TianGong database—an open-source, ILCD entry-level life cycle unit process database of china

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) plays a crucial role in assessing the environmental impacts of products and systems across their entire lifecycle. However, applying LCA in China presents notable challenges due to the scarcity of region-specific and transparent data. International databases currently unable to capture the distinct features of China’s industrial environment, resulting in inaccuracies in environmental assessments. In response, the TianGong Database has been collaboratively developed to provide comprehensive and transparent LCA datasets tailored to China’s industrial system. As a core milestone, we have systematically collected, organized, and published high-quality unit process datasets. These comprise 2000 high-spatial-resolution unit process datasets, covering diverse industry sectors and providing detailed records of raw material use, energy consumption, and waste generation. Additionally, the database incorporates 157 Input-Output (IO) datasets and 2277 environmental reference parameter datasets. The TianGong Database is built on principles of openness, traceability, and transparency, following internationally recognized methodologies and is freely accessible under the MIT license. Users can access the database through dedicated platforms, facilitating data retrieval and supporting informed decision-making in environmental policy and industrial practices in China. Through continuous updates and community-driven contributions, the localized unit process data of TianGong Database fill critical gaps and serve as a reliable foundation for LCA studies, promoting sustainable development and resource efficiency in Chinese industries.