The roll-out of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) marks a giant step forward for corporate sustainability reporting in Europe. But its extensive reporting requirements also introduce new challenges for the thousands of companies under its scope.

If your business is one of them, gaining a solid understanding of the European Sustainability Reporting Requirements (ESRS)—including ESRS E5: Resource use and circular economy—is essential. Not only is this knowledge key to achieving CSRD compliance, but it also provides valuable insights into crafting strong circular economy policies, targets, metrics, and action plans.

But what exactly is ESRS E5, why does it matter, and what are its key requirements? More importantly, how can your business implement it effectively? Keep reading for a straightforward breakdown to help you approach this standard with confidence.

Quick recap: What are the ESRS?

Before jumping into ESRS E5, let’s take a step back and recap the basics. The ESRS were developed by the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) to give businesses clear guidelines for complying with the CSRD.

Think of the ESRS as a comprehensive framework that covers all the important aspects of sustainability reporting. They include two cross-cutting standards and ten topical standards that dive into specific areas of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters.

What is ESRS E5: Resource use and circular economy?

As you can see in the table above, ESRS E5 is one of five specific environmental standards under the ESRS. Like all topical standards, reporting on ESRS E5 applies only if your company deems circularity and resource use relevant to its business activities after conducting a double materiality assessment (more on this shortly).

This standard provides a framework for reporting on resource use and the circular economy, focusing specifically on the inflows and outflows of resources—like materials, products, and waste—ensuring transparency and accountability in how companies manage these processes.

What are the key focus areas of ESRS E5?

When reporting on ESRS E5, businesses should focus on these core areas:

1. Assessing impacts, risks, and opportunities

Evaluate the environmental impacts, risks, and opportunities of resource use and circular economy practices across your operations and the value chain.

2. Managing resource flows

Track and disclose the inflows (materials sourced) and outflows (waste, products) of resources, focusing on circularity and waste minimization.

3. Implementing policies and actions

Develop and implement policies and actions to optimize resource use, prevent waste, and support circular economy principles.

4. Setting clear targets

Define measurable targets for resource efficiency and circular practices, aligned with sustainability goals.

5. Evaluating financial effects

Disclose potential financial risks and opportunities linked to resource use and circular economy strategies.

The 6 disclosure requirements for ESRS E5 (and how to interpret them) 

Now that we’ve got some background about ESRS E5, let’s take a look at its disclosure requirements in more detail:

Disclosure Requirement related to ESRS 2 IRO-1: Description of the processes to identify and assess material resource use and circular economy-related impacts, risks and opportunities

Organizations are required to describe their processes for identifying and assessing material impacts, risks, and opportunities related to resource use and the circular economy. 

This includes explaining the methodologies and tools used, detailing the interconnection between risks and opportunities, and describing engagement processes with stakeholders, including affected communities.

The aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how resource-related risks and opportunities are integrated into the organization’s operations and strategy.

Disclosure requirement E5-1: Policies related to resource use and circular economy

Under E5-1, organizations must disclose policies that address material impacts, risks, and opportunities associated with resource use and circular economy principles. These policies should aim to reduce reliance on non-renewable resources, promote regeneration of ecosystems, and ensure waste minimization. 

They must also cover the entire value chain, including upstream suppliers and downstream users. Transparent communication of these policies, along with alignment to sustainability standards, is critical for effective implementation.

Disclosure requirement E5-2: Actions and resources related to resource use and circular economy

E5-2 requires organizations to disclose the actions taken and resources allocated to achieve their resource use and circular economy objectives. This involves detailing specific measures aligned with waste reduction and circular design strategies, such as reusing or recycling materials. 

Organizations should also outline initiatives across their value chain and describe the financial, technological, or infrastructural resources invested in these actions, demonstrating their commitment to achieving tangible outcomes.

Disclosure requirement E5-3: Targets related to resource use and circular economy

To meet E5-3, organizations must disclose their targets for managing resource use and circular economy impacts. These targets should include measurable objectives, such as increasing circular material use rates, reducing reliance on virgin materials, and minimizing waste. 

Organizations must explain how these targets align with ecological thresholds and whether they are legally required or voluntarily adopted. Clear and time-bound targets indicate an organization’s dedication to sustainability and enable stakeholders to track progress.

Disclosure requirement E5-4: Resource inflows

This requirement focuses on disclosing information about resource inflows, including the materials and products used in operations. 

Organizations must report the total weight of resources, distinguishing between renewable and non-renewable inputs, and indicate the proportion of recycled or reused materials. The methodologies and assumptions used to calculate these figures should also be explained, providing transparency about the organization’s material sourcing and usage practices.

Disclosure requirement E5-5: Resource outflows

E5-5 addresses the disclosure of resource outflows, including waste management and the design of outputs for circularity. 

Organizations must provide information on the durability, recyclability, or reusability of their products and materials, as well as the methods used for waste processing. 

Details about hazardous and non-hazardous waste, along with strategies for waste reduction, help stakeholders understand how organizations contribute to circular economy principles through their output management.

