MR4: External Review of Waste Data

Maximum Score

1.25 points

Input Method

Assessment Portal

Prefill

Not Eligible

Scoring method

Static

Validation

Evidence is manually validated

2026 Updates

None

Has the entity's waste data reported in WS1 been reviewed by an independent third party?

Assessment Instructions

Intent: What is the purpose of this indicator?

Third-party review on sustainability data provides investors and participants with confidence regarding the integrity and reliability of the reported information. This indicator inquires about the review of waste performance data across the whole portfolio.

Input: How do I complete this indicator?

Select yes, no, or not applicable.

If yes, state whether the waste production data has been checked, verified, or assured (select one option; the most detailed level of scrutiny to which the data was subject). If applicable, select the assurance/verification standard from the dropdown menu; GRESB does not require the selected standard to be specific to waste data. As such, a standard initially designed to verify/assure non-waste data (e.g., energy) can be selected as long as the same thoroughness and review criteria are clearly applied and referenced to data reported in WS1.

The Scheme Lists page contains the complete list of accepted assurance and verification standards.

Additional schemes may also receive recognition if they meet GRESB’s criteria. To submit a new scheme for review, please contact the GRESB team.

The final deadline for submitting a new assurance/verification scheme for review by the GRESB team is March 15th. Schemes submitted for review after March 15th will not be reviewed until the subsequent reporting year.

Terminology

Externally checked

Applies to instances when a third party has reviewed the data in a structured and consistent process, but no official certification has been awarded.

Externally verified

Applies to instances where a third party has reviewed the reporting against an existing scheme. When this checkbox is ticked, participants must select the scheme name from the dropdown.

• Note that GRESB treats verification and assurance equally in the context of the assessment.

Externally assured

Applies to instances where a third party has reviewed the data against an existing scheme. When this checkbox is ticked, participants should select the scheme name from the dropdown.

• Note that GRESB treats verification and assurance equally in the context of the assessment.

Validation: What evidence is required?

The provided evidence must cover the following elements:

1. Proof of the existence of the third-party waste data review. A clear indication that the reviewed data reflects the data reported in WS1.

2. A confirmation of the type of third-party review (checked, verified, or assured) and the used verification or assurance standard and formal statement (when applicable).

3. Proof that the waste data review was performed for the underlying assets of the reporting entity.

The provided evidence must:

1. Confirm the existence of the third-party energy/GHG/water/waste data review. This should clearly indicate that the reviewed data reflects the data reported in this indicator.

2. Confirm the type of third-party review (checked, verified, or assured), and a formal statement with the verification or assurance standard used (when applicable).

3. Prove that the energy/GHG/water/waste consumption data review was performed for the reporting entity's underlying assets.

4. *Prove that the data assurer/verifier is an independent third party to the reporting entity (when applicable).

*Third-party Independence: Beginning in 2026, GRESB will request additional documentation from a random sample of participants to confirm the third-party independence of their data assurance/verification provider (as defined in the Terminology section above). GRESB may reject an entity's evidence if it cannot confirm third-party independence.

Ongoing Verification/Assurance: If verification/assurance for the current reporting year is in the process but has not yet been finalized, evidence documents from the previous year are acceptable if it is explicitly stated that the process is still ongoing at the submission date.

First-Time Verification/Assurance: For entities undergoing data assurance or verification for the first time, GRESB accepts a confirmation from the auditor indicating that assurance or verification is in progress and valid for the respective reporting year. The confirmation letter must specify the standard against which the data is assured or verified. All other validation requirements remain applicable.

Non-Alignment of Reporting Years: If verification/assurance does not align with the chosen reporting year, e.g., data assurance is calendar year but GRESB reporting is fiscal year, two verification statements are needed to ensure that 100% of the data reported was verified/assured.

Note: This indicator differs from RP1 in both granularity (level of detail) and scope:

• If data granularity required in WS1 is higher than in RP1, participants can not assume that data review documented in RP1 also applies to WS1.

• However, if data granularity provided in WS1 is lower than RP1, then participants can assume that independent review documented in RP1 implicitly covers this indicator.

In the latter case, responses will only be considered valid if reporting boundaries for both sets of indicators are equivalent. Any difference in reporting boundaries needs to be thoroughly supported by evidence and clearly explained by participants.

Validation Basics

Scoring

Scoring: How does GRESB score this indicator?

Scoring of this indicator is equal to the fraction assigned to the selected option, multiplied by the total score of the indicator.

Evidence: The evidence is manually validated and assigned a multiplier, according to the table below. The evidence must support the validation requirements.

If any requirements are not met, the evidence may be partially accepted or not accepted depending on the level of alignment with the requirements.

Validation status	Multiplier
Accepted	3/3
Partially Accepted	1/3
Not Accepted	0

Scoring Basics

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References

GRESB’s accepted assurance and verification standards based upon their alignment with CDP's Verification Guidance.

EPRA Best Practices Recommendations on Sustainability Reporting, 3rd version, September 2017: 5.4, Third party assurance

Get Support: Solution Providers

GRESB Solution Providers are independent, third-party organizations within the GRESB Partner network that offer specialized products, tools, and services to support sustainability performance outside the GRESB Assessment process.

The organizations below deliver commercially available solutions designed to help drive improvement for this indicator. Engagement is managed directly between the reporting entity and the Solution Provider.

GRESB will continue to update this section as the GRESB Solution Provider network grows. Please check back regularly to find GRESB Solution Providers who can support your sustainability performance.

See Directory Profile