In the wake of COP26, the environment and how we can all help save it has been high on the agenda. In this blog, we will look at the environmental impact of business waste and the ways in which we can alleviate our impact on the environment and run more waste efficient businesses.
Environmental Impact
The environmental impact of commercial waste is significant. More worryingly, damage to the environment from business waste is avoidable, leaving little excuses for businesses. Indeed, over 12.2 million tonnes of plastic end up in oceans and rivers each year. While domestic and household plastic certainly contributes to this number, most plastics in our oceans and rivers come from commercial enterprises.
As a business, you can avoid contributing to the plastics in marine environments by ensuring you have adequate commercial waste bins and recycling collection.
The Recycling Trap
For many businesses, frequent recycling is common practice within work culture. However, awareness about what can and can’t be recycled is often lacking. For many companies, it is common to provide recycling facilities without adequately educating their staff on what can and cannot be recycled. The improper disposal of material and the contamination of recycled waste with non-recyclable material often leads to the waste being incinerated or disposed of by means other than recycling. This lack of understanding often undoes the good intentions of businesses.
Bolster Your Business' Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015 all 193 members of the United Nations adopted a plan to save the planet and adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The adoption of SDGs has gone a long way in changing the culture of some of the largest businesses in the world.
Furthermore, the adoption of SDGs has also changed the way consumers engage with businesses. Businesses seen to be acting on these SDGs and taking their responsibility to the environment seriously are often rewarded with customer loyalty and an increased customer base compared to those that fail to live up to these SDGs.
Even the smallest of businesses can meet their SDGs by making sure they look after their waste management properly. However, between running your business and making sure your staff are happy, we understand that effectively managing your waste can be difficult. That’s why at Reduce My Costs, we provide you with a free consultation to understand all your waste management needs before finding you the best deal that gives value for money as well as expert waste management.
