ecoinvent is the world's most widely used database for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) background data. Maintained by the ecoinvent Association (a non-profit based in Switzerland), it contains over 18,000 datasets describing the environmental inputs and outputs of industrial processes, materials, energy sources, transport modes, and waste treatments.
When you upload materials or facility data into Root, ecoinvent is the primary source used to convert those inputs into quantified environmental impact values.
What does ecoinvent contain?
Each dataset in ecoinvent describes a specific process — for example, the production of 1 kg of virgin cotton, or the generation of 1 kWh of electricity in Germany — and specifies:
All resource inputs (energy, water, land, raw materials)
All emissions outputs (to air, water, and soil)
The geographic and technological scope of the data
The life cycle stage covered
These datasets are peer-reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current production technologies and regional conditions.
Why does Root use ecoinvent?
Root uses ecoinvent because it is:
The industry standard — used by LCA practitioners, researchers, and regulators worldwide
Comprehensive — covers virtually every material and process relevant to manufactured goods
Scientifically rigorous — peer-reviewed datasets with transparent methodology
Regularly updated — reflects current production realities, not outdated proxies
Compatible with reporting standards — accepted by ISO 14040/14044, CSRD, and EPD programmes
How Root uses ecoinvent in practice
Root feature | How ecoinvent is used |
Materials matching | AI suggests the closest ecoinvent dataset for each material in your BOM |
Facility utilities | Electricity, heat and water consumption mapped to ecoinvent processes by geography |
Transport | Mode-specific emission factors sourced from ecoinvent transport datasets |
Custom impact references | Users can select and customise ecoinvent datasets for non-standard materials |
Limitations of ecoinvent data
While ecoinvent is comprehensive, there are some situations where its datasets may not perfectly match your materials or processes:
Highly specific or novel materials — a unique alloy or composite may not have a direct ecoinvent equivalent
Supplier-specific data — ecoinvent represents industry averages; a supplier with lower-than-average emissions won’t be captured unless you use EPD data
Regional gaps — some geographic regions have less detailed datasets than others
In these cases, Root allows you to use custom impact references or EPD data to improve accuracy.
FAQ
Which version of ecoinvent does Root use?
Root uses the latest available version of ecoinvent. The specific version used in calculations is documented in Root’s Technical Documentation section.
Can I see which ecoinvent dataset has been matched to my material?
Yes. In the Materials chapter, the ‘Impact Match’ column shows the matched ecoinvent dataset for each material. You can click on it to review or change the match.
Is ecoinvent data publicly available?
Access to the full ecoinvent database requires a licence. Root's licence covers all impact calculations performed on the platform, so you do not need a separate ecoinvent subscription to use Root.