Process on “global guidance for LCA databases”

In early February, 48 participants from 23 countries gathered in Shonan Village, southeast of Tokyo, for a Pellston workshop to develop global guidance on principles to create, manage, and disseminate datasets through databases for the purpose of supporting life cycle assessments of globally produced products and services. Participants were organized into six topical tracks, based on responses to a series of eight stakeholder engagements held around the world over the past 18 months. The main topics for the work groups were: 1) unit process data development, 2) aggregated process data development, 3) data review and documentation, 4) adaptive LCI approaches, 5) integration and cross-fertilization, and 6) future knowledge management. The discussions, including both the consensus recommendations and the alternative views, where objectively supportable, are documented in the “Shonan Guidance Principles.” The week deepened the appreciation among the different approaches, schools and philosophies related to dataset development, modeling, reporting and review. The conclusions from controversial discussions were drawn in a spirit of inclusion rather than separation.