ProBas update for the National Circular Economy Strategy

Provision of life cycle assessment data on circular economy processes, products and services

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For many years, the German Federal Environment Agency has been providing environmental data free of charge to experts and interested members of the public through ProBas. As part of this project, the database is being updated and comprehensively expanded. 

The starting point is the freely available life-cycle assessment database of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU). Around 4,700 Switzerland-specific datasets from this database are being reviewed to determine whether and how they can be adapted to German market and production conditions. Among other things, adjustments are being made to electricity and heat mixes, transport parameters, import and export ratios, yields, formulations and market compositions.

Additionally, 120 new life-cycle assessment data sets are being created for products, processes and services that are particularly relevant to the circular economy. These include bio-based and recycled plastics, metals and critical raw materials, construction and insulation materials, biogenic materials, and recycling and recovery processes, as well as applications in green IT, artificial intelligence, and digitalisation. Experts from the relevant sectors are involved in the quality assurance process.

Transparent, quality-assured and updatable

ifeu is developing a largely automated and reproducible approach that enables large volumes of data to be systematically adapted and verified. Technical and expert validations ensure that the datasets are consistent, transparently documented and suitable for use in life cycle assessments. The approach is designed in such a way that the Federal Environment Agency can carry out subsequent updates independently and, in the future, apply the methodology to other countries as well.

Quality-assured datasets are published in standardised formats in ProBas and the BAFU database, and are made available free of charge. In addition, the results of the environmental impact assessment are provided in condensed form. This creates a long-term data basis for businesses, public authorities, research and civil society, whilst also serving as a key building block for the implementation of the National Circular Economy Strategy.