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Environmental impact of machinery and equipment: a comparison between EXIOBASE, national environmentally extended input-output models, and ecoinvent

Author

Listed:
  • Liu, Yiwen
  • Jiang, Meng
  • Hertwich, Edgar G.

Abstract

Environmental impact assessments of machinery and equipment (ME) are constrained by process-based life cycle assessment (LCA) with limited system coverage, and by aggregated top-down models with reduced representativeness. Lack of knowledge about consistency across these approaches hampers understanding of ME impacts and policy-making. This study quantifies greenhouse gas (GHG) emission multipliers (cradle-to-gate emissions per unit production) of ME using data from process LCA (ecoinvent), national environmentally extended input-output (EEIO) models and a multi-regional EEIO model (EXIOBASE) for the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea, assessing variations, reliability and compatibility. While EXIOBASE (7 ME sectors) and national EEIO data (32-102 sectors) broadly align, national EEIO models differ more in production technologies, with deviations from 100-fold lower to 3.7-fold higher than EXIOBASE results. Ecoinvent offers broad ME product-level coverage (~390 sectors), especially for general and electrical ME, but with uneven representation and limited geographic differentiation. Its multipliers vary widely and often exceed EXIOBASE values, challenging the assumption that process-based LCA underestimates impacts due to truncation. Overall, our results reveal cross-model variation, confirm the relative reliability of EEIO data, point to limitations in ecoinvent, and underscore the need to link technical detail with global trade representation in ME modeling.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Yiwen & Jiang, Meng & Hertwich, Edgar G., 2025. "Environmental impact of machinery and equipment: a comparison between EXIOBASE, national environmentally extended input-output models, and ecoinvent," MPRA Paper 126712, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:126712
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • D57 - Microeconomics - - General Equilibrium and Disequilibrium - - - Input-Output Tables and Analysis
    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities
    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • L61 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Metals and Metal Products; Cement; Glass; Ceramics
    • L63 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Microelectronics; Computers; Communications Equipment
    • L64 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Other Machinery; Business Equipment; Armaments

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