Disclosure requirement E5-6: Anticipated financial effects from resource use and circular economy-related impacts, risks and opportunities

Under E5-6, organizations are required to disclose the potential financial effects of material risks and opportunities associated with resource use and circular economy practices. This includes estimating the financial impact on cash flows, costs, and access to capital over short-, medium-, and long-term horizons. 

Organizations must describe the assumptions and uncertainties involved in these assessments, providing a clear link between sustainability efforts and financial strategy. Additionally, they should highlight opportunities for value creation, such as cost savings or new revenue streams from circular economy initiatives.

How to implement the ESRS E5 disclosure requirements

With so many requirements, implementing ESRS E3 can seem overwhelming. Simplifying the process into clear, actionable steps can help. Here’s how to approach it:

1. Perform a double materiality assessment

As mentioned earlier, not every ESRS topical standard is mandatory—you only need to report on those deemed material to your business. A double materiality assessment is the first step in determining whether impacts, risks, and opportunities related to resource inflows, outflows, and waste are significant for your company and stakeholders.

This involves evaluating impact materiality: how your organization’s resource use and waste generation affect the environment, directly or indirectly, and financial materiality: how environmental risks and opportunities linked to resources and waste influence your company’s financial performance.

Your assessment should evaluate the following sub-topics:

• Resource inflows: Analyze materials entering your operations, including reliance on virgin versus recycled inputs, to identify opportunities for greater sustainability.
• Resource outflows: Assess the lifecycle of materials leaving your operations, focusing on durability, reusability, and recyclability to align with circular economy principles.
• Waste: Evaluate waste generation and management, including recycling and disposal, while prioritizing strategies to minimize waste and adopt circular systems.

{{custom-cta}}

2. Establish policies and processes

Once you’ve determined your priorities, you should develop policies that outline your approach to managing resource use and adopting circular economy practices, focusing on waste reduction, regenerative resources, and ecosystem regeneration.

In the UK, for instance, 49% of manufacturers included becoming a circular business as part of their strategy in 2024, up from 44% in 2023—highlighting the competitive advantage of circularity.

3. Define measurable, time-bound targets

Next, it’s time to set clear, actionable goals to improve material efficiency, minimize waste, and support circularity. 

Leading sports retailer Decathlon, for example, is actively embracing circular economy principles to enhance sustainability. It aims to increase the proportion of its products that are repairable to 30% by 2026. These efforts have already helped improve its performance in 2023, with 16.1% of their products considered repairable, up from 11% in 2022. 

4. Measure and disclose material inflows and outflows

With your targets in place, you can now track and report data on resource inputs, such as the total materials used and the share of renewable or recycled inputs, as well as outputs, including waste and circularity-focused products.

For instance, Apple's 2023 Environmental Progress Report highlights the company's efforts in using recycled and renewable materials, improving material and manufacturing efficiency, and reducing plastic and waste through packaging innovation.

5. Implement circular actions

You should also take practical steps to integrate circular economy principles, such as designing for durability, increasing recyclability, and reducing reliance on virgin materials. Implementing these principles has been proven to reduce costs, improve resource efficiency, and enhance brand reputation. 

Furniture giant IKEA, for example, plans to be fully circular by 2030, incorporating strategies like designing products for repair and reuse, using more recycled materials, and offering furniture take-back programs. These efforts have cut costs and strengthened IKEA’s sustainability credentials.

6. Disclose financial impacts

Analyze and report the financial effects of resource use and circular economy practices, highlighting risks, opportunities, and cost-saving potential.

For example, Schneider Electric’s circular economy initiatives like its leasing models and take-back schemes accounted for 12% of its revenue from 2018 to 2020.

7. Report on methodologies and assumptions

Ensure transparency by detailing the methodologies, data sources, and assumptions used in your disclosures. This helps to build credibility and enables auditors to understand the basis of your data and goals.

Vandemoortele, a Belgian food company, is a great example of this. They conducted a six-month double materiality assessment, involving surveys and interviews with 1,800 internal and 117 external stakeholders. They refined a list of 200 impacts, risks, and opportunities through 10 focus groups and 22 interviews to determine what really mattered.

By sharing this process in detail, Vandemoortele made their reporting transparent and credible. Following this kind of approach makes your ESRS E5 reporting both reliable and easy to understand.

8. Align ESRS E5 disclosures with other environmental standards

Integrate your ESRS E5 reporting with related standards, such as climate change (ESRS E1) and biodiversity (ESRS E4), to present a comprehensive environmental strategy.

For example, Nestlé’s commitment to design 100% of its plastic packaging for recycling by 2025 is integrated with its overall sustainability goals, helping to connect waste reduction with climate and biodiversity targets.

How to select the right software for your ESRS E5 reporting

With the CSRD deadlines fast approaching, having the right tools in place is key to meeting ESRS E5 requirements. Businesses need simple, effective ways to track resource inflows, manage waste, and report on circular economy practices. Clear, accurate data not only ensures compliance but also helps highlight your sustainability efforts.

Using software like Coolset makes the process much easier. It can help you:

• Organize and analyze resource data.
• Spot inefficiencies and track progress toward your circular economy goals.
• Meet CSRD reporting requirements with ease.

Ready to simplify your ESRS E5 reporting? Try Coolset’s interactive product tour or book a  free advisory call today to see how it can work for you.