Beyond ecoinvent: What LCA Databases Are Available on HiQLCD?

With over 200,000 datasets spanning general, China-specific, and global industry categories, HiQLCD does more than just consolidate databases—it enables previously siloed resources to work together within a single LCA project.

Among LCA professionals, “What can I use besides ecoinvent?” is a frequently asked question. Today’s LCA projects can rarely be completed with just one database:

• International EPD development requires global general databases;
• China supply chain research needs local Chinese data;
• Sector-specific assessments (steel, aluminum, lithium batteries, chemicals, agriculture, food, etc.) demand specialized industry databases.

But the real trouble is rarely “whether databases exist” — it’s:

Can multiple databases work together seamlessly?

In recent years, HiQLCD has integrated mainstream domestic and international databases and standardized interoperability at the technical level. To date, the platform covers three categories: general-purpose databases, China industry-specific databases, and global sectoral databases, with a total of over 200,000 LCA datasets.

▽ Databases Currently Integrated on HiQLCD

1 General-Purpose Databases

General databases offer broad coverage of basic processes—energy, materials, transport, agriculture, chemicals, and more—serving as the foundation for most LCA studies.

1.1 HiQLCD: High-Quality Local Chinese LCA Database

HiQLCD covers power, heat, steel, non-ferrous metals, coal, building materials, PV, transport, waste treatment, and other sectors. It includes 85,775+ datasets, covering 31 provincial-level regions and 8 major industrial chains in China.

Developed in ILCD format and officially verified for consistency, the database complies with ISO 14040/14044, ILCD Handbook, and Global Guidance Principles. Every dataset is fully traceable to its source, methodology, and timestamp. It has been included in the UNEP GLAD global LCA data platform and adopted by national and regional (Shanghai, Zhejiang, Guangdong) carbon footprint platforms.

1.2 ecoinvent: One of the World’s Most Influential General Databases

ecoinvent features over 26,000 datasets in a single model, covering energy, materials, transport, agriculture, chemicals, waste management, and more. It is a core data source for internationally comparable research.

HiQLCD has partnered with ecoinvent since 2021 and became its exclusive China partner in April 2026. Through HiQLCD, Chinese users gain access to ecoinvent data, compliant licensing, localized technical support, and training.

2 China Industry-Specific Databases

Compared to general databases, industry-specific databases provide deeper industrial chain coverage and stronger representativeness. Developed with industry associations, research institutes, and leading enterprises, they reflect real production processes and local conditions in China.

2.1 High-Quality LCA Carbon Footprint Database for China Aluminum Industry

Developed by the Green Product Evaluation Center of China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association, with HiQLCD as a partner. It covers alumina, carbon, electrolytic aluminum, aluminum processing, and more. It includes 4,500+ unit process datasets, spanning 11 provinces and 45+ product categories.

2.2 Carbon Footprint Database for China Lithium Battery

Led by the China Electronics Standardization Institute, with HiQLCD as a partner. It covers mainstream technologies across the lithium battery supply chain, 95% of material types, and 26 major production regions.

2.3 LCA Carbon Footprint Database for China Container Industry

Developed by the China Container Industry Association, with HiQLCD as a partner. Modeled on real Chinese container manufacturing, it supports international logistics, shipping, EPD creation, and supply chain Scope 3 accounting with authentic, traceable China-specific data.

3 Global Industry-Specific Databases

Alongside local Chinese industry databases, HiQLCD continues to integrate world-leading sectoral databases—bringing authoritative global data for steel, chemicals, agriculture, food, and other key industries into Chinese users’ workflows.

3.1 WorldSteel LCA Database | Steel Industry

Published by worldsteel (World Steel Association), one of the most representative global steel industry databases, it is built on aggregated real data from major steel plants worldwide and widely used for steel product EPDs and international carbon footprint research.

3.2 CarbonMinds | Chemical Industry

In June 2025, HiQLCD signed a strategic partnership with CarbonMinds GmbH and became its official authorized partner in China.

CarbonMinds is a leading global LCA database for chemicals, covering 1,000+ chemical products. It uses factory-level data and international trade models for detailed modeling, supporting carbon footprint studies in chemicals and materials.

3.3 Agri-footprint | Agriculture & Food Industry

In November 2025, HiQLCD partnered with Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk and became its exclusive official China partner for Agri-footprint.

A core global database for agriculture and food, Agri-footprint covers 60+ countries and 4,800+ datasets, widely used for environmental footprint assessments in agriculture, food, feed, and bio-based materials.

4 Making Databases Work Together in One Project

Hosting multiple databases on one platform is only the first step. The real challenge is enabling seamless collaboration within a single LCA project.

LCA practitioners know the pain points:

• ecoinvent, CarbonMinds, Agri-footprint, WorldSteel, and Chinese industry databases use different naming, flow classifications, and units;
• Inconsistent system models (cut-off / consequential / EN 15804) break comparability;
• Misaligned methodologies and system boundaries make direct result aggregation impossible;
• Mapping flows between Chinese and international data is time-consuming and error-prone.

Most projects spend excessive time on alignment rather than analysis. HiQLCD solves this by embedding interoperability at the platform level, delivering integrated, ready-to-use data resources:

• Unified format: All databases follow ILCD standards for full compatibility;
• Aligned system models: Clear, separate options for cut-off / consequential / EN 15804 to avoid conflicts;
• Flow and unit mapping: Cross-database high-frequency flows (power, transport, chemicals) work directly in the same model;
• Methodological consistency: Indicators like GWP / CF are comparable and aggregable across databases;
• Unified audit and traceability: Full source, method, and timestamp transparency for every dataset.

This underlying technical capability is why leading Chinese and international databases choose HiQLCD as their China partner.

5 From Databases to a Data Ecosystem

For a long time, Chinese users struggled to access international databases, while global users lacked reliable, standardized, interoperable Chinese data. Even with multiple databases, combining them in one project remained a major industry pain point.

HiQLCD connects these fragmented resources. It brings together local Chinese and global general databases, jointly developed Chinese industry databases, and world-leading industry databases into an open, professional, interoperable LCA data ecosystem.

Going forward, HiQLCD will keep adding high-quality LCA databases and deepen its cross-database collaboration capabilities.

One day, “Which database should I use?” and “How do I combine them?” will no longer trouble LCA professionals.

Because all the answers will be in one place.