Primary data

Primary data is data that describes the specific activity being measured, from your own operations or from a specific supplier or other value chain partner. It’s the opposite of secondary data, such as industry averages, database values, or estimates.

Examples:

• The fuel used by a delivery company’s truck, recorded at each fill-up, or the distance it traveled, measured by its GPS
• The mass of a product, weighed by its manufacturer
• An office’s monthly electricity use, as shown on the bill from the energy company
• The quantity of each type of waste a factory produces, and how it’s treated (recycled, incinerated, or landfilled), tracked by the factory

In carbon accounting, primary data is preferred because it describes closely what actually happened rather than an average. Primary data also makes it possible to measure progress over time. For example, when a company switches to more fuel-efficient LGVs, its fuel records show the drop right away. An estimate based on distance traveled and average fuel use wouldn’t change at all. The same goes for suppliers: their efforts to cut emissions only show up if their own data is used.

Sources

• GHG Protocol (2022). Scope 3 Frequently Asked Questions.