How Do I Describe My Company's Waste Management Targets in an ESG Report?

"We don't set formal waste targets" — a small goal still counts

When companies reach the waste management targets section, it is tempting to think this only applies to businesses with facilities teams and monthly waste audits. In reality, a waste target is simply a measurable statement of where you want to improve. Even a small ambition, like "reduce printing by half this year," is a legitimate starting point.

If you already have an informal sense of "we should cut down on paper" or "we should recycle more consistently," you are most of the way there. The task in this section is to turn that general intention into something specific and trackable.

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What is this question actually asking?

This section asks for measurable waste management targets, typically covering:

• Total waste reduction
• Recycling rates
• Landfill diversion
• Circular economy metrics (such as equipment lifespan and reuse)

For each target, a strong answer includes a specific metric, a timeframe, and who is accountable for tracking it. You do not need a target in every category, only where it is genuinely relevant and achievable for your company's size and operations.

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Good waste targets are measurable

The same principle applies here as with any ESG target: a target should say what will improve, by how much, by when, and how you will know if you have succeeded.

Compare these two statements:

• "We want to reduce waste." (vague — not a target)
• "Reduce paper consumption by 80% by 2026, compared to a 2022 baseline." (measurable — a real target)

The second version gives a clear way to check progress. Wherever possible, include percentages, baseline years, deadlines, and a named person or role responsible for tracking it.

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Common waste target areas

Total waste reduction

This is an overall target covering general waste, recyclables, and any specialist waste streams, often measured per employee to account for company growth. A realistic SME version might simply track total waste generated year over year, without needing a precise per-employee calculation if that level of measurement is not currently feasible.

Recycling rate

This covers what proportion of waste is actually recycled rather than sent to general waste. A meaningful target here depends on having a reasonably reliable way to track it, such as through your waste contractor's reporting. If you do not currently have this data, a reasonable first-year target might simply be to start measuring it consistently, with a percentage target following once a baseline exists.

Single-use plastics elimination

This is often one of the easiest targets for smaller companies to set and achieve. Examples include eliminating disposable cups, cutlery, or bottles from the office by a specific date. It is concrete, achievable, and easy to verify.

E-waste management

This might include ensuring all electronic equipment is recycled through certified routes, or extending the useful life of IT hardware through maintenance rather than early replacement. For a company that leases its IT equipment, part of this may already be handled by the leasing arrangement, which is worth reflecting in the target.

Paper consumption reduction

This covers reducing printing through digital-first processes, defaulting to double-sided printing, or eliminating unnecessary printed materials. This is usually one of the more measurable and achievable targets for an office-based business, since paper use is relatively easy to track.

Food waste minimisation

Where relevant (offices with kitchens or catering), this covers diverting food waste from landfill through composting, or simply reducing food waste generated in the first place. If your company does not have catering or a kitchen generating meaningful food waste, this category can reasonably be left out.

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Structure and accountability matter

For each target, briefly note:

• The specific metric or goal
• The timeframe (short-term, medium-term, or long-term)
• Who is accountable for tracking and reporting progress

You do not need a dedicated sustainability lead or monthly audits to have credible accountability. For a smaller company, "our office manager tracks waste-related changes and reports informally to the team each year" is a legitimate and honest structure. What matters is that someone is genuinely responsible, not that the process mirrors a large enterprise's operation.

Grouping targets by time horizon can also help:

• Short-term: Achievable within a year or two, like eliminating single-use plastics.
• Medium-term: Requiring more consistent tracking, like recycling rate improvements.
• Long-term: Bigger ambitions, like approaching zero-waste-to-landfill.

Not every company needs targets across all three horizons. Set what is realistic for where your business is today.

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Keep targets realistic and proportionate

It is tempting to borrow specific, precise-sounding targets from a large company's ESG report, such as a 30% reduction per employee, a 75% recycling rate, or a 90% food waste diversion rate. These numbers only mean something if your company can actually track and report on them. If you do not currently measure waste with that level of precision, a borrowed target risks being unverifiable rather than credible.

A better approach for most SMEs: start with what you can reasonably measure today, even if the target itself is modest. This could be "eliminate single-use plastic cups and cutlery from the office by next year" or "reduce printed pages by half compared to last year." As your measurement improves, your targets can become more specific and ambitious in future reporting periods.

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Common mistakes to avoid

• Writing vague ambitions instead of measurable targets: "Reduce waste" is not a target; "reduce paper consumption by 80% by 2026 versus a 2022 baseline" is.
• Copying precise targets you can't actually track: A specific percentage target is only meaningful if you have a way to measure progress against it.
• Forgetting baseline years: A percentage reduction target needs a clear starting point to mean anything.
• Forgetting accountability: A target with no named owner, even an informal one, looks unmanaged.
• Setting targets disconnected from your actual operations: A food waste target does not belong in your report if your company has no kitchen or catering generating meaningful food waste.

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How Wardn helps

Wardn provides a structured template with example wording covering common waste target areas (including reduction, recycling, e-waste, paper, and single-use items) so you can adapt it to reflect goals your company can genuinely track and work toward. The same structure can be reused and updated year after year, making it straightforward to show progress against previous targets as your measurement and ambitions develop.

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Frequently asked questions

Do we need targets in every waste category, like food waste and e-waste?

No. Only include targets for categories genuinely relevant to your operations. A company with no kitchen or catering, for example, can reasonably leave out a food waste target.

What makes a waste target measurable rather than just an ambition?

A measurable target states what will improve, by how much or to what rate, by when, and who is responsible for tracking it. "Reduce waste" is an ambition; "reduce paper consumption by 80% by 2026" is a target.

Should we set a specific recycling rate target if we don't currently measure our recycling rate?

Not right away. If you do not have a reliable way to measure this yet, a more honest first step is to set a target to start tracking it consistently, and set a specific percentage target once you have a real baseline.

Do we need a sustainability lead or waste audits to have credible waste targets?

No. For a smaller company, it is entirely reasonable for an office manager or another team member to informally track progress and report on it once a year. What matters is that someone is genuinely accountable.

What's the most common mistake companies make with waste targets?

Copying specific, precise-sounding targets from larger organisations without having a way to actually measure or verify progress against them. It is better to set a smaller, trackable target than an impressive one you cannot follow up on.

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