ELDAM: A Python software for Life Cycle Inventory data management

Abstract

Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data are the backbone of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). They reflect modelling choices made by the LCA practitioner that can strongly influence the results of environmental impact calculations. The high sensitivity of these data are the reason why they must be accurately documented and tend to the highest possible quality. High quality, well documented LCI data can also be shared between LCA practitioners, allowing productivity gains and better research reproducibility, in particular between practitioners who do not work on the same life cycle inventory database. Unfortunately, SimaPro (PRé Sustainability B.V., 2020), one of the most used LCA software solutions, has only limited features to document, review and exchange LCI data. ELDAM has been developed to fill this gap.