Tutorial: How to create processes, flows and product systems in openLCA (Part 1)

This video is the first part of a two-part tutorial that teaches you how to conduct a life cycle assessment of a product. In this part, we guide you on creating processes, flows and product systems in openLCA.
The second part of the tutorial will explain how you can download and import LCIA methods and how to comprehend the results.
To download openLCA, please visit www.openlca.org/download/
To download a database, please visit nexus.openlca.org/
To continue watching the second part of the video, please click on • Tutorial: How to analy...
To learn more about the software, please check out the pdf manual for openLCA 1.10.3: www.openlca.org/wp-content/up...
For support, please visit our support forum, ask.openlca.org/​​
For updates, please follow us on openLCA: openlca.org​​
Twitter: @openLCA
Linkedin: / openlca
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If you have any questions or suggestions for future videos, you can contact me at [e-mail] or @RouaLabbaoui (Linkedin)

[@andreasciroth729]

In 3:38, you take the process, not the flow, from the category tree on the left and add it to the inputs/outputs; this works (as we see), and enters the product of the process, and the process as provider (of the product) in the inputs/outputs sheet. You could also do this by adding the flow only, and then select one, or none, of the possible providers. Here you are combining two steps in one.

[@RachaelCC]

This video and Part II are so good, I was able to do each step following the instructions perfectly! Thank you so much for making LCA accessible to students in developing countries.

[@RetroAdo98]

thanks a bunch i was able to create the processes, flows and products very easily through this tutorial

[@QmrZaib]

Excellent Job

[@merlinderzauberer5612]

very good, thank you

[@manojpolawar7195]

Thank you so much!

[@IrfanAli-mu2pj]

Why is the energy consumption, such as electricity or natural gas, not included in the inputs? Shouldn't we consider it along with the other items?

[@jmameneyro]

Why do we have 1Kg chicken pasta as output if we just have 772 gr. of input flows + the 3 kg water?

[@TH-fe1vs]

When I type "olive" in the Flows to filter, my list is empty. What should I do then?

[@slug534]

Were the Mediterranean herbs not described? The video didn’t show how we add information to a new flow…

[@philippswoboda7416]

i have the same questions. did you find an answer?

[@getknowledge6785]

How can we select type of lca such as gate to gate

[@jmameneyro]

I had already created the system once and when I try to do it this time I get the following message and it doesn't show me the option to finish "No process with valid reference product output or waste input selected" You know why? I even validated the process and it shows that there are no errors.

[@blazmiklavic4421]

Waste and fresh water doesn't show anywhere in the model graph, not even if I expand the Chicken pasta square; why is that? Bcs they are elementary flows?

[@alejandraarmenta4185]

How can I see the countries in Geography? I don't have any location

[@NooberTrOlL]

hey, I tried to reproduce the results, but I ended up having the chicken pasta in the model graph without any connections. Only thing i noticed is that i have a lottle star in front of the process (*Chicken Pasta) and the same for the model graph. Do you know what might be the problem ? :) thanks in advance

[@janmeurer2280]

I had the same problem. You just need to exit and save the created chicken pasta process first. When you open it again and create the process system you will get the same results.

[@louvre266]

@@janmeurer2280 yes !

[@kellynotar477]

@@janmeurer2280 My boyfriend was lost, thanks to your comment, I can help him !!! Thanks !

[@aideemontielmartinez7136]

Why did you use "kg" for water? Why did not use liters?

[@dhirajsutar948]

When I try to add a provider for the flow it shows an empty list. What should I do to fix this?

[@openLCA]

An empty list on the “provider” column in a process means that the flow being used is not an output of any process of the database used. In order to have a provider in the list, you need either create a process producing it, or import one. You can also leave the product without provider, unlike in some other LCA tools; you will then see the product as input in your inventory calculation.

[@hongluanosgeo]

How about Water and Mediterranean spices ? I did not see them in the graph?

[@saulmartinezcastaneda8507]

Hi, Why can't I see the provider for a inlet/outlet?

