Version 3.13 of the ecoinvent database continues to expand the content and the geographical coverage of the data across various sectors. This update reflects our continued dedication to delivering transparent and comprehensive environmental data. (ecoinvent statement)

Most information can be found on the ecoinvent website:

• ecoinvent 3.13 Website
• ecoinvent 3.13 Knowledge Base

Three system models of ecoinvent 3.13 are available for openLCA: Cutoff (Allocation, cut-off by classification), APOS (Allocation at the point of substitution) and Consequential (Substitution, consequential, long-term). All databases are available as unit processes (highly recommended as the default database where the whole supply chain is visible) and system processes (fully aggregated inventories with no supply chain visible). Please note that the latest version of openLCA or newer should be used with this database. On the release date of ecoinvent 3.13 in Nexus, the latest openLCA software version is 2.7.0. You can download the latest version here: openLCA Download

You can migrate your models from previous ecoinvent versions into the newest version 3.13 by using the new openLCA Migration Tool feature: Migration Tool Manual

ecoinvent 3.13 LCIA Updates

openLCA Implementation (beyond the ecoinvent updates)

Beyond the sectorial and methods updates that directly stem from the ecoinvent Association, at GreenDelta, we also improved the implementation in openLCA for a better workflow or additional features and informations in the database. These implementations are briefly mentioned in the following.

Molar Amounts

• For flows with a CAS number provided by ecoinvent, we added the amount of substance (Mole) to the flow properties of each flow to facilitate stoichiometric modeling if wanted.
• The reference flow property remains in kg, but with the additional Mole property, practitioners can model chemical equations and synthesis processes stoichiometrically with the mol unit and all calculations will be automatically scaled to kg in the results.

Life Cycle Costing

• All processes contain the ecoinvent costs inside the quantitative reference for simple life cycle costing.
• Prices by ecoinvent are given in Euro (2005).
• The conversion to Euro (2024) is implemented as an additional exchange rate and the conversion rate from Euro (2005) to Euro (2024) is based on the Eurostat Producer Price Index.
• The reference currency is set to Euro (2024) and can be changed any time to another reference currency.
• The 8 most traded currencies are provided by us in the database with exchange rates from the IMF in 2024.

Flow Properties

• All flow properties provided by ecoinvent, like the lower heating value, water content, carbon content etc. directly into the flow description field of openLCA.

Elementary Flow UUID

• Since our ecoinvent Nexus version 3.12, all elementary flows carry the original UUID (Universal Unique Identifier) that is provided by ecoinvent, which will facilitate data exchanges with other repositories or tools.
• In version 3.11 or earlier, we always had to change some UUID numbers (ca. 3%) to our openLCA reference system. The changed UUID numbers are available on Nexus in the document section of the ecoinvent page in the file: “Elementary flows with UUID differences in v3.11 or earlier.xlsx”

There is also some implementations and optimizations by us that are the same as last year or earlier.

General

• All database validation checks pass the test.
• All ecoinvent databases are available as zolca database files and as openLCA libraries.

Processes

• All empty recycled content cut-off processes in the Cutoff system model are sorted into a separate folder.
• All recyclables with empty provider processes in the Cutoff system model are sorted into a separate folder.
• All processes include unique sector tags like “Chemicals” or “Transport” that allow sector-specific tag results.
• All processes contain the link to the official ecoQuery results at the top of the process description.

Flow Informations

• All product and elementary flows contain the CAS number, formula, synonyms and the flow description.
• All product and elementary flows contain the CAS number as a tag for the quick search by CAS numbers.
• All existing elementary flows from ecoinvent are included in the databases, even if not used inside processes or in LCIA methods.

Methods

• All 46 impact methods from the ecoinvent implementation are included.
• Every impact method has its version, documentation and characterization factor links inside the description.
• Normalization and weighting factors are added to the “EF v3.1” and the “EF v3.1 no LT” ecoinvent methods.

Data Quality

• 2 data quality systems with uncertainty values are included in the databases to support the LCA modeller.
• 6 data quality systems that do not use uncertainties are included to support the LCA modeller.

Documentation

• Important ecoinvent manual and support files are included as link inside the “Sources” of the databases.
• Links to different support topics in the ecoinvent knowledge base are included there as well.
• Links to the openLCA support websites and openLCA manuals are included under “Sources”.

Locations

• All locations are sorted into folders and harmonized with the current openLCA reference locations, so that the locations are mapped to the openLCA reference system.
• Location names inside “Country” or “Subdivisions” are corrected for their official ISO 3166 name if needed.
• Location codes inside “Country” or “Subdivisions” are corrected for their official ISO 3166 two-letter code.

Uncertainties

• Some log-normal uncertainties with triangular distributions in the exchanges had minimum values that are larger or maximum values that are smaller than the mode value. Because this is not possible, it is assumed that the minimum and maximum parameter values are exchanged by mistake and they are corrected. 

Get ecoinvent 3.13 for openLCA