Turning the Corner on Sustainability

Finding the most sustainable and impactful approach for a company’s waste is often based on the products they make and distribute. © moodboard – stock.adobe.com

Exploring the Industry Shift in Green and Low Carbon Initiatives

By Jared Young with Envita Solutions

Five years ago, if you asked a major Fortune 500 company about its sustainability and environmental goals, you would likely hear “zero waste to landfill.” Companies across the country began seriously prioritizing their environmental footprint, searching for an immediate goal to work toward. The waste management industry responded with a philosophy that aimed to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

This solution is generally accepted as diverting at least 99% of waste. At the time, it was an enormous step forward that created a chain reaction of companies and organizations following suit, all with the goal of preserving and improving the environment. As the total waste management industry has grown, market leaders have begun turning the corner on sustainability solutions. It has become clear there is no one-size-fits-all remedy or approach toward green and low-carbon initiatives.

Total Waste Management providers are now seeing companies pursue low carbon and carbon emissions goals or solutions to reduce their carbon footprint. We find that sometimes there is an inverse relationship between zero waste-to-landfill and carbon footprint reduction. This begs the question: If most companies take the zero-waste-to-landfill approach, how are they doing it? And is it really bringing the best outcome for the environment?

For example, in the past businesses have used waste-to-energy facilities as one method for reducing landfilled waste, but the nearest facility could be two states away. They put their trash into a semi and shipped it for eight hours each way. When you do the math and calculate that, it is two to three times worse for the environment from a carbon footprint standpoint than it would be to take the waste to a methane-capturing landfill minutes up the road, not to mention the significant cost savings.

Find the Most Impactful Approach

Finding the most sustainable and impactful approach for a company’s waste is often based on the products they make and distribute. When it comes to packaging facilities, nearly everything is recyclable, has a second home, or could be beneficial for reuse. The reason for this is that most of the waste in the packaging industry is packaging itself. Everything that comes in as raw material is in a package, from plastic wrap to cardboard boxes and wooden crates. Not only is it more environmentally friendly, as recycling is a way for packaging companies to reduce their carbon emissions and find a second purpose for these byproducts, but it is typically the most cost-effective route, as well.

It can be hard for companies to see an immediate impact with this approach because they are not physically receiving a check or getting money for recycled or reused materials. However, the savings can be seen in the reduced or eliminated cost of containers, operating a trash compactor, equipment rental, transportation, fuel, and disposal fees — all of which add up quickly.

Rely on Research and Analytics

Over the last decade, we have witnessed industries set broad, long-term sustainability goals. At the time, these goals were often set in alignment with competitors or sweeping government objectives rather than being based on research and analytics on the best sustainability practices for each specific company.

Now companies are realizing what they planned to do five to 10years ago is not exactly the best strategy for the present day, causing an industry-wide shift in the conversation surrounding sustainability. The demand for these services has increased with the request for custom, industry-specific solutions. Total Waste Management providers are being viewed as less of a vendor and more of an equal partner in day-to-day operations. They collaborate with customers to identify the most sustainable solutions for their waste stream based on data and expertise.

Waste Management Takes Time

There is a reason sustainability goals are given lengthy timelines of a decade or longer. Waste management is a step-by-step process that takes time. Before solutions can be created and implemented, the current process must first be assessed and analyzed. If you think about it in terms of driving a car, you cannot start in third gear, you must work up to it.

Aside from financial benefits, the material at hand that likely would have ended up in a landfill or incinerator is now being given a higher purpose. It is up to providers to have larger conversations with customers and help company leaders turn the corner on what sustainability looks like. There are countless solutions that might sound great, such as zero waste to landfill, but there is likely a better fit for the waste stream that can lead to a higher impact, lower carbon footprint, and potentially reduce costs. Total waste management partners can help customers, including packaging facilities, find the best approach for their unique waste streams.

About the Author

Jared Young serves as the Director of Operations at Envita Solutions. In his role, Jared helps keep the company as a premier total-waste services leader by pioneering waste and sustainability solutions. With a focus on innovation, he leads the execution of strategic approaches and manages the waste and recycling of some of the largest manufacturing facilities in North America. His extensive responsibilities and knowledge have made a significant impact with his professional inspiration of driving sustainable practices at the core. Learn more at https://www.envitainc.com.