RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
pandemic, as organisations have had to re-evaluate their existing operations to make sure they are providing the greatest return on investment – not solely financially, but environmentally too.
Sustainability and quality for
environmental good The truth is that a commitment to sustainable procurement – especially in the case of temporary waste storage solutions – is also a commitment to quality.
Taking wheeled bins as an example, if working with suppliers that solely provide equipment made from virgin or low-quality recycled material, this doesn’t only contribute to the extreme pressure on the earth’s fast-depleting resources, but it also means that there’s a greater risk of experiencing supply chain shortages and poorer overall product performance. This, in turn, can have severe operational and productivity effects on the business.
“Of 300 facilities managers 93% of people cited environmental impact as a benefit of adopting sustainable practice – with 62% mentioning the economic advantages and 85% also referencing the social responsibility element.”
As such, the quality and origin of the material used in the manufacturing of waste containers are vital considerations for FM teams – as, ultimately, this will impact the lifecycle of the container.
This all comes back to choosing suppliers that truly care about the planet – and who don’t simply pay lip service to having green credentials. By sourcing a provider who has high quality standards in place, as well as a commitment to closed loop manufacturing, this helps FM teams have peace of mind that their investment isn’t only the right decision in the moment, but in the long term too.
This is because sustainable procurement alone is not the answer – what happens to the product when it reaches the end of its life, is also pivotal.
Sticking with the wheelie bin example, suppliers that offer takeback schemes – collecting containers and reprocessing the material to manufacture more items, to the same high- quality standard as the original unit – demonstrate greater environmental care and responsibility.
Is sustainable manufacturing the
answer? The quality of the plastic used in the manufacturing process of wheeled bins plays a crucial role in determining the longevity, durability, and overall reliability of the unit.
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This is one of the many reasons the FM industry can’t operate on price point alone. Of course, budgets have to be respected and stuck to, but if equipment is procured solely on it having a cheaper price, this will see facilities managers having to replace it more frequently – equating to a bigger bottom-line blow in the long term.
But regardless of the price in financial terms, it’s vital that considerations are given to the ‘cost’ that less ethical decisions have on the environment – including increased carbon emissions, higher landfill volumes, and depleting resources, to name just a few.
The fact that our world’s resources are running out should be a wake-up call to make people reconsider the ‘way it’s always been done’ and see if there’s an eco-friendlier alternative. After all, it’s by making more conscious choices during the procurement process that businesses, FM teams, and individuals have the power to influence new habits and a more sustainable future.
We can put this into context by looking at HDPE – a material commonly used in the manufacturing of plastic products. The energy consumed in the production of recycled HDPE is 12% of that required to process its virgin counterpart, and the overall environmental impact from producing recycled HDPE – as a CO2-emission-output equivalent – is 35% that of virgin.
In truth, there are also many other certifications and ecolabels facilities management professionals can look out for, to ensure they’re purchasing the most sustainable waste equipment solutions.
For instance, ‘The Blue Angel’ ecolabel is one which sets high environmental standards for product design – looking at longevity, ethical sourcing of materials and low pollution impact. Ultimately, this accreditation empowers people to understand where goods come from and their closed loop life – which often inevitably influences their purchase.
Under ‘The Blue Angel’ standard, the share of post- consumer resin (PCR) in the plastics must be a minimum of 80%. And if more manufacturers strived to comply with such labels, this would have the potential to reduce our consumption of virgin plastics – a huge opportunity given that the world produces around 381 million tonnes of plastic waste every year.
While waste storage solutions are one example though, the same sentiment applies to all sustainable procurement decisions – whether related to energy, lighting, building materials, or cleanliness.
The great news is that a high percentage of FM teams are already adopting sustainable procurement practice – this trend just needs to continue. And by considering the entire lifecycle of a product during this process, the FM industry cannot only help to safeguard resources but also drive value, reduce costs, and foster more ethical supply chains.
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