 Carbone BEDEC Ecoinvent ELCD (PE) Gabi

fossil
 Concrete’s embodied energy and emissions per kilogram
are much lower than steel and other materials.
 GaBi (EAA) ELCD
Examples of application hydroelectric
hydro-
electric
3%
nuclear nuclear
31%

Example3:
Aluminium fossil
67% fossil

Em bodied ener gy and Em is s ions of A lum inium GaBi (PE) Ecoinvent

pr oducti on f r om LCA databas es
hydroelectric hydro-
Embodied energy (MJ/kg) Emission (kgCo2/kg) 2% electric
nuclear 17%
180 31%

160
161.44
140 nuclear
136 17% fossil
120 fossil 66%
67%
100
U.S.LCI
80
76.7 fossil
60 100%

40 43.8

20
15.5 17.7
0 9.82 9.26 8.54 7.13
Base
0 Carbone BEDEC Ecoinvent 2.39
ELCD 0.726
GaBi (EAA) GaBi 0.891
(PE) U.S.L.CI
 Gabi ELCD
hydro-
Examples of application
hydroelectric electric
1%
nu-
clear
nuclear
12%

Example4: PVC
fossil
Em bodied ener gy and Em is s ions of PVC pr o - 86%
fossil
ducti on f r om diff er ent LCA databas es PlasticsEurope Ecoinvent
Embodied energy (MJ/kg) Emission (kgCo2/kg)
hydro- nu-
80 nu- electric clear hydro-
clear 2% 20% electric
10% 2%
70
70
67.9
60 61.1
60.9 60.9
56.2
50 53

fossil fossil
40 88% 79%

30

20

10
10.33

0 2.16 2.02 2.71 2.36 3.24 2.71 1.8

Base0 Carbone BEDEC Ecoinvent ELCD GaBi PlasticsEurope PlasticsEurope U.S.L.CI
(pipes) (resin)

 Similar values are obtained that implies a high similarity in the LCA  PlasticsEurope, which provide better documentation,
methodologies employed. transparency, and specialization in plastic materials
 Conclusion
As the most crucial factor to consider
when working with LCA, transparency,
The current study offers a starting point for and all its derived features remain
choosing an LCA database for construction decisive in this comparison.
materials.
1 2

 BEDEC and U.S.LCI, have been

adversely affected in the ranking, due
to insuffi cient documentation and Occasionally, extensive databases rely on
references. smaller databases, that tend to emerge to
 According to the features specified for generate more comprehensive data sets.
3 4
the study, Ecoinvent and GaBi Which is very positive for improving sets
Database are found to be the most by covering wider territory scope, and
comprehensive LCA databases. increase capacity in categories.
 ELCD is regarded as the best free
database, since it merges data from
several industry databases.
Thank you for your attension

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