investing in visible recycling solutions, businesses can demonstrate their dedication to sustainability.
Time to take action
Sustainability is at the top of every agenda, and with over half of consumers still feeling as though businesses aren’t doing enough13
, the pressure is on. What’s more,
commercial decisionmakers are demanding more transparency and are hyper aware of ‘green washing’ practices. Today, it’s simply not enough to implement woolly sustainable practices. In fact, 88% of research participants state that it’s important for businesses to have third-party accreditation14
, but how can businesses turn sustainability ideas into action?
reuse, as well as building a better future – sustainably, responsibly and commercially – the sooner the business community can begin to drive both sustainability and commercial gains.
Recycling can benefit your business
Recycling the right way is where business can really win. We know that waste will always be generated but the more that goes back into the circular economy, the better. When compared to energy recovery from waste, which is the conversion of non-recyclable waste materials into usable heat, electricity or fuel8
, recycling is the preferred
route as it requires less energy and resource to process waste materials. In fact, a combination of recycling and composting can save three to four times more energy than an incinerator produces9
.
Next year, new legislation in Wales will come into force meaning material that is prime for recycling must be separated prior to collection and kept separate throughout processing. With similar legal requirements already in place in England, awareness of recycling in the UK is only increasing, as is the pressure on businesses to recycle the right way. What’s more, with non-compliance resulting in hefty fines and potentially even civil sanctions, there has never been a better time for businesses to reassess their waste management operations.
Not only will complying with legislation see your business’ recycling efficiency improve, it can also help you cut costs and enhance your sustainability credentials. Take DPD, for example. After using the free online environmental audit tool, the international logistics business was able to quickly highlight the environmental and business savings that could be made.
By implementing a multi-stream recycling system, the leading parcel group achieved greater efficiency rates of over 90%, as well as seeing 27% cost savings of not sending waste to general waste disposal. We know that for 60% of businesses, the perceived cost of implementing sustainability practices such as recycling can be off- putting10
, but DPD were able to recoup their investment within the year.
Consumers are demanding better from the businesses they buy from. In fact, 57% of consumers say that ‘reducing waste and increasing recycling’ is very important11
and
a staggering 88% want brands to help them be more sustainable12
www.tomorrowscleaning.com . By taking waste management seriously and TOMORROW'S CLEANING | 7
RCP’s new insights report ‘Why product longevity is a powerful first step to improving commercial sustainability’ does just that. The report outlines the multiple challenges faced by businesses, providing data- driven recommendations to combat ‘green confusion’, and helping businesses to reassess purchasing decisions that will ultimately improve operational and systemic sustainability. It argues that low frequency sustainability and a focus on investing in durability is far more effective than an increase in so-called ‘green purchasing’ for both the planet and business budgets.
When it comes to commercial entities, the production of waste is inevitable, which means ‘prevention’ simply isn’t achievable. For businesses, the focus should be on ‘re-use’ by placing greater importance on the durability of their recycling solutions, thus eliminating the need for costly and damaging manufacture, and on implementing best practice for ‘recycling’. Placing these at the forefront of a sustainability strategy could see businesses win big both in terms of sustainability and commerciality.
www.rubbermaid.eu/en/ www.lovesustainability.com
1. RCP Research - Question 8 2. Kantar Global Download on Sustainability (August 2022) 3. RCP Research – Question 15 4. Global Warming Potential from Production (section 4.2.2) 5. Material Degradation in Recycling Processes (section 3.1) 6. The Benefits of Extending Passive Product Lifespans 7. RCP Research - Question 25 8. United States Environmental Protection Agency
9. J. Morriss and D. Canzonieri, Recycling versus Incineration: An Energy Conservation Analysis, Seattle, Sound Resource Management Group, 1993
10. RCP Research - Question 15 11. Kantar / Public study on climate change / September 2021
12.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ solitairetownsend/2018/11/21/consumers-want-you-to-help- them-make-a-difference/
13. Kantar Global Download on Sustainability – August 2022 14. RCP Research – Question 19
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