NAT.B12.EC Plastic Use and Waste Reduction Targets
About the data
This metric was designed by The World Benchmarking Alliance, more information can be found here. Sources and Alignments for each indicator can be found here as well as the scoring guidelines here
The World Benchmarking Alliance's Nature Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity.
This metric relates to Indicator: The company reduces plastic use and waste across the most material parts of its value chain.
Rationale:Since the 1980s, plastic pollution is estimated to have increased tenfold (IPBES, 2018). Estimates suggest that global plastic production will double by 2050, of which approximately 8 million tonnes will end up as marine debris (UNEP, BRS Conventions and Minamata Convention, 2021). The debris breaks into microplastics that are then ingested by marine organisms, leading to toxic effects on their feeding, growth and reproductive patterns. Due to plastic’s prolonged negative impact on ecosystems and biodiversity, this indicator focuses on reducing plastic use and waste from the private sector through globally applicable commitments and targets.
Methodology
WBA analysed all publicly available group-level disclosure in English on the applicable group website, which was predominantly annual reports and sustainability reports. Draft assessments were then sent to each company inviting them to provide feedback. This feedback could include additional publicly available group disclosure published. These were then reviewed and finalised. Final assessments were then shared with each company before being published online.
For this metric the focus is on the most relevant part of its value chain for each company. The targets must be set at the group level. The targets should aim for absolute reduction. Targets tied to intensity are not accepted.