FAB-B.08.A - Plastic Use Reporting
Does the company report on its plastic use?
About the data
The WBA Food and Agriculture Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential food and agriculture companies on their efforts to transform global food systems, tracking how companies work towards food that is healthy and nutritious, produced sustainably within planetary boundaries, and accessible and fairly produced for all. The 2026 edition assessed 350 companies spanning the entirety of the food and agriculture value chain, from agricultural inputs and commodities through to manufacturing, retail, and food service. Companies were scored on 23 food and agriculture-specific indicators and 18 core social indicators across four measurement areas: governance, sustainable food systems, healthy food systems, and inclusive food systems. The benchmark is developed in close collaboration with an Expert Review Committee and is designed to incentivise the most influential companies in the sector to adopt sustainable business practices across their own operations and supply chains, addressing critical issues including greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, freshwater use, nutrition, and living incomes for farmers, with human rights and social equity at its core. More information can be found here.
Methodology
Since the 1980s, plastic pollution has increased tenfold (IPBES, 2019). Projections indicate
that global plastic production will double by 2050, with approximately 8 million tonnes entering
marine environments annually (UNEP, BRS Conventions and Minamata Convention, 2021). Notably,
around 50% of all plastic produced is designed for single-use purposes, contributing significantly to
this escalating issue. There is an urgent need for companies to adopt and disclose comprehensive
plastic management strategies to reduce their plastic use.
Research Guidance:
The company must report on:
Total weight of plastic usage, and
% of renewable or recycled plastic, such as: the % of virgin fossil-based content, the % of renewable content (from renewable biological sources), or the % of recycled content.
Additionally, companies that produce plastics must also report on plastic production.
If the company does not report on its total weight of plastic used, it must at the very least report on the most material uses of plastic. If the company is not explicit about what its most material uses of plastic are, use the attached table for reference.
The company must report on categories classified as Moderate **and** High materiality for the industry, based on the [CDP Plastics Sector Guidance](https://cdn.cdp.net/cdp-production/comfy/cms/files/files/000/009/314/original/CDP_Plastics_sector_relevance_2024.pdf).
In the case of industries for which both categories are classified of Low materiality, they must report on either of them. If a company does not report on plastic use but explicitly states it does not use plastic in their products or packaging, they may get a Met for this element. This will be analysed on a case-by-case basis.
that global plastic production will double by 2050, with approximately 8 million tonnes entering
marine environments annually (UNEP, BRS Conventions and Minamata Convention, 2021). Notably,
around 50% of all plastic produced is designed for single-use purposes, contributing significantly to
this escalating issue. There is an urgent need for companies to adopt and disclose comprehensive
plastic management strategies to reduce their plastic use.
Research Guidance:
The company must report on:
Total weight of plastic usage, and
% of renewable or recycled plastic, such as: the % of virgin fossil-based content, the % of renewable content (from renewable biological sources), or the % of recycled content.
Additionally, companies that produce plastics must also report on plastic production.
If the company does not report on its total weight of plastic used, it must at the very least report on the most material uses of plastic. If the company is not explicit about what its most material uses of plastic are, use the attached table for reference.
The company must report on categories classified as Moderate **and** High materiality for the industry, based on the [CDP Plastics Sector Guidance](https://cdn.cdp.net/cdp-production/comfy/cms/files/files/000/009/314/original/CDP_Plastics_sector_relevance_2024.pdf).
In the case of industries for which both categories are classified of Low materiality, they must report on either of them. If a company does not report on plastic use but explicitly states it does not use plastic in their products or packaging, they may get a Met for this element. This will be analysed on a case-by-case basis.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report