Amount of biodegradable materials used in the organization’s products (including packaging) during the reporting period.
Biodegradable Materials (OI5101)
- Reporting Format Unit of Measure (PD1602)
- Metric Type Metric
- Metric Level Product/Service, Organization
- IRIS Metric Citation IRIS, 2021. Biodegradable Materials (OI5101). v5.2.
Footnote
Organizations should footnote all assumptions used.
Usage Guidance
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This metric is intended to capture the quantity of biodegradable material—material that is capable of decomposing under natural conditions—used in the organization’s products during the reporting period.
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In some contexts, this metric can serve as an indicator of whether the outcome being sought by an investor or organization is occurring (the WHAT dimension of impact). For more on the alignment of IRIS metrics to the five dimensions of impact, see IRIS+ and the Five Dimensions of Impact (https://iris.thegiin.org/document/iris-and-the-five-dimensions/). No single metric is sufficient to understand an impact; rather, metrics are selected as a set across all dimensions of impact. When possible, the selection of metrics to measure and describe the five dimensions should be based on best practice and evidence.
Impact Categories & Themes
Cross Category
Metrics identified as "cross-category" are those that are relevant to any IRIS+ Impact Category or Impact Theme (i.e., these metrics are not specific to any particular industry/category or theme).
SDG Goals & Targets
Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG Target 8.4
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG Target 9.4
Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG Target 11.6
Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG Target 12.4
- SDG Target 12.5
- SDG Target 12.6
Life Below Water
Metric History
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June 2025 - IRIS+ v5.3b Released (current version)
No change.
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December 2024 - IRIS+ v5.3a Released
No change.
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June 2022 - IRIS+ v5.3 Released
Immaterial change. Minor revision to usage guidance for clarity.
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May 2021 - IRIS+ v5.2 Released
No change.
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January 2020 - IRIS+ v5.1 Released
No change.
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May 2019 - IRIS+ v5.0 Released
No change.
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March 2016 - IRIS+ v4.0 Released
No change.
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March 2014 - IRIS+ v3.0 Released
No change.
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November 2011 - IRIS+ v2.2 Released
No change.
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February 2011 - IRIS+ v2.1 Released
No change.
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September 2010 - IRIS+ v2.0 Released
Material change. Recycled Materials (OI4328), Biodegradable Materials (OI5101)and Toxic Materials (OI5942) replaced Material Usage (OEN44). Metric trifurcated to better differentiate between materials used.
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September 2009 - IRIS+ v1.0 Released
New metric. Material Usage (OEN44) was developed via the Original IRIS Working Group.