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The FEDEFL is developed using a Python package. The code generates a standardized elementary flow list for use in LCA datasets as well as mappings to convert records from other sources. This list supports the Federal LCA Commons, where flows from the active version of the flow list produced by this package can be found in formats for use in LCA software. Standard formats for a Flow List and a Flow Mapping are defined and provided in the repository. Standard formats are also described for the input files used in building the flow list and implemented as CSV files in the input directory. This enables dynamic updates to the list, allowing users to map, add, or change flows within their own projects or to submit new flows for review and inclusion in the FEDEFL releases.

The version of the package (see Releases) corresponds to the version of the flow list that it provides. The complete or 'master' list contains all valid flows, where the 'preferred' flows are the recommended flows for use in LCA data. The FEDEFL script can export a complete flowlist or subset lists and mapping files as ZIP archives of JSON-LD files conforming to openLCA software format requirements.

The background and methodology behind creation of the flow list, as well as a summary of the flow list itself can be found in the USEPA Report 'The Federal LCA Commons Elementary Flow List: Background, Approach, Description and Recommendations for Use'. Documentation and analysis of the Federal LCA Commons Flow List was published in Applied Sciences and can be cited as:

Edelen, A. N., Cashman, S., Young, B., & Ingwersen, W. W. (2022). Life Cycle Data Interoperability Improvements through Implementation of the Federal LCA Commons Elementary Flow List. Applied Sciences, 12(19), 9687. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12199687

For details on installing the fedelemflowlist package see Install for users