The current version of ecoinvent data contains many inventories for different metals and alloys. Most of these data are used in upstream calculations. The common practitioner only uses one or a few inventories available, representing a generic supply mix for the respective region.

Actually, the inventories of different alloys vary in a very high degree from each other. Therefore the environmental impact is very sensitive to the composition of the alloy. In real world a broad range of alloys is used, of which the bigger part is not covered with an appropriate inventory data set. Some precious metals are not covered at all, although they are widely used in electronic devises.

The Swiss EPA (BUWAL) commissioned the EMPA’s LCA unit to assess the possibility of the extension of such alloy inventories to close the actual gap. Within this project two approaches are studied to tackle the problem:

• To assess the possibility of a parameterised model for Life Cycle Inventories of different alloys according to its composition.
• To set up Life Cycle Inventories of cluster of different alloys with comparable properties

Based on this preliminary study the proceeding for a following project will be defined to enhance the overall quality of the metal inventories and therefore the benefit of the ecoinvent database for its users.

Project term: 2005, pending

Contact: Mischa Classen

    
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