What is Open IO?

Open IO is a comprehensive analytical database that enables the user to gauge in detail the environmental impacts arising from the production and use of goods and services in the United States. Within the field of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), it is one way of quantifying the use of natural resources and pollutant emission associated with the supply chain of a particular product or service. With Open IO, not only is the direct impact of production measured, but also indirect impacts from further back in the supply chain are included as well.

Open IO was created by Sylvatica and the staff of the Applied Sustainability Center at the Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas, for the Sustainability Consortium.

What type of analysis is it used for?

Open IO is a valuable tool for attributional LCA, where the analyst wants to describe the environmental properties of a life cycle and its subsystems. Specifically, Open IO describes environmental impacts in terms of units of economic output (US dollars). For instance, if the analyst needs to know how much increasing the output of a particular industry (for instance, soft drink manufacturing) will impact the environment, the impact in several categories is catalogued in Open IO.

How can I use Open IO in my analysis?

Use of the Open IO database requires the analyst to be familiar with the terms and methods of Life Cycle Assessment, and also have a basic understanding of economic input-output models. With this understanding, downloading the Open IO User Guide and/or the file Open IO Described with Files should get the analyst started. Users with more experience in various LCA tools can also download data into SimaPro or OpenLCA.

Why would I want to use this database?

• Combine with purchasing data to prioritize sustainability initiatives
• Use to complete initial hotspot assessment and prioritize supply chain data collection
• Use as a background database for process-based datasets

Goals and Mission

Open IO supports the work of The Sustainability Consortium to conduct scientific research and the development of standards and IT tools to enhance the ability to understand and address the environmental, social, and economic implications of products.

News and Updates

The Sustainability Consortium is pleased to announce the redesign of the Open IO web site to improve access to data along with an update of the computational model. Some key new features:

• Improved access to data in spreadsheet format. Everything from raw input-output data to endpoint damages by commodity with much intermediate data as well.
• New information including updated user guide and complete model documentation.
• Release of Open IO beta 1.5. New release has improved data on use phase energy impacts as well as for life cycle wholesale trade phase impacts.