The importance of this Standard

Published in May 2020, GRI 306: Waste 2020 introduces a stronger relationship between materials and waste by assisting reporters in identifying and managing their waste-related practices and impacts throughout their value chain.

The Standard changes how companies measure and understand waste, responding to global concerns about the increase in waste generation and its impact on the environment, society and the economy. It encourages companies to prevent waste from being created at source and helps unlock opportunities for circular business practices.

By including updated disclosures, circularity and waste prevention concepts, the Waste Standard reflects global best practice on waste management and provides an update to the previous GRI waste-related disclosures.

GRI 306: Waste 2020 is freely available for download as part of the GRI Standards.

Basis for conclusions

A 75-day public comment period for the exposure draft of the Standard ran from 1 May to 15 July 2019. 

'Basis for conclusions for GRI 306: Waste 2020' provides a summary of the public comments received. It also provides a summary of how the GSSB responded to these comments in the finalization of the Standard.

Public feedback record - Public Comment Period 1 May - 15 July 2019

Basis for Conclusions– Public Comment Period  1 May – 15 July 2019

About the project

Initiated by the GSSB in 2018, the aim of this project was to review and update the waste-related disclosures in GRI 306: Effluents and Waste 2016 and ensure that waste disclosures aligned with internationally-agreed best practices while reflecting recent developments in waste management and reporting.  

A multi-stakeholder working group was appointed by the GSSB in September 2018. An exposure draft was made available for a 75-day public comment period in the summer of 2019 which received over 50 submissions from organizations and individuals. All received comments were considered by the Waste Working Group and the GSSB. 

The project followed the GSSB Due Process Protocol, the implementation of which was overseen by the Due Process Oversight Committee.  

Want to know more

• Make use of the linkage document between the Waste Standard and the Circulytics tool
• Consult the frequently asked questions about the Standard
• Read how the Standard responds to the needs of investors