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The Influence of Database Selection on Environmental Impact Results. Life Cycle Assessment of Packaging Using GaBi, Ecoinvent 3.6, and the Environmental Footprint Database

Author

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  • Erik Pauer

    (Section of Packaging Technology and Resource Management, University of Applied Science, 1030 Vienna, Austria)

  • Bernhard Wohner

    (Section of Packaging Technology and Resource Management, University of Applied Science, 1030 Vienna, Austria)

  • Manfred Tacker

    (Section of Packaging Technology and Resource Management, University of Applied Science, 1030 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

This research analyses the differences in impact assessment results depending on the choice of a certain software-database combination. Six packaging systems were modelled in three software-database combinations (GaBi database in GaBi software, ecoinvent 3.6 database in openLCA, Environmental Footprint database in openLCA). The chosen Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) method is EF 2.0. Differences and errors in the implementation of the LCIA method are a possible source of deviations. We compared the published characterisation factors with the factors implemented in the software-database combinations. While results for the climate change category are similar between the different databases, this is not the case for the other impact categories. In most cases, the use of the ecoinvent 3.6 database leads to higher results compared to GaBi. This is partly due to the fact, that ecoinvent datasets often include more background processes than the corresponding GaBi datasets. We found striking discrepancies in LCIA implementation, including the lack of regionalisation for water use in ecoinvent. A meaningful communication of LCIA results requires an excellent knowledge of the analysed product system, as well as of database quality issues and LCIA methodology. We fully acknowledge the constant efforts of database providers to improve their databases.

Suggested Citation

  • Erik Pauer & Bernhard Wohner & Manfred Tacker, 2020. "The Influence of Database Selection on Environmental Impact Results. Life Cycle Assessment of Packaging Using GaBi, Ecoinvent 3.6, and the Environmental Footprint Database," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:23:p:9948-:d:452496
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ricky Speck & Susan Selke & Rafael Auras & James Fitzsimmons, 2016. "Life Cycle Assessment Software: Selection Can Impact Results," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 20(1), pages 18-28, February.
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    1. Francisco Portillo & Rosa María García & Alfredo Alcayde & José Antonio Gázquez & Manuel Fernández-Ros & Nuria Novas, 2021. "Prospective Environmental and Economic Assessment of a Sensor Network," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.
    2. Marco Vacchi & Cristina Siligardi & Erika Iveth Cedillo-González & Anna Maria Ferrari & Davide Settembre-Blundo, 2021. "Industry 4.0 and Smart Data as Enablers of the Circular Economy in Manufacturing: Product Re-Engineering with Circular Eco-Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-20, September.
    3. Sileryte, Rusne & Sabbe, Arnout & Bouzas, Vasileios & Meister, Kozmo & Wandl, Alexander & van Timmeren, Arjan, 2022. "European Waste Statistics data for a Circular Economy Monitor: opportunities and limitations from the Amsterdam Metropolitan Region," OSF Preprints da6f2, Center for Open Science.
    4. Davide Rovelli & Carlo Brondi & Michele Andreotti & Elisabetta Abbate & Maurizio Zanforlin & Andrea Ballarino, 2022. "A Modular Tool to Support Data Management for LCA in Industry: Methodology, Application and Potentialities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-31, March.
    5. Rosaliya Kurian & Kishor Sitaram Kulkarni & Prasanna Venkatesan Ramani & Chandan Swaroop Meena & Ashok Kumar & Raffaello Cozzolino, 2021. "Estimation of Carbon Footprint of Residential Building in Warm Humid Climate of India through BIM," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-16, July.
    6. Brenda Miranda Xicotencatl & René Kleijn & Sander van Nielen & Franco Donati & Benjamin Sprecher & Arnold Tukker, 2023. "Data implementation matters: Effect of software choice and LCI database evolution on a comparative LCA study of permanent magnets," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(5), pages 1252-1265, October.

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