In addition to being eco-friendly, industrial recycling makes your company more valuable. Customers and investors want to work with companies that care about the environment. Working with waste will require some out-of-the-box thinking to wring the most value out of our trash.
Save Money
Industrial recycling programs can save your business money by eliminating waste management costs and reducing the need to purchase new products. It also helps preserve the Earth’s natural resources and reduces the amount of greenhouse gas pollutants produced when waste breaks down in landfills.
The best part is that the more materials you recycle, the less it costs per unit. For example, recycling scrap metal will cost significantly less than mining for raw materials and manufacturing new metal items. It also conserves energy—for example, producing one ton of recycled aluminum requires just 74% of the energy required to make a ton of raw aluminum.
Many companies that prioritize recycling also save on janitorial expenses and can create an opportunity to sell their recyclables. This can help them grow their businesses by allowing them to fund other sustainable initiatives. It also makes the company more attractive to consumers who value eco-friendly practices.
Investing in industrial recycling is an investment that pays dividends. The cost savings that result from implementing a comprehensive recycling program can be used to invest in other sustainable initiatives within the company.
These efforts can increase the company’s overall value, significantly attracting investors. As consumer awareness about environmental issues rises, it will become even more critical for businesses to align themselves with eco-friendly practices.
Preserve the Earth’s Natural Resources
It’s nearly impossible for industrial processes to produce products without generating waste; many of these materials can be recycled or reused. As a result, industrial recycling is an excellent way to preserve the Earth’s natural resources.
This is because recycling reduces the need for new materials and conserves energy. For example, producing metal products requires a lot of energy, but making them from recycled materials saves about 95% of the energy needed.
Similarly, paper recycling reduces the need to harvest or extract new non-renewable materials from the Earth. A well-thought-out and efficient recycling program can increase the value of your business to investors and customers.
People want to associate with businesses that value sustainability as they become more conscious of the effects of their carbon footprints. Another advantage of industrial recycling is that it creates well-paying jobs. It takes employees to sort through and classify recyclable waste and operate machinery at material recycling centers. These workers can earn good wages, which helps them support themselves and their families.
In addition, expanding industrial recycling programs can uplift disenfranchised communities by providing jobs in areas previously disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation and natural resource extraction activities. As a result, these communities can build more robust economic and social structures that are sustainable for the long term.
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
It is nearly impossible for industrial businesses not to produce waste. Recycling these materials and byproducts conserves natural resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and allows the space used for landfills for other purposes. It also saves energy by reducing the need to mine, drill, harvest, or process raw materials.
For example, recycled paper uses less energy than generating new paper from raw materials, and recycling metal scraps eliminates the need to mine tin or steel. The 2020 REI report states that for every 1,000 tons of materials recovered and reused, one job is created, $65,230 in wages are earned, and $9,420 in tax revenues are collected.
Another benefit is that recycling cuts the amount of methane generated in landfills. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide and forms when organic waste decomposes in landfills.
Industrial recycling keeps food scraps, paper, and grass out of landfills, thus reducing methane generation. By implementing industrial recycling, companies can gain an eco-friendly reputation and become more valuable to customers and investors.
Additionally, businesses that invest in environmental sustainability programs can earn special programs and certifications that make them more competitive. Contact a local recycler for more information on the benefits of industrial recycling services. They can explain the process, what materials are accepted, and how it can save your business money.
Make Your Company More Valuable
In addition to saving money, companies that practice industrial recycling gain a competitive advantage by being recognized as environmentally friendly. In an era when consumers value sustainability and environmental preservation, being eco-friendly can boost brand loyalty and increase customer appeal.
Most manufacturing or industrial processes generate large amounts of waste materials. Most waste materials can be recycled, whether chemical residue from a food processing plant, cardboard boxes, scrap metal from distribution centers, automotive facilities, or appliance manufacturers.
Many of these recycled industrial byproducts are used to create new, more sustainable products that benefit the environment and society. This is known as open-loop recycling, and it provides businesses with a wealth of opportunities to innovate and keep up with consumer demands.
Practicing industrial recycling reduces the need to use valuable natural resources and cuts costs by allowing companies to buy raw materials much cheaper. For example, producing aluminum from scratch costs nearly twice as much as purchasing recycled aluminum.
Recycling and reuse also create jobs. The processing, transporting, and reselling of these materials requires a labor force with a wide range of skill sets. The EPA estimates that recycling and reuse create at least nine times more jobs than landfills and incinerators.
