ILCD data network and ELCD database : current use and further needs for supporting environmental footprint and life cycle indicator projects

Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) are the scientific approaches behind modern environmental policies and business decision support related to Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP). A key common need for the use of the LCA methodology is the availability of independently reviewed and quality-assured, consistent data that are made to fit the purpose (UNEP - SETAC Life Cyle Initiative, 2011). This is where the International Reference Life Cycle Data System Data Network (ILCD DN) and the European Reference Life Cycle Database (ELCD)(European Commission, 2010a) come in place to support this effort. The Environmental Footprint (EF) guides (European Commission, 2012f; European Commission, 2012e) and the Life-Cycle Indicators (LC Indicators) framework (European Commission, 2012b) have been developed as building blocks of the Flagship initiative "A Resource-Efficient Europe" (European Commission, 2011) which proposes ways to increase resource productivity and to decouple economic growth from both resource use and environmental impacts taking a life-cycle perspective. At this stage, it is crucial to guarantee coherence and consistency on the application of these key methodologies and frameworks. The aim of this report is to investigate the current use and needs of the ILCD DN and of the ELCD supporting the EF and the LC Indicator projects providing coherent data increasing their usability and consistent application to the European context. Recommended future development have been investigate and reported as well.