Ecoinvent is an LCA background database, and underlies all environmental declarations in the NMD. Drawing up an environmental declaration is done through an LCA study according to the rules described in the Assessment Method. The background database ecoinvent is used during the LCA study so that standard processes do not have to be rebuilt and analyzed each time. For example, a standard process from ecoinvent can be used to determine the emissions from truck transport within Europe, so that the LCA expert does not have to determine and calculate the emissions himself through research at the source of the emissions.

Ecoinvent in the Assessment Method

When performing an LCA study on a building product for the purpose of an environmental statement in the NMD, the use of ecoinvent is required. Although ecoinvent is not the only LCA background database available, it is considered the most complete and transparent database in Europe. Since several studies have shown that the same calculations based on other background databases can give very different results, it is very important that the Assessment Method designates one specific database. Therefore, the mandatory use of ecoinvent including specific version number is included in the Assessment Method.

Version numbers

Once a year the NMD Technical Content Committee (TIC) discusses whether an update of the prescribed version of ecoinvent is desirable. Currently, ecoinvent version 3.6 is required for submitting data to NMD. As of 1-1-2025 a change in the Assessment Method will take effect, after which ecoinvent 3.9.1 will be required for supplying 'Set A2' data. This is subject to a transition period of 6 months, so until 1-7-2025 statements with Set 2 based on ecoinvent 3.6 will still be accepted. In addition, Ecoinvent 3.6 will always remain valid for the 'Set A1' data of environmental statements.

These different datasets are in line with different versions of EN15804.

The NMD process database

Ecoinvent is the most common background process database in Europe, but the NMD also offers a process database tailored to the Dutch situation. The latest version of the process database contains relevant ecoinvent processes, based on ecoinvent 3.6 and ecoinvent 3.9.1. The NMD process database also contains category 1 and 2 data for “semi-finished products. These are products for which data on LCA modules A1-A3 are available, which can be used as input for preparing a full environmental statement on modules A-D.