About
ecoinvent is the world's leading life cycle inventory (LCI) database, designed to support science-based environmental assessments across industries and sectors. With more than 26,000 peer-reviewed datasets in its latest release (version 3.12), the database covers a vast range of sectors including fuels, electricity, chemicals and plastics, waste management, metals, textiles, forestry, agriculture, transport, and batteries. Built by a mission-driven organization, ecoinvent serves a global audience of sustainability analysts, LCA practitioners, researchers, and corporate sustainability teams. Its data powers critical use cases such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), carbon footprinting and offsetting, and supply chain sustainability management. The platform offers flexible licensing—Single-User, Developer, Educational, and Enterprise—to fit the needs of individual consultants, software developers integrating LCA data via API, academic institutions, and large organizations. A robust Knowledge Base provides centralized guidance and learning resources for both new and experienced users. ecoinvent's transformation roadmap focuses on enhanced regional precision reflecting real-world supply chains, expanded data volume and update frequency, and a restructured data model for greater interoperability. Strategic partnerships, such as with Natcap for nature impact assessments, further extend its environmental intelligence capabilities. ecoinvent is the go-to data foundation for organizations committed to transparent, credible, and actionable sustainability reporting.
Key Features
- 26,000+ Peer-Reviewed Datasets: The latest version (3.12) includes over 26,000 rigorously reviewed datasets spanning energy, chemicals, metals, agriculture, transport, and more for comprehensive environmental reporting.
- Multi-Sector Coverage: Covers a wide array of sectors including fuels, electricity, plastics, waste, textiles, forestry, batteries, and pulp & paper, with continuous updates and geographic expansion.
- Flexible Licensing Tiers: Offers Single-User, Developer, Educational, and Enterprise licenses to accommodate individual practitioners, software integrators, academic institutions, and large organizations.
- API & Developer Access: Developer licensing enables programmatic access to ecoinvent data, supporting integration into LCA software, sustainability platforms, and custom environmental tools.
- Knowledge Base & User Support: A comprehensive Knowledge Base provides articles, guidance, and technical resources for new and experienced users to maximize the value of the ecoinvent database.
Use Cases
- Conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for products and manufacturing processes to quantify environmental impacts.
- Generating Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for construction materials, consumer goods, and industrial products.
- Measuring and reporting corporate carbon footprints and identifying offset opportunities across supply chains.
- Integrating peer-reviewed background LCA data into sustainability software platforms via the developer API.
- Supporting academic research and university courses on environmental science, industrial ecology, and sustainability.
Pros
- Scientifically Rigorous Data: All datasets are peer-reviewed, ensuring high accuracy and credibility for compliance, reporting, and decision-making purposes.
- Broad Sector and Geographic Coverage: Regular updates expand both sector depth and regional precision, enabling location-specific environmental analysis aligned with real-world supply chains.
- Versatile Licensing Options: Tailored plans for individuals, developers, educators, and enterprises make the database accessible to a wide range of users and budgets.
- Industry Standard for LCA: Widely recognized as the most trusted LCI database globally, making results credible and accepted for EPDs, regulatory compliance, and sustainability reports.
Cons
- Primarily a Paid Service: There is no substantial free tier; access to meaningful data requires a paid license, which may be prohibitive for small organizations or independent researchers.
- Steep Learning Curve: Effective use of the database requires prior knowledge of life cycle assessment methodology, which can be a barrier for non-specialists.
- Niche Audience: The platform is purpose-built for LCA and sustainability professionals, limiting its utility for general business intelligence or non-environmental data needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ecoinvent and who is it for?
ecoinvent is a globally trusted life cycle inventory (LCI) database used by sustainability consultants, LCA practitioners, corporate sustainability teams, researchers, and software developers who need reliable environmental data for assessments and reporting.
What is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?
LCA is a methodology for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service across its entire life cycle—from raw material extraction to end-of-life. ecoinvent provides the background inventory data needed to perform these assessments.
What sectors does the ecoinvent database cover?
The database covers a broad range of sectors including fuels, electricity, chemicals and plastics, waste management, metals, textiles, forestry and wood, agriculture, transport, pulp and paper, and batteries, with ongoing updates expanding coverage.
What licensing options are available?
ecoinvent offers four license types: Single-User (for individual consultants), Developer (for software integration via API), Educational (for universities and research institutions), and Enterprise (for large commercial organizations).
How frequently is the database updated?
ecoinvent regularly releases new versions of its database. The latest, version 3.12, continues to expand data content and geographic coverage. The organization's roadmap commits to increasing update frequency and data volume going forward.
