Baseline & Additionality
A baseline refers to a reference point used to compare measurements with a default scenario. By establishing this benchmark, organizations can quantify the effectiveness of their actions, track progress over time, and make informed decisions.
Natural Baselines
A natural baseline serves the purpose of measuring the degree to which human intervention has an effect on existing ecosystem balances. However, this concept is rendered useless in waste, where all risks and harm emerge from human activity, as well as their management and remediation efforts. In waste systems, the focus is on the assessment of waste responsibilities, and all events where responsibilities emerge or are fulfilled, happen within the scope of human efforts and intervention, beyond natural balances.
The natural baseline of waste management and remediation is zero.
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A natural baseline is the only valid approach to eliminate externalities.
The natural state of things should be used as a baseline to measure the impact of human activity. As responsibility is an inherent characteristic of human action, everything that occurs naturally carries no responsibility. Identifying which actions convey responsibility requires understanding what is natural and what is not.
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The natural baseline for waste is zero, as there is no waste in nature.
Waste does not exist in nature, as it is always a result of human activity. Nature is a perfectly balanced system where all byproducts are either used by other organisms or broken down in sustainable ways. A zero natural baseline approach is correct because it reflects the fact that waste is not a natural element of the environment.
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All waste events where responsibilities are created or extinguished should be accounted for.
Given that the natural baseline for waste is zero, all events have to be accounted for because every increase or decrease in waste risks and harm is a product of human intervention and is, by definition, additional to the natural baseline.
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A consistent baseline definition must be applied to all systems and events.
Where different baselines are used for different types of events, like generation and termination, accounting discrepancies arise and market participants are treated unfairly. A consistent baseline approach ensures that all measurements follow the same approach.
Comparing Waste & Carbon
In carbon accounting frameworks, natural carbon flows need to be properly established to measure the degree by which human intervention impacts the natural balance. However, carbon differs from waste in many aspects, and the indiscriminate replication of concepts from carbon systems to waste can result in methodological flaws that undermine the system's intended purpose.
| Carbon Systems | Waste Systems | |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Baseline | Carbon is naturally cycled; human intervention alters a pre existing balance of natural events. | Waste is always anthropogenic. Human intervention is the cause of all events affecting the balance. |
| Equilibrium | Equilibrium is achieved through stabilization of captures and emissions. | Equilibrium is achieved when management efforts match generation and when capture matches leakage. |
| Permanency | Organic carbon storages are temporary, as captured carbon can return to the atmosphere. | Waste termination is permanent. Termination mechanisms are non reversible. |
Internal Baselines
Internal baselines represent the reference points established by an organization or a system to measure and track waste performance over time. Unlike natural baselines, which are external and universally applicable benchmarks, internal baselines are specific to the entity setting them.
- Subsystem Boundaries. Internal baselines can be used to track performance across an organization, a business unit, an activity, an establishment, a product, or whatever subsystem is being analyzed.
- Historical Datasets. Internal baselines are determined by analyzing historical data within the organization. This involves reviewing past waste audits, reports, records and any previous waste initiatives.
- Benchmarking. Organizations can use internal baselines to benchmark their performance against industry standards, regulatory requirements, and their own sustainability goals.
- Continuous Improvement. Once established, internal baselines are not static; they should be reviewed and updated to reflect the changing operational realities and waste practices to drive progress towards better performance.