Creating regionalized data is essential to improving the accuracy and relevance of life cycle assessment (LCA) studies. Regionalization captures site-specific variations in the geology, technology, energy mix, transport, and regulatory context, and it enables the use of location-specific characterization factors.
The report investigates the continuing role (and limits) of global averages for mining, refining, and smelting, identifying sources and approaches, benefits of regionalized life cycle inventories (LCIs), how processing steps vary by ore and region, and challenges to compiling regional LCIs. It also explores how to compile more geographically representative LCIs, best practices for integrating granular data, and where models could help.
The work screens more than 100 published sources and complements them with fourteen expert interviews to add practical and implementation-focused perspectives.
Regional LCI vs Global Average Datasets
When considering global trends or evaluating a singular operation compared to the average, global average datasets have value when a commodity’s processing is relatively standardized across sites.
However, reliance on global average datasets can lead to significant under- or over-estimation of environmental impacts. For some materials, the process sequence is uniform enough that a global dataset can be serviceable, but where routes and site conditions vary widely, averages quickly become misleading. For example, in the case of lithium, inventories should be built at the process- and site-level to reflect local geology, brine chemistry, energy systems, and operating conditions. This is specifically important for metals used in batteries in light of the EU battery passport, which will become a legal requirement for some battery technologies in 2027.
To create assessments that drive meaningful and sustainable action, greater transparency and accuracy are required. In this report, regionalized data for metals and mining are highlighted as vital for competitive business intelligence and regulatory compliance.
Overall, the study suggests a great need for the regionalization and validation of data, but it also shares the obstacles to overcome before the goals can be achieved, including thoughts on the industry-academia disconnect and regulatory fragmentation.
Read the report now to better understand why regionalized data is essential, alongside key findings that will develop the future life cycle inventory data for metals.