This page provides first time users an insight on how to use the ecoinvent database version 3.
If you do not find the answer you are looking for please consult our FAQs and Glossary.
The primary way to access the ecoinvent database is via our website. At the top of every page you will find the link Login to the Databases. There you can log in with your licence details – should you not have a licence to the ecoinvent database, you can still register as a guest. As a guest user you have limited access to the data but can acquire an overview of the ecoinvent database and its contents.
Password Restricted Area
The ecoinvent website consists of two distinguished areas - the free area and the access-restricted area with the actual database content.
In the free area you can find general information on ecoinvent, can get in touch the ecoinvent team, read the help file and register as user.
From the free area you can enter the access-restricted area using the Login area in the right upper corner.
Guest Access versus End User Access
To try out the ecoinvent database you can first register as a guest. Guests may view information on the datasets contained in the databases, but are not allowed to view inventory data or download any datasets.
Additionally, all registered users have unlimited access to all datasets of the various databases of ecoinvent.
They can view the datasets online and select them for download.
Database Search
Each database of ecoinvent contains several thousand datasets. To easily and quickly find the datasets you are looking for there are different search options.
Search Results
The results of a database search are displayed on the "Search Results" page.
Process Details of a Dataset
Details of a dataset can be viewed for processes, elementary flows and impact assessment method.
Use of Datasets
You have different possibilities to use the ecoinvent version 2 datasets: online, in excel or in an LCA software.
Dowloading Data
After searching the database for one or more datasets these can be selected for download. They will be added to the download basket.