Material Database

Speckel is agnostic regarding databases, recognising the different methods in each and the inability to compare them against each other. Where specific values and sources are required, such as an EPD or a specific product from a database, customised values are added on a material basis.

Comparing databases like AusLCI, BRANZ Construct 2021, EPIC 2019, ICE, and Building Transparency provides insights into different approaches to cataloging life cycle inventory data, each with its own strengths and considerations.

The Australian Life Cycle Inventory (AUSLCI) is a national database offering comprehensive, Australian-specific life cycle inventory data, allowing for more accurate local assessments.

Branz Construct 2021 is a New Zealand-based database. Updated in 2021, it includes life cycle inventory data specific to construction materials common in New Zealand, enhancing the relevance of the data to local building professionals.

EPIC (Environmental Product Information Centre) 2019 is a well-known database that provides environmental product declarations (EPDs) for a wide range of products and materials, ensuring transparency and enabling the comparison of environmental impacts between similar products.

The Inventory of Carbon and Energy (ICE) is a UK-based database offering information on embodied energy and embodied carbon of building materials. Its strength lies in its extensive list of materials and the depth of information about each.

Building Transparency hosts the free EC3 tool, which focuses on the embodied carbon of building materials. It uses EPDs to facilitate comparison of materials' embodied carbon footprints, empowering builders to make more sustainable choices.

While all these databases serve a similar overall purpose, they differ in their geographical focus, the range of products and materials they cover, and the types of environmental information they provide. Depending on the specific requirements of a project, a practitioner might choose to use one or a combination of these databases to achieve the most accurate and relevant assessment.