Databases
Lifecycle offers many LCI databases to use in SimaPro in Australia. These include the renowned AusLCI database, Australian Input-Output database, Social Hotspot Database (SHDB) and the National Pollutant Inventory database.
Resource
Type
AusLCI Database
Database
The AusLCI database is an initiative of the Australian LCA Society (ALCAS). It is in its development stage but now contains over 430 processes including cropping, horticulture, asphalt, concrete, plasterboard, transport electricity, natural gas, irrigation systems and processes and tractor operations.
These have been implemented into a SimaPro database in both a unit process and system process version and contain a shadow database of modified ecoinvent 2.2 processes. In the unit process version, the connected ecoinvent processes are marked as temporary and modified ecoinvent processes are marked as a draft so they can be easily identified.
For those wanting the OpenLCA version of AusLCI as system processes download from this link.
Australian Input-Output database
Database
The Australian input-output database for SimaPro was developed in collaboration with the Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory (http://ielab.info). Covering a total of 1,177 national sectors of the Australian economy, it is the most disaggregated, input-output database available worldwide. Satellites include a range of greenhouse gas emissions and water use. All monetary data is provided in basic, producer and consumer prices and represent a snapshot of the Australian economy in 2014.
The Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory (IELab) is a collaborative platform for multi-region input-output modelling and research. Flexible and scalable, IELab is designed to process and analyse economic, environmental and social data from any sector, country or region. It provides high-resolution, time series creation, automated updating, hybridisation and analytical tools.
To order the Australian input-output database for SimaPro, please get in touch by emailing office@lifecycles.com.au
Social Hotspot Database (SHDB)
Database
SHDB can serve as a valuable tool to conduct risk assessments around complex social issues. The Social Hotspot Database consists of a multi-regional economic input-output data which provides local and global supply chains and links these to a broad range of social metrics aligned per sector and per country.
The Social Hotspot Database is a tool that supports not only supply chain managers, but has applications for policy-makers, development organizations, investors and donors as well.
This information is not produced to provide an incentive to divestment in high-risk regions. On the contrary, the data made available should direct attention to social issues that are in need of enhanced engagement.
Examples of SHDB applications are listed below:
Prioritize site-specific data collection and audits.
Produce product category and commodity sustainability assessment.
Inform Socially Responsible purchasing processes (e.g. questions to be asked when sourcing).
Advise investment opportunities.
Provide perspective and context to site-specific assessment results and sustainability reporting.
Develop sponsored programs designed to improve the social conditions of production.
Communicate about governmental policy and programs.
Assess/report on the scope of a certification or social footprint results.
Educate about the social conditions of production.
In particular, recent applications of the SHDB by our users include:
Project sustainability assessments: a UK university used it for a biorefinery sustainability assessment. A large number of consultants and academics located on 4 continents report using the SHDB portal in their projects.
Supply chain social due diligence: the US Cradle to Cradle Institute certification encourages participating companies to use the SHDB to conduct supply chain social risk reviews.
Trading partners sustainability performance assessment: an EU government agency is using the tool to perform an initial assessment.
Subscription order form here.
Different price options are available depending on country development and affiliation however only Australian prices are shown below. There is separate pricing for the SHDB and annual service contracts.
Prices - All prices in Australian dollars excluding GST
Database pricing for Australia
Licence types:
Public / Private sector $10,639
Public / Private sector, additional $4,559
Multiple academic $7,599
Single academic $4,559
Service contracts:
Public / Private sector $4,559
Public / Private sector, additional $2,659
Multiple academic $3,419
Single academic $2,279
*Prices updated as of October 2023.
National Pollutant Inventory database (NPI)
Database
The Australian NPI database is not a life cycle assessment library but is a great resource for assisting the development of life cycle inventory (LCI). The database contains a unit process for each reporting facilicty in the national pollutant inventory. Reported annual emissions are included as elementary flows including specifification of the sub compartment, source (point source or fugitive) and the esimation techniques. These individual processes are aggregated by sector, and by postcode and then by state.
The database can be downloaded below in SimaPro 7.3 format as a SimaPro backup file.