Free data & tools
Free or low-cost LCI data
Section titled “Free or low-cost LCI data”| Source | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Federal LCA Commons (incl. USLCI) | US processes: energy, materials, transport, agriculture | Free. Maintained by US federal agencies. |
| Agribalyse | French food and agricultural products | Free. From ADEME. |
| openLCA Nexus | Marketplace for datasets in openLCA format | Many free datasets alongside licensed ones. |
| EF reference packages | EU Environmental Footprint data and methods | Access terms depend on use; check licence. |
Licensed databases
Section titled “Licensed databases”ecoinvent is the most widely used background database, available under paid licence. Sphera (formerly GaBi) data and others are licensed through their software. When a PCR or client specifies a database and version, use exactly that.
Open-source software
Section titled “Open-source software”| Tool | What it is |
|---|---|
| openLCA | Free desktop LCA software from GreenDelta. Has an IPC interface for scripting. |
| Brightway | Open-source Python framework for LCA. Ideal for automation and agent tooling. |
| Activity Browser | Graphical interface for Brightway. |
LCA 202 covers how to choose and use a database. The Skills class shows how an AI assistant can work with free data on your behalf.
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