Plastic recycling are a great thing for businesses to do. Despite the obvious environmental benefits that we all know about recycling, businesses can see many hidden improvements to their daily operations.
For one, many customers are looking for businesses that are willing to play their part in building an eco-friendly world. Following plastic recycling best practices is just one way to be involved in this.
This blog explores why businesses should consider plastic recycling as part of their efforts to go greener. While it is geared towards managers and business leaders, many of the benefits are understandable to other.
Why Plastic Recycling Matters for Your Business
Plastic waste contributes millions of tonnes of waste each year across the global. The worst finds itself either in the ocean or in landfills, and disposing of these inexhaustible bottles, bags and containers is becoming increasingly difficult.
So, how do we go about this issue? Building an effective plastic recycling system to minimise the impact. In short, effective recycling is now more important than ever.
By effectively recycling plastic materials, businesses are able to decrease waste, save resources and additionally, help with the circular economy.
Decreases the Negative Environmental Impact
Undoubtedly and arguably the most important benefit of recycling plastic is its positive impact on the environment.
While servicing the world, recycling plastic facilitates in decreasing the amount of waste that is generated by landfills and lowering carbon emissions your company has made.
Decreasing Landfill Waste
A plastic bottle may take hundreds of years to decompose, so recycling it is necessary. If businesses focus on recycling more, they will be able to avoid excessive waste that piles up in landfills.
Reducing waste is particularly critical for companies that are deep into the retail, manufacturing and food service industry, as there is plenty of excess packaging and products that can easily waste away.
Cuts Back on Greenhouse Gases
Another advantage of recycling plastic is that it literally uses less energy to create products since old plastic items can be reused. The entire new plastic creation process burns large amounts of fuel and emits greenhouse gases.
Efficiency and Monetary Benefits
Reducing the dependency on plastic while simultaneously lowering costs is a double win, as there will be a net benefit.
The promotion of recyclable plastics needs to be further incentivised in the production of grocery bags, bread bags and even food containers such as takeaway boxes.
Lower Waste Disposal Costs
Depending on which area of Australia one is located in, waste disposal can be expensive, especially with regard to non-recyclable materials. Recycling plastic enables businesses to expunge their disposal needs, which lowers their overall waste management costs.
The expense of recycling is almost always cheaper than the cost of transport for waste to a landfill or incinerator, and when compared over a longer time period, the savings become much greater.
Create New Business Opportunities
Plastic recycling can also bring about new business opportunities. A business can join a recycling programme or sell recyclable plastic to other companies and benefit from the enlarging market of recycled plastic materials.
Many industries, from automotive to fashion, now depend on recycled plastics to manufacture their goods, and your business can be a part of that supply chain.
Cut Raw Material Costs
In certain situations, companies can also make a profit from using secondary plastic instead of primary plastic during the manufacturing process.
This is especially true for companies that deal with plastic products or packaging, as they can cut down on costs while remaining sustainable.
Enhance Brand Image and Appeal to Eco-Conscious Consumers
Brands that offer eco-friendly products are gaining favour among Australian consumers, and so should your business. If you adopt plastic recycling, you can tell your customers that your company cares about the environment and is doing something to mitigate its effects. T
his is especially beneficial for gaining the trust and loyalty of young Millennials and Gen Z individuals who tend to be more expressive of their expectations of businesses.
Using Sustainable Practices to Market Your Brand
Adding recycled plastic use into the operations of your business will also enhance marketing capabilities for your brand. Every customer enjoys doing business with a company that is willing to make sacrifices for the sake of Mother Nature.
You can sell this message in your social media posts and your product making and advertising packaging, making you stand out from competitors and appealing to more environmentally conscious customers.
Improve Workplace Happiness and Reduce Employee Turnover
Employees are starting to select businesses that demonstrate social responsibility and have sustainable practices. The implementation of a thorough plastic waste management programme in your business can enhance your employer branding and attract skilled and reliable employees.
When employees witness their employer’s efforts in contributing towards the betterment of the planet, they tend to take pride in the organisation which enhances engagement levels and retention rates.
Aid the Circular Economy
The circular economy is dependent on the development of a self-supporting ecosystem whereby instead of relying on disposable systems, resources are reused, repaired, or recycled.
Your business is an important stakeholder in this self-supporting ecosystem by recycling plastic as it helps preserve the earth’s natural environment and lessens the dependency on other resources.
Encourage Recycled Content Use
In a self-supporting system, new products can be created using recycled content without depending on non-renewable resources. Your business can advocate for best practices by adopting and using recycled plastic that favours sourcing.
This is how your business can strengthen and make the supply chain more eco-friendly, a practice attracting more customers and business partners.
Collaborate with Other Businesses
As a result of utilising plastic recycling, the prospects for businesses within your sector are numerous. For instance, if you manufacture certain items containing plastic, you may partner with your recyclable material suppliers or service providers for a closed-loop business model.
More and more companies are coming together for collective benefits, such as investment into sustainable initiatives like plastic recycling to minimise the effects on the environment.
Stay Ahead of Market Trends
The global competition is fierce, and businesses must keep up or risk losing to the competition. A business that does not change with the times runs the risk of losing out to other businesses that have implemented advanced sustainability methods.
For instance, with proper implementation of a plastic recycling programme, you would be sure to take forward measures that ensure competitiveness in the market.
Attract Investment and Partnerships
Businesses that want to secure an investor will need to exhibit the principles of sustainable development. Consequently, through utilising plastic recycling as an example, your business could receive funding from investors who place importance on the environment and sustainability.
New business ventures, investment partnerships, and funds for greater expansion in the future will stem from this idea.
Enhance Continuous Sustainability
The shift into business-friendly and environmentally sustainable practices is here to stay, and businesses must keep pace. If you embrace plastic recycling today, you will ensure a more sustainable future for your business.
Not only will this appeal to environmentally conscious consumers and partners, but it also helps future-proof your business as more industries and consumers shift towards eco-friendly alternatives.
Conclusion
For Australian companies, the realities of undertaking and enhancing business plastic recycling are cost-effective, allow for improved public relations, and simply set a new standard for achieving a global competitive advantage that few companies appear to be pursuing.
The advantages go further than just taking care of the environment—by recycling plastic, you attract more eco-friendly customers and help conserve invaluable resources. If you are a medium-scale corporation or an established startup, you can implement plastic recycling and have it serve as a marketing strategy as well.
Establish practicable goals for recycling, and begin by changing one plastic bottle at a time until you identify areas for enhancing sustainability in your enterprise.