Data Types
Understanding the four types of input data Darwin uses for biodiversity assessment
Data Types
Darwin handles 4 main types of input data to assess biodiversity impacts across your value chain.
Financial Data
Financial data represents monetary transactions: turnover, sales, or procurement data expressed in a currency (EUR, USD, etc.).
Use cases:
- Procurement spend by category
- Revenue allocation by business unit
- Supplier payments
Model: EXIOBASE (Environmentally Extended Multi-Regional Input-Output)
Financial data is the most common starting point for organizations beginning their biodiversity journey. It allows rapid footprinting with minimal data preparation.
Product Data
Product data covers transformed materials and goods, measured in weight or volume metrics (tonnes, kg, m3, liters).
Examples:
- Manufactured goods
- Semi-finished products
- Packaged items
Model: ecoinvent (Life Cycle Assessment database)
Commodity Data
Commodities are a subset of product data: raw materials that are standardized and tradable, measured in physical units.
Examples:
- Agricultural commodities: wheat, soy, palm oil
- Metals: copper, steel, aluminum
- Energy carriers: natural gas, coal
Model: ecoinvent with commodity-specific datasets
Pressures Data
Pressures represent environmental interventions - the factors driving biodiversity loss. They are measured in physical flows and correspond to the IPBES framework for biodiversity pressures.
Ecosystem Use
Land and ecosystem occupation, transformation, and disturbance.
| Subtype | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Occupation | m², ha | Area used over time |
| Conversion (to) | m², ha | Natural ecosystem converted to use |
| Conversion (from) | m², ha | Area returning to natural state |
| Fragmentation | m, km | Habitat fragmentation (linear) |
| Disturbance | various | Physical ecosystem disturbance |
Climate Change
Greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global warming.
| Subtype | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| GHG emissions | kg CO₂ Eq, t CO₂ Eq | All greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, etc.) |
Pollution
Chemical releases affecting ecosystem quality.
| Subtype | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Acidification | kg SO₂ Eq | Acid-forming emissions |
| Ecotoxicity | CTUe | Comparative Toxic Units for ecosystems |
| Eutrophication (N) | kg N Eq | Nitrogen enrichment |
| Eutrophication (P) | kg PO₄ Eq | Phosphorus enrichment |
| Photochemical Ozone | kg NOx Eq | Smog-forming emissions |
| Ionizing Radiation | Bq C-14 Eq | Radioactive releases |
Water Use
Freshwater and saltwater consumption and withdrawal.
| Subtype | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Freshwater Consumption | m³ | Water consumed (not returned) |
| Freshwater Withdrawal | m³ | Total water taken |
| Saltwater Consumption | m³ | Marine water consumed |
| Saltwater Withdrawal | m³ | Marine water taken |
Overexploitation
Direct extraction from natural populations.
| Subtype | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Overfishing | kg, t | Fish and seafood extraction |
Biomes
Pressures can be tagged by the biome they affect:
| Biome | Description |
|---|---|
| Terrestrial | Land ecosystems |
| Freshwater | Rivers, lakes, wetlands |
| Marine | Ocean and coastal ecosystems |
| All | Cross-biome impacts |
Model: ReCiPe (Life Cycle Impact Assessment)
Data Quality Hierarchy
The type of data you provide affects the precision of your biodiversity assessment:
| Data Type | Quality Score | Precision |
|---|---|---|
| Pressures | A | Highest - direct measurement |
| Commodity | B | High - specific raw materials |
| Product | C | Medium - product-level averages |
| Financial | D | Lower - sector averages |
Start with financial data for a quick overview, then progressively add product and commodity data to improve accuracy where it matters most.
Last updated today