Why Waste Removal Needs to Change
As a business owner, you may have noticed that waste removal is one of your biggest costs. Not only does it cost you profits, but it also causes environmental damage. Your environmental impact as a business could be impacting potential customers’ decision to do business with you.
With a strong environmental focus in the news today and a conscious effort from everyone to reduce waste, businesses are at the forefront of frustration and are being called to make a change.
The impact of wasteful businesses
If you’re an environmentally-conscious business owner, you’re already aware of the rising pressures to become less wasteful. With 71% of global carbon emissions from just 100 large companies, waste disposal is an area ripe for improvement. If more companies were willing to take a strong environmental stance and commit themselves to reducing waste, not only would we see a large environmental impact, but they would create an influx of customers who support these ideals.
It’s not just about saving money or doing good deeds; it’s also about being prepared for the future. Businesses need to anticipate customer needs to stay competitive in today’s marketplace and a public position on reducing waste could give you the edge against competitors. When other businesses follow your lead by going green, your company will be well-positioned for success when customers start demanding greener products from all industries.
How businesses are contributing to environmental harm
Every business that you have ever worked for or owned has generated waste in some form or another. Correct waste management is important because it can harm people and the environment if not handled properly.
Supermarkets, for example, have come under fire for their use of plastic or non-recyclable packaging. Customers have to dispose of this themselves at home generating enormous amounts of waste. Not only this but the vast quantities of food waste must be disposed of when unsold products expire.
Consumer outrage has encouraged more recyclable packaging, however, the shelves are still filled with damaging products.
Wasteful business practices need to change
As a result of the increasing climate crisis, demand from the public and lack of action, it’s crucial for businesses to consider the environmental impact of their waste removal and how they will take action to change it.
The first step is to reduce the use of plastic packaging and containers. Most recycling programmes don’t accept plastic products; most plastic packaging is single-use. As well as this, plastic bottles decompose over 450 years, and other plastic packaging litters oceans, landfills and public spaces. Alternatives like paper or glass can be recycled or reused, making it a much better choice. Some businesses are even going packaging free, which is an even better choice.
Another way for businesses to become more environmentally conscious in their waste disposal practices is to consider how they run behind the scenes. If your office generates large amounts of waste, it contradicts your environmental stance.
Become a leader in waste-disposal change
As more businesses change their ways of waste disposal to become more environmentally concious, other businesses will have no choice but to follow suit. For example, when supermarkets began changing some plastic packaging, they found their customers were becoming more interested in buying those products. Therefore, other supermarkets did the same thing.
Some independent hair care brands were able to create packaging-free shampoo bars which prompted many big names like Garnier to follow in their footsteps. If you can set the precedent, lead by example and share your waste-reducing efforts, other businesses will be able to do the same.
What to do next
In the battle against climate change, damaging waste removal methods must go. It’s crucial for businesses to look inward and meet the growing consumer demand for an environmentally-conscious business that they can support.
Start by making small changes and see the benefits. Not only will a reduction in waste removal and disposal increase your profit margins, but it will help you stay ahead of the business curve.