DataTopic LCA

Lifecycle Assessment data structure

List of LCA impact indicators

Indicator overview

Group	IndicatorKey	Indicator(eng)	Definition	ValueUnits
Emissions	LcaGghEmissions	Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions	Measures the emissions of GHGs, often expressed in terms of CO2 equivalents	kgCO2e
Water	LcaBluewaterFootprint	Blue Water Footprint	Quantifies the consumption of surface and groundwater resources	CBM
Energy	LcaEnergyUse	Energy Use	Assesses the total energy consumption, often distinguishing between renewable and non-renewable sources	MJ or KWH
Eutrophication Potential	LcaNitroEmissions	H+ Nitrogen Emissions	Indicates the impact on aquatic ecosystems due to excess nutrients	MOL
Eutrophication Potential	LcaPhospEmissions	H+ Phosphorus Emissions	Indicates the impact on aquatic ecosystems due to excess nutrients	MOL
Acidification Potential	LcaAcidPotential	H⁺ Ion Acidification Potential	Measures the potential of substances to cause acid rain (measured in moles of H+ or equivalent)	MOL
Ozone Depletion Potential	LcaOzoneDepPot	Ozone Depletion Potential	Assesses the impact on the ozone layer	KGCFC11E
Resource Depletion	LcaRenewResDep	Renewable Resource Depletions	Evaluates the depletion of renewable natural resources	KG
Resource Depletion	LcaNonRenewResDep	Non-Renewable Resource Depletions	Evaluates the depletion of non-renewable natural resources	KG
Waste	LcaWasteGenerate	Waste Generation	Quantifies the amount and type of waste produced	KG or CBM
Toxicological Impact	LCAToxicImpact	Toxicological Impact	Assesses the potential toxic impacts on human health and ecosystems (measured in comparative toxic units)	CTU

Value Units and Unit Of Measure

Value units are the units related to the LCA indicator (e.g. for GHG Emissions this is kgCO2e) and the Unit of Measure is to define for what quanity this value applies (e.g. per meter, per kg or per piece).

ValueUnits, for the various impact indicators

• KGCO2E | Kilogram CarbonDioxide equivalent
• KGCFG11E | Kilogram Chlorofluorocarbon-11 equivalent
• CBM | Cubic meter {is also an Unit of Measure}
• KG | Kilogram {is also an Unit of Measure}
• MJ | Megajoule
• KWH | Kilowatt-hours
• MOL | Mole
• CUT | Comparative Toxic Units

Units of Measure, to indicate to what the impact indicator applies, so x per y Unit of Measure

• MTR | Meter
• DCM | Decimeter
• CM | Centimeter
• MM | Milimeter
• SQM | Square meter
• CBM | Cubic meter
• KG | Kilogram
• GRM | Gram
• MG| Miligram
• UG | Microgram
• LTR | Liter
• CL | Centiliter
• ML | Milliliter
• TI | Trade Item
• PCE | Piece
• PRT | Portion
• FU | Functional Unit

For units this is the basis that is used Unified Code for Units of Measure is used to create UnitKeys for exahnge data.

Sameple LCA Data set

This first example of a data point is for a raw material: The Greenhouse Gas emissions are 3,2 kgCO2e per 1 kg product (for example for raw materials in food like salt or flour) measured at the warehouse of the seller, identified by GLN 1234567891023 (SRD= Ready for Dispatch)

• IndicatorKey: LCAGHG
  • IndicatorValue: 3,2
  • IndicatorValueUnit: KGCO2E
  • UomQty:1
  • Uom: KG
  • LCATerm: SRD
  • PointofOrgin
    • GLN: 1234567891023
  • Destination:
    • GLN: 7834567896574

Second example: Consumer Unit The Greenhouse Gas emissions are 2,7 kgCO2eq per consumer unit (TradeItemID, for example for a can of 8 hotdogs), the value included the transport emission to the buyer (e.g. retailer) since the LCAterms are Delivered at Buyer (DAB), and value is based on location 7834567891023 (GLN)

• TradeItemID
  • GTIN: 2365897158624
• IndicatorKey: LCAGHG
  • IndicatorValue: 2,7
  • IndicatorValueUnit: KGCO2E
  • PerQty:1
  • PerUom:TI {TradeItem}
  • LCATerm: DAB
  • PointofOrgin
    • GLN: 1234567891023
  • Destination:
    • GLN: 7834567896574

The data set above shown in a table:

Caption text

LCAKEY	IndicatorValue	ValueUnit	PerQty	PerUom	LCAterm	PointofOrgin	Destination
LCAGHG	3,2	KGCO2E	1	KG	SRD	GLN: 1234567891023	GLN: 7834567896574
LCAGHG	2,7	KGCO2E	1	TI	DAB	GLN: 1234567891023	GLN: 7834567896574

You can combine this data with the weigth & dimensions data for this Trade Item. In the example below a can of 8 hotdogs

• GrossWeight: 500 GRM
• NetWeight: 450 GRM
• DrainedWeight: 300 GRM
• TaraWeight: 50 GRM (packaging weight)
• 8 Pieces (this trade item contains 8 pieces, e.g. 8 hot-dogs)
• 4 Portions (this item contains 4 portions

Now you can calculate:

• GHG Emissions per Kg product including packaging, based on gross weight: 2,7kg/0,5 = 5,4 kgCO2eq per 1 kg product/trade item/consumer unit
• GHG Emissions per Portion, based on 4 portions: 2,7kg/4 = 0,675 kgCO2eq per 1 Portion