The business case for recycling

click to enlarge

It is the right thing to do

The statistics on how long it takes various materials to deteriorate are scary, especially when you compare these to the length of time that you are actually making use of that end-product (plastic container or newspaper or glass bottle etc.). By recycling you are setting the right example to all your employees. It is a low-cost investment in protecting the environment and preserving our natural resources in the community where you do business and where your employees and their families reside. This is also an opportunity to educate your employees on recycling and getting them all involved in also supporting this initiative. In turn they can take what they are learning back home to get their families and friends involved, and with that you have set a whole positive ripple effect in motion.

It can make you money

You can actually earn an income from your recycling initiative. Generally, this is unbudgeted income which can then be used to reward your team for having gone the extra mile or to buy a luxury item that you otherwise never would have spent money on. You can even go one step further and donate this money to a charity or use it to plant trees.

It can reduce your expenditure

When you return a glass bottle to the store, you actually get a bit of your original purchase price back. The same principle often applies when working with returnable packaging. By recycling packaging containers or bags between you and your supplier or between you and your clients, you can actually reduce the amount of packaging you need to purchase. Indirectly, you are also reducing the amount of waste your business is generating and through that you will reduce your waste removal cost. In this way recycling is reducing your planned expenditure and as a result, increasing your profit.

Employee engagement

Employees want to know that they are part of something that is contributing to the greater good. Employees are proud to work for a company that has a reputation for doing good. No matter what the core of your business model is, being involved in and contributing to a recycling initiative can be a significant positive contributor to effectively engaging your employees.

Team-building

You can even collect specific items for art projects and team-building events (for example empty roll-on containers and the inner carton from toilet rolls).

Recycling does not have to be costly - it can even be fun! Get your employees involved and let's all start doing our bit to protect our environment and reduce our carbon footprint.