URB-C.06.C - Waste Reduction Progress Reporting
Does the company report progress on reducing its waste generation?
About the data
The WBA Urban Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to shape sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban environments, tracking how companies address essential urban needs while respecting planetary boundaries across dimensions including decent work and human rights, environmental and climate impacts, social inclusion, and sustainability leadership. The 2026 edition assessed 300 companies across four key industries shaping urban environments: real estate, construction and engineering, transport, and utilities. Companies were scored on 24 urban-specific indicators plus 18 core social indicators, spanning four measurement areas: sustainable governance, inclusive cities, healthy cities, and climate change and resilient cities. The benchmark is designed to incentivise the private sector to take adequate responsibility for its role in ensuring affordable, safe and inclusive urban environments for all. More information can be found here.
Methodology
Waste comprises materials that are discarded at the end of their lifecycle, including
residuals and by-products, whether solids, liquids, or gaseous, and hazardous or non-hazardous.
These diverse waste streams are predominantly handled by municipal waste management systems.
However, the effectiveness of such systems varies, and challenges are particularly pronounced in low-
income countries. It's noteworthy that waste, being a by-product of consumption, exhibits distinct
patterns based on economic development. Notably, high-income countries tend to generate more
waste per capita compared to their low-income counterparts (World Bank Group, 2021), underscoring
the relationship between consumption patterns and waste generation. Globally, with an increasing
concentration of human activities in urban areas, waste management is becoming a critical aspect of
urban environmental stewardship.
Research Guidance
To meet the element the company must demonstrate absolute quantitative reductions in either its general waste or at least one of its waste categories (hazardous, non-hazardous, plastics and e-waste) and must not be regressing in any others. Therefore, any increases in waste generation levels will be unmet.
Examples of accepted metrics: Metric tonnes (tonnes, t), kilograms (kg), pounds (lbs), cubic metres (m≥)
The company does not need to have a target to meet this element, as long as measurable progress is disclosed over time.
We do not determine the rate of improvement, but the gap must be consistently closing over time rather than fluctuating annually. Increasing one year then decreasing the next is not accepted as consistent progress, unless the company specifies reasoning for the anomaly.
If the company discloses more than one metric of quality, it must report consistent progress in at least one metric without regressing in the others (they must stay constant as a minimum).
In outstanding cases where a company has a target that it will clearly not meet, this element may be unmet. These will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
residuals and by-products, whether solids, liquids, or gaseous, and hazardous or non-hazardous.
These diverse waste streams are predominantly handled by municipal waste management systems.
However, the effectiveness of such systems varies, and challenges are particularly pronounced in low-
income countries. It's noteworthy that waste, being a by-product of consumption, exhibits distinct
patterns based on economic development. Notably, high-income countries tend to generate more
waste per capita compared to their low-income counterparts (World Bank Group, 2021), underscoring
the relationship between consumption patterns and waste generation. Globally, with an increasing
concentration of human activities in urban areas, waste management is becoming a critical aspect of
urban environmental stewardship.
Research Guidance
To meet the element the company must demonstrate absolute quantitative reductions in either its general waste or at least one of its waste categories (hazardous, non-hazardous, plastics and e-waste) and must not be regressing in any others. Therefore, any increases in waste generation levels will be unmet.
Examples of accepted metrics: Metric tonnes (tonnes, t), kilograms (kg), pounds (lbs), cubic metres (m≥)
The company does not need to have a target to meet this element, as long as measurable progress is disclosed over time.
We do not determine the rate of improvement, but the gap must be consistently closing over time rather than fluctuating annually. Increasing one year then decreasing the next is not accepted as consistent progress, unless the company specifies reasoning for the anomaly.
If the company discloses more than one metric of quality, it must report consistent progress in at least one metric without regressing in the others (they must stay constant as a minimum).
In outstanding cases where a company has a target that it will clearly not meet, this element may be unmet. These will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report