ESU-services Ltd. is specialized in elaborating high quality life cycle inventories with a fully transparent documentation. The Worldwide LCA food database covers more than 2500 transparent life cycle inventories (LCI) related to agriculture, food processing and consumption activities.

Features and format of LCA data for nutrition

All data are documented in the electronic EcoSpold v1 format. The documentation of unit processes includes an assessment of uncertainties. As far as possible, data include information on food waste and water use.

The following features distinguish this database from all others databases available on the market:

• Complete and consistent balancing of all food products relevant to the Swiss market
• The whole chain from field to household is covered for many products
• Most data include information on food waste and water use
• All data also include flow specific uncertainty information for Monte-Carlo simulations.

Contents of the ESU food database for LCA

Our database covers, among others, the following areas of interest:

• Agricultural production services: application of fertilizers, machinery hours
• Vegetable production: spinach, salad, tomatoes, lettuce, potatoes, onions, asparagus, etc.
• Fruits: apples, strawberries, cherries, grapes, oranges, bananas, vine, melons
• Animal products: pork, veal, beef, lamb, poultry, eggs
• Fish: codfish, herring, mackerel, salmon
• Dairy products: butter, milk, milk powder, yogurt, cheese
• Meat alternatives: tofu, falafel, Quorn, soy vegetarian mince, etc.
• Staple food: noodles, pasta, bread, wheat flour
• Drinks: apple & orange juice, mineral water, tap water, beer, wine, milk, coffee, tea, soy milk
• Sweets: chocolate, ice cream, cakes
• Meals: roast, lasagna, soups, canteen meals, recipes
• Household appliances: cooking stoves and ovens, microwaves, refrigerators, carbonisation devices, coffee machine
• Food consumption: packages, transports, cooking, consumption patterns
• Pets and pet food: horses, dogs, cats, bird, fishes, etc.

How to buy ESU food data?

The data can be bought as single unit or system processes (Excel list). Furthermore, data are also sold as environmental intensities, e.g. carbon footprint (CO2-eq per kg).  All system processes of the database are now also available as a background library for SimaPro for 2000 CHF. The whole database with unit processes is available for 7500 CHF. If desired, we collect and analyze detailed LCI-data for your studies and are able to provide them in several data formats. Further information on prices are available from our data specialists.

Video presentation of the ESU world food database

Here you can watch a video presenting the ESU food database for the 12th International Conference on Life Cycle Assessment of Food.