[@Leo-we2xs]

hi, even assigning a provider to my flows i do not have the supply chain at 9:24

[@lukesullivan909]

same i do not know what im doing wrong

[@andresgalarza17]

You start first with the process instead of the flow?. And there were 2 flows in the inputs that don't have providers. How can this affect the results?

[@openLCA]

When a flow has no provider, it doesn't link to background data. Having a product or waste flow with no provider is the same as not having anything at all. Elementary flows don't have providers, by nature.

[@adolfohermida6493]

Thank you very much for your excellent tutorial! Why did you substract 230 Gr in water Output?

[@openLCA]

With pleasure! We substracted the quantity of water which was lost in evaporation while cooking! So it comes in the form of an output (emission).

[@user-jg5vh2bk9y]

i have tried to do this exercise in open lca software. but no model develop in the model option, it does not show input. what is the reason?

[@user-yn9tl4cv5j]

same here, input option is not being shown.

[@marakeope]

in the Model Graph doesn't appear the Mediterranean Spices Input, why ? Is it necessary add information about this product separately ?

[@openLCA]

When you slide down the chicken pasta process you will see that the Mediterranean spices input exists but you cannot see it in a seperate process like olive oil or salt because this flow was not linked to a provider which means it does not have a linked process that produces these spices. In this case, you can create a process which describes the production of these spices to have more exact results.. Such a step is necessary when you are working with a flow which can play a big role on your main process.

[@marakeope]

@@openLCA thank you so much, clear explanation!

[@900pask]

@@openLCA It isn't clear, if I understud I have to create a process for "mediterranean spice" to use the flow as input?

[@aryolejandro]

i am a newbie in OpenLCA. How can i download agreeably's database as explained in this video? you said you have downloaded it from the previous video, but i could find the explanation about it. where to download it?

[@openLCA]

You can download Agribalyse here: nexus.openlca.org/databases

[@yadiravilla8332]

@@openLCA Is it still for free? I can´t download it without buying another license

[@Juan-ci5cj]

@@openLCA Same issue here

[@discoverfoodtechnology9957]

what to do in case of gate to gate approach?

[@anasjaradat1903]

Due to the Mediterranean spices flow being created, it is not available to connect with the provider. Is that normal? If not, what should we do?

[@openLCA]

in order to connect a flow with a provider, the provider must have that exact flow as an output and quantitative reference (output in bold)

[@louvre266]

Hello, excellent video, how can I add an ingredient that is not in the database? thanks

[@louvre266]

I already saw how at minute 4.4, very well explained.

[@openLCA]

You can add new datasets by creating new processes. The inventory of the datasets can be found on data sources such as scientific publications.

[@carlomartinez7914]

What could be the limitations of this software? How is it compared to SimaPro?

[@openLCA]

openLCA is an open-source software which is also free to download and use. Thanks to its friendly user-interphase and the many free resources available online, it is a good tool for beginners in Life Cycle Assessment that don’t want to commit to buying a software license straight away. However, openLCA is also a very powerful and flexible LCA tool, can handle larger and more complex systems than SimaPro, shows more detailed results, and has better import and export interfaces we think. In total, there are too many points to mention, we are currently working on a more detailed comparison.

[@stefanotarlon5072]

Interesting but it's missing the contribution of cooking pasta for example using natural gas to boil water. How I can introduce it?

[@openLCA]

To add the efforts of cooking pasta, if not there already, you can model this as input energy in your process of cooking the pasta. The energy flow and provider can be that of burning of natural gas, for example.

[@komanginggas1834]

where can i include my energy uses during the process?

[@openLCA]

you can do that in the "Inputs/Outputs" tab at the process level. You shall include an energy flow in the inputs side, and link it to a provider (provider column). There are many choices for energy providers and technologies.

[@n.8690]

Hello, how can I make monte carlo simulation with openlca?

[@openLCA]

yes indeed. You have to add data quality to your model. You then click on "Monte Carlo Simulation" when calculating a product system.

[@aneesvc10]

how can you create a provider? i can't find it anywhere

[@openLCA]

Yes, you right click on the "processes" in the navigation panel and select create new

[@stefanotarlon5072]

Where is the energy used to cook chicken and pasta?