The circular economy is the emerging economic model. This "do better with less" manufacturing approach most of the time results in a decrease in the production cost of the product.which can be a lever to increase the company's margins while getting ahead of the competition.Įco-designing a product also makes it easier for innovations to emerge thanks to the specific specifications of eco-design, which invite smarter design. The goal is to create a product with a decreased environmental impact that best respects the fundamentals of the circular economy. From there, we can improve the product in terms of material selection, suppliers and manufacturing processes.
Openlca free database software#
All in all, it is highly cost-effective to use an adapted LCA software to remain efficient and competitive.Īn LCA software allows to become aware of the global material and energy flows for the manufacturing of a product. However, conducting a life cycle analysis of a product in this way is extremely time consuming.Īccess to databases also has a significant financial cost. A spreadsheet can be used to organize the flows. Theoretically, it is possible to perform an LCA by hand if one has access to the databases. Using software greatly simplifies the process and allows for teamwork and networking. Indeed, the life cycle analysis is also a set of steps and iterations to complete. Secondly, the software allows structuring and guiding the user to easily follow the LCA methodology. Which is a real shame for the LCA community. To wit: ELCD, the free European database, is a project that has been abandoned in 2019. The main databases for product life cycle analysis. GaBi : in addition to the software edition, Gabi has its own database with more and more aggregated elements such as cameras, microphones, etc.IMPACTS database : the free French database, regularly updated and increasingly comprehensive.Ecoinvent : this is the most comprehensive reference database.There are general and specialized databases.ĭepending on your activity, you will have to make sure that the software you want to use has access to the right databases
Most of the life cycle assessment software is based on the exploitation of databases specific to eco-design and the circular economy. The software allows you to break down the entire life cycle of a product, from its components to the energy required to manufacture the product. In concrete terms, the software allows the entire product to be broken down into flows. In general, a life cycle analysis tool allows you to make the right decisions regarding the manufacture and recycling of a product by taking into account its entire life cycle.
Openlca free database how to#
In response to the rapid development of LCA applications on tires, this article conducted a comprehensive and critical review on the related literature. Life cycle assessment (LCA), as an efficient technique, was applied to quantify the environmental impacts of industrial tires through the four stages of life cycle, i.e., production, transportation, use, and end-of-life. There has been a growing awareness of the potential environmental impacts from the tire industry in the last two decades.