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MAKING LIFE CYCLE INVENTORY DATA AVAILABLE
Citation:
Curran*, M A. MAKING LIFE CYCLE INVENTORY DATA AVAILABLE. 8th European Roundtable on Cleaner Production, Cork, Ireland, 10/9-11/2002.
Description:
Making Life Cycle Inventory Data Available
Mary Ann Curran
US EPA, National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Address: 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive (MS-466)
Cincinnati, OH 45268 USA
Phone: 513-569-7782
Fax: 513-569-7111
E-Mail: curran.maryann@epa.gov
Abstract
Evaluating environmental impacts holistically from raw material acquisition, through manufacture, to use and disposal using a life cycle perspective is gradually being viewed by environmental managers and decision-makers as an important element in the tools that are used to achieve environmental sustainability. However, a major barrier to using such life cycle assessment (LCA) tools is the difficulty in obtaining viable data for completing the analysis, called the life cycle inventory (LCI). The lack of readily available, quality data is often a barrier to manufacturers, among others, for incorporating life cycle considerations into their decision-making process. To overcome this barrier, several efforts have been started around the world to create databases that can be used in conducting LCA. This paper will briefly describe some of these efforts.
While creation of these databases is underway, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency=s Office of Research & Development created a website, called LCAccess, to serve as a central source for LCA information. It provides information on EPA=s role in LCA, the benefits of LCA, what LCA is, a brief overview of how to conduct an LCA, how to find data sources, available resources (i.e., documents, software tools, other related links), on-going efforts in the field (e.g., EPA, other US efforts, international efforts), and upcoming conferences and workshops. While LCAccess does not itself contain data, it is a searchable global directory to potential data sources. By searching on a keyword or an industry sector, data profiles on individual data sources are generated to give the user an idea of what each data source contains. To find the LCAccess website go to: http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/lcaccess.
LCAccess is currently soliciting organizations that have completed LCA studies to provide their data sources for reference in LCAccess. Inquiries should be directed to the EPA Project Officer, Mary Ann Curran (513-569-7782; curran.maryann@epa.gov).
Keywords: life cycle assessment, inventory, LCAccess