Primary data is data collected directly from specific activities, processes, or facilities that are actually part of the product system being studied. This data is obtained through direct measurement, calculation, or estimation from the actual sources within the system boundary.
In the context of Life Cycle Assessment, ISO 14044 clause 4.3.3.2 distinguishes between data obtained directly from production sites or other activities in the supply chain (primary data) and data from other sources such as databases or literature (secondary data). Primary data is the most accurate and specific information about the environmental performance of a particular activity, as it reflects actual operating conditions, technologies, and practices at the specific location and time period being assessed.
Primary data collection typically involves gathering information through site visits, surveys, questionnaires, interviews with operators, direct measurements of inputs and outputs, or extraction from facility records and monitoring systems. This may include data on raw material consumption, energy use, emissions to air and water, waste generation, and other relevant exchanges between the activity and its environment. The specificity and accuracy of primary data make it useful for identifying improvement opportunities and supporting decision-making.
The quality and representativeness of an LCA study are significantly enhanced when primary data is used for activities that contribute substantially to the overall environmental impacts, particularly for foreground processes where the practitioner has direct access to information. Whilst collecting primary data can be resource-intensive, it provides the foundation for credible and actionable LCA results.
In practice, most LCA studies combine primary data for foreground processes with secondary data for background processes where primary data collection would be impractical or where generic data provides sufficient accuracy for the study's intended purposes.
As Chief Operating Officer, Iris leads our organisational development and oversees day-to-day operations. Before joining 2-0, she worked in the biotechnology sector. As an LCA consultant, Iris has devoted her expertise primarily to the domains of sustainable agriculture and food production. She is dedicated to teaching LCA and is responsible for our educational efforts. Iris holds an M.Sc. in Biology – Biotechnology from the University of Copenhagen.
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Glossary terms are clearer once you have seen them applied. Our guide to what LCA is and how it works walks through the complete methodology: goal and scope, inventory modelling, impact assessment, and interpretation.
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