Life cycle inventories of global metal and mineral supply chains: a comprehensive data review, analysis and processing

Lai, F.; Muller, S.; Philippe, A.; Istrate, R.; Miranda Xicotencatl, B.; Mansouri Aski, A.; ... ; Beylot, A. (2025)

Article / Letter to editor

Reliable life cycle inventory (LCI) data are key to consistent life cycle assessment (LCA) results. This study provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of existing public LCI data related to metals and minerals production. It aims to deliver LCI models representing current supply chains and markets. For that purpose, this study conducts an in-depth analysis (including data quality) of 285 LCI datasets drawn from 130 different LCA studies related to metals and minerals. Following a selection process and a harmonised data compilation, processing and modelling approach, 220 individual LCI datasets were developed, covering 53 metal and mineral elements and distinguishing 163 production routes differentiated from geographical, geological, technological or material perspectives. Finally, these LCI datasets were gathered into market datasets, depicting global supply mixes. Elements such as germanium or manganese showed a limited market coverage, contrary to others such as lithium or aluminium.

• Metals and minerals
• Supply chains
• Data quality
• Life cycle assessment
• Environmental impacts
• FAIR data
• neodymium
• lithium
• cobalt
• graphite
• SUSMAGPRO
• MaDiTraCe

• All authors: Lai, F.; Muller, S.; Philippe, A.; Istrate, R.; Miranda Xicotencatl, B.; Mansouri Aski, A.; Mas Fons, A.; Segura-Salazar, J.; Santillán Saldivar, J.; Cimprich, A.; Northey, S.; Silva Lima, L. da; Boone, L.; Yokoi, R.; Islam, K.; Paschalidou, I.; Cerdas, F.; Balboa-Espinoza, V.; Koyamparambath, A.; Hennioui, D.; Collignon, V.; Reys, A.; Ngadi Sakatadi, G.; Dewulf, J.; Steubing, B.; Helbig, C.; Lefebvre, G.; Blengini, G. A.; Superti, V.; Motoshita, M.; Sonnemann, G.; Awuah-Offei, K.; Young, S. B.; Murakami, S.; Beylot, A.
• Date: 2025-11-29
• Journal: Resources, Conservation and Recycling
• Volume: 226
• DOI: doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108709
• Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108709
• Dataset: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15075067
• Sponsorship: Horizon 2020(H2020)
• Grant number: 821114