Rather than continuing to think about the reduce, reuse, recycle adage, it's time for businesses to embrace a waste management system that embraces a circular economy.
Defining a circular economy
Circular economies eliminate waste and pollution by using products and materials rather than disposing of them. A circular economy uses the reduce, reuse and recycle standard while adding, repairing and refurbishing what companies already have.
Consider how the circular economy offers an alternative to the linear economy that has become the norm. Too many people take, make and toss. Then, they purchase new things and repeat the process. With a circular economy, businesses repair and refurbish before they recycle or throw away.
Implementing a circular waste management system
Changing the way people function in the workplace takes time. Leaders might think they can tell their employees how to change, but some workers will fight the introduction of new ideas. Taking a slow and methodical approach helps employees understand why they should change.
Share information
Company leaders should begin the implementation by sharing information about waste management and how each employee can help. Sharing data about your business's waste management habits and spending will show employees why a change is needed.
Incentivize the change
Before sharing the new waste management policies, leaders should incentivize the benefits of using a circular economy at work. Seeing how the change will help the environment often serves as an incentive.
Design a plan together
The most effective changes take place gradually and with teamwork. Invite employees to work on the plan to develop a circular economy in your business. Employees appreciate inclusion when changes take place. They'll share the new policies with their clients and help build your business.
Evaluate your resources and supply chain
Look closely at your organization's material needs and how to make them environmentally friendly. Consider what products can be repaired rather than replaced and which have less volatility. When you replace products, turn to safe, sustainable and long-lasting items to save money in the long run.
While looking at business resources, evaluate your supply chain, too. Avoid scarce resources, and replace them with eco-friendly items to reduce your impact on the environment.
Work with your local agencies and business partners
Many communities have laws about waste management and recycling. Local environmental agencies want to help businesses make eco-friendly changes, so take advantage of their training resources. Changing to a circular economy takes time, and you'll help your business succeed by following local waste management and recycling laws.
You can help your employees embrace the new policies by working with your business partners. Suppliers and clients should know about your policies to see how your supply chain and products will change. Share your plans, so you can work together and learn from each other.
What are the benefits of circular waste management policies?
The benefits of a circular economy outweigh the traditional linear economy. For example, the take-make-waste model wastes money and resources. Circular economies reduce spending on waste management and recycling while saving money on replacing goods in the office.
Implementing a circular economy - even in small doses - builds knowledge in your organization. Employees learn how to reduce waste and increase their creativity in reusing, repairing and refurbishing items in the office.
Changing waste management policies often builds other sustainability initiatives. Clients will come to you because you have an ethical business that cares about the environment. Employees might start implementing similar practices at home, too.
Sustainable waste management policies reduce waste and conserve resources. Over time, the procedures will reduce greenhouse emissions and protect natural resources like trees, precious metals and freshwater.
Track your changes
Before implementing the waste management changes, collect data by tracking the waste generated and the expenses to remove it. You should also know how much your business spends replacing single-use products and necessary materials. If you want to see how the changes help your business, you'll need a comparison point.
After implementing the waste management changes, track the changes. Celebrate your successes and learn from the mistakes and failures. But don't settle – continue to evaluate different ways to improve your circular economy by looking at all departments and expenses.
There are various online tracking tools for businesses and individuals to track their waste and resource data. Using these benchmarking tools, you can set goals for your business. Then, with a realistic set of goals, your employees know what to prioritize as they work to reduce their waste by repairing and reusing rather than throwing it away.
Decide if your workplace is ready to change
Many companies are already embracing waste management changes that encourage sustainability and circular economies. Unfortunately, many aren't ready to jump on board. Before making significant changes, evaluate your company's current practices for reusing and recycling. Evaluate what your competitors are doing to see if they have ideas you can implement.
Some businesses can easily make waste management changes, while others might need a complete cultural shift. You might have to start slowly, focusing on a top-down approach where the leaders show what's possible with a circular economy rather than a linear economy.
After years of disposing and recycling, moving to a circular economy where people repair, reuse and share items can be a shock to the system. Some employees will quickly embrace the changes, while others will fight against them. Learn more about your employees and their mindsets about growth and change before you make significant changes to their daily behaviors.
Wrapping up
For years, businesses and organizations have practiced a linear economy where employees use items, then dispose of them.
While many companies have instituted recycling programs, they don't encourage sustainability because employees still throw items away rather than reuse or repair them. Instituting a circular economy benefits the environment and the bottom line by reducing waste and increasing sustainability.
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Nicolle Portilla
Nicolle is RTS’s Social Media Manager, and has been a valued member of the team since July 2018. She is responsible for content creation on all platforms, leveraging creative software, industry trends and research, and social media strategy to build upon the company’s online presence. Additionally, Nicolle contributes to the RTS blog, which serves to educate clients and industry players about our technology and sustainability efforts, and is responsible for the creation and dissemination of our internal and external newsletters.
Prior to taking on the role of Social Media Manager, Nicolle served on the Sustainability team for nearly three years, assisting clients in achieving their sustainability goals through external communications and event organizing. Preceding Nicolle’s time on the RTS team is her work with Clean Water Action, where she promoted clean water initiatives. Nicolle graduated from Stony Brook University in 2018 with a B.A. in Sustainability.
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