Company-specific data refers to information collected directly from a particular company, facility, or site for use in Life Cycle Assessment. This data type represents actual measured or recorded values from specific operations rather than averaged or modelled values from generic databases or literature sources.
In the context of ISO 14044, company-specific data aligns with the standard's emphasis on data quality and representativeness. Clause 4.2.3.6 of ISO 14044 addresses data quality requirements, highlighting that data should be appropriate to the goal and scope of the study. Company-specific data typically offers higher temporal, geographical, and technological representativeness for the specific Activity being assessed, compared to industry average or generic data.
The use of company-specific data is particularly valuable when conducting Life Cycle Assessments for specific products or processes where precision and accuracy are critical for decision-making. This data type is often preferred for foreground processes, which are those processes directly under the control or influence of the decision-maker conducting the assessment. Examples include direct measurements of energy consumption, raw material inputs, emissions, and waste generation from a specific production facility.
Whilst company-specific data provides greater accuracy for specific systems, its collection can be resource-intensive, requiring direct measurement, monitoring, and documentation of operational parameters. Additionally, company-specific data may have limited applicability beyond the specific context for which it was collected, making it less suitable for generalised or screening-level assessments.
The term is also known as primary data, site-specific data, or measured data, distinguishing it from secondary data sourced from databases, literature, or industry averages.
