SUSTAINABILITY


target, which stated businesses should recycle a minimum of 65% of packaging and materials by 2025.


TBL + CSR = GROWTH Implementing triple bottom line


accounting and increasing CSR efforts brings benefits not only from an environmental and ethical standpoint, but also from a financial perspective. Supporting the good- for-business case further, US-based consultancy firm Pure Strategies published a report on business sustainability projects last year, which shows a strong correlation between sustainable investment and business growth. Of 152 surveyed companies, 27% of those that had already implemented sustainability projects such as using recycled materials saw $5m in increased sales, and 33% saw $5m or more in benefits from making efforts to take good care of their employees; the triple bottom line in all its glory.


By implementing these strategies and policies, UK businesses can reap the same benefits and start to have a positive impact upon the environment simultaneously.


WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT Businesses must also take into


account the opinions and values of their employees in order to effectively implement a good CSR strategy. A recent study by facilities management service, Direct365, revealed that more than one in four employees want the companies they work for to step up for the environment.


It’s not just employees who are keen to see companies get serious on their green credentials; consumers are also pushing for change as 27% say that any business they associate with needs to have clear CSR policies in place.


HOW THE FURNITURE RECYCLING GROUP


CAN HELP We are big advocates of the circular economy and actively encourage businesses to consider where their products will end up when choosing materials. The circular economy


www.tomorrowsfm.com


is created when materials are manufactured, used by the consumer, recycled and reused as a new product, thereby starting the cycle again. It is a better alternative to the traditional linear economy, which results in materials being wasted or ending up in landfill and damaging the land on which we live.


Government targets state that we need to recycle at least 50% of household waste by 2020, and with rising landfill taxes pushing up the cost of putting waste in the ground, it’s becoming increasingly important for companies to invest in recycling initiatives in order to divert waste away from landfill.


“WITH OVER 700,000


MATTRESSES RECYCLED SO FAR, WE HAVE ACHIEVED AN


AVERAGE RECYCLING RATE OF 96%.”


Though the government has set targets for household waste, there is currently no legislation in place surrounding the consideration of end of life scenarios in furniture and mattress production. However, we believe that businesses should already be putting procedures in place to ensure their products can be recycled efficiently, as those who are making efforts to combat this problem now will put themselves one step ahead of future legislation.


In this way, businesses can go far beyond reducing and recycling packaging materials and installing energy efficient light bulbs to improve their sustainability. Organisations such as furniture retailers, housing associations, hospitals and hotel chains can go a step further and implement recycling strategies for the bigger items they regularly deal with such as mattresses and other furniture.


These larger items like sofas, beds and mattresses, pose recycling challenges due to their size and mix of materials. These items are known as ‘bulky waste’, and we throw away


around 1,600,000 tonnes of it every year in the UK.


This is where The Furniture Recycling Group come in. Partnering with businesses to provide a recycling service for used mattresses, we help them operate a triple bottom line by reducing their impact on the planet and help fulfil their waste recycling targets. Spotting a gap in the market, we developed and perfected a dismantling process for mattresses, which make up a significant chunk of bulky waste items.


This manual process separates the 14 different material types commonly found in mattresses. Using specially designed tools, the ticking, comfort layers and insulator pads are removed separately ensuring no cross contamination of fibres. Stitching and staples are also removed.


With over 700,000 mattresses recycled so far, we have achieved an average recycling rate of 96%, with the remainder going to energy from waste providing 100% landfill diversion.


Our sister company R&R Beds then take the recycled materials and uses them to produce brand new high quality, low-cost mattresses, which are then sold to local authorities, charities and social housing groups, thus facilitating the circular economy and contributing to the growth and success of these essential organisations.


NEXT STEPS FOR


BUSINESSES We are actively encouraging partnerships with businesses and organisations who regularly deal with household waste, and mattresses in particular.


Businesses and organisations who build waste recycling and reuse into their sustainability plans are not only taking another big step towards operating a triple bottom line approach, but are also beginning to pave the way for responsible business practice and becoming advocates of the circular economy.


www.tfrgroup.co.uk TOMORROW’S FM | 35


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