{"id":33619,"date":"2021-11-23T09:43:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-23T07:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/?p=33619"},"modified":"2025-08-06T12:00:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T10:00:56","slug":"why-are-companies-not-recycling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/why-are-companies-not-recycling\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Are Companies Not Recycling?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A&nbsp;staggering&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sustainable-business\/2017\/jul\/10\/100-fossil-fuel-companies-investors-responsible-71-global-emissions-cdp-study-climate-change\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">71% of global emissions<\/a>&nbsp;have been attributed to just 100 companies.&nbsp;Given the&nbsp;huge&nbsp;role that business has played in creating the climate crisis,&nbsp;you might expect&nbsp;recycling to be at the top of the average company\u2019s agenda. However, as recently as 2018,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.twinfm.com\/article\/90-of-companies-still-dont-have-a-recycling-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">90% of companies<\/a>&nbsp;in countries like the U.K.&nbsp;were reluctantly admitting that they had absolutely no recycling policies in place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This should be of huge concern to the average citizen. It\u2019s understandable to feel a sense of futility about your own attempts to reduce, reuse and recycle when some of the worst polluters on earth are stubbornly refusing to take any meaningful action. Perhaps&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/retailworldmagazine.com.au\/ethical-consumerism-on-the-rise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the growth of ethical consumerism<\/a>&nbsp;could force companies to finally commit to recycling&#8230;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here, we examine some of the factors that could be holding companies back. These certainly aren\u2019t excuses, though! Surely we can all agree that<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/insights-andre-hoffmann\/\">it\u2019s way past time for the business world to increase its environmental efforts<\/a><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Reasons companies may not recycle<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>It costs money.<\/strong>&nbsp;<br \/>&nbsp;<br \/>When you run a business, you have to pay close attention to the bottom line. During COVID-19, many businesses faced significant economic&nbsp;challenges, so investing in recycling may have been the last thing on their agenda.&nbsp;<br \/>&nbsp;<br \/>However, this&nbsp;isn\u2019t a problem that can be deprioritized forever. If we want to slow the acceleration of the climate crisis, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/sustainability-packaging\/\"><strong>companies have to urgently consider the planet alongside their profit margin<\/strong><\/a>.&nbsp;<br \/>&nbsp;<br \/>There are also ways to mitigate the expense of recycling. Some countries have government schemes and grants which support investment in recycling infrastructure. For example, in Ohio, U.S.A., there is the Community and Litter Grant. Businesses can access this to establish and implement recycling programs.&nbsp;<br \/>&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>It\u2019s inconvenient.&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<br \/><br \/>It\u2019s common for companies to strive towards efficiency. Unfortunately, their definition of efficiency is often whatever is quickest and easiest rather than what&nbsp;makes the best overall use of resources. The extra effort required to recycle is seen as unnecessary through this lens.&nbsp;<br \/><br \/>For some companies, it really is difficult to recycle. Different locations around the world offer varying levels of environmental infrastructure. Depending on where a business is based, it may be logistically complex to access&nbsp;recycling facilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/><br \/>Even companies who do find recycling services to collect their waste may find that&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.investors.com\/politics\/editorials\/recycling-china-landfills-cost-waste-environment-global-warming\/\" target=\"_blank\">it ends up in a landfill.<\/a>&nbsp;Recycling companies who can\u2019t find anywhere to accept the waste have little option but to dump it.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>It requires a culture change.<\/strong>&nbsp;<br \/>&nbsp;<br \/>Companies compete with one another, and many seem to have an attitude of \u201cwe won\u2019t recycle until they do.\u201d They may be worried that investing in recycling efforts will put them at an economic disadvantage compared to their rivals<a href=\"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/insights-sustainability\/\">. You can see how this approach could indefinitely postpone any action being taken in an industry<\/a>!&nbsp;<br \/><br \/>There is another concern&nbsp;regarding the&nbsp;promotion of&nbsp;culture&nbsp;change within an organization. When a company decides to sincerely commit to an environmentally conscious approach, this requires a time investment,&nbsp;too; staff members at all levels need to be engaged and involved for measures to be effective. Leaders could&nbsp;feel reluctant to take on this project.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2504\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sean-robbins-7ph2GQsCZtg-unsplash-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Online Business School\" class=\"wp-image-33635\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>It\u2019s easy to avoid accountability.<\/strong>&nbsp;<br \/>&nbsp;<br \/>Although many governments have implemented policies that incentivize recycling and punish wasteful behavior, these aren\u2019t always stringently enforced. Companies could find it easy to get away with not recycling, depending on where they\u2019re located.&nbsp;<br \/>&nbsp;<br \/>This behavior isn\u2019t just illegal; it\u2019s also immoral. One particularly egregious example of loophole-seeking when it comes to the environment is when multinational companies take advantage of developing countries and their relatively slack legislation to&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plasticsoupfoundation.org\/en\/2020\/03\/multinational-companies-dump-half-a-million-tonnes-of-plastic-waste-in-developing-countries-every-year\/\" target=\"_blank\">dump their plastic waste<\/a>&nbsp;abroad.&nbsp;<br \/>&nbsp;<br \/>These companies may even be so bold as to still claim environmental awareness in front of their consumer base in developed countries. This phenomenon is referred to as&nbsp;\u201cgreenwashing.\u201d&nbsp;<br \/>&nbsp;<br \/><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.globalcitizen.org\/en\/content\/greenwashing-what-is-it-and-how-to-avoid-it\/#:~:text=Greenwashing%20refers%20to%20when%20companies,sustainable%2C%20when%20it%20is%20not.\" target=\"_blank\">Global Citizen<\/a>&nbsp;defines greenwashing as \u201cwhen companies and organizations mislead their consumers or audiences by making them believe that a product, service they provide, or the organization itself is environmentally friendly or sustainable when it is not.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Advantages for companies that do recycle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the challenges, companies that&nbsp;recycle&nbsp;enjoy significant advantages. Most obviously, they ca<strong>n feel comfortable that they\u2019re doing their part to protect the environment<\/strong>. Looking after the planet that we all live on should be its own inherent motivation.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More cynically, they also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/fashion-trends-sustainability\/\">avoid&nbsp;the guilt of other companies<\/a>. Any business that doesn\u2019t recycle has to hide its negligence and worry that customers will someday discover their wastefulness.&nbsp;<br \/>&nbsp;<br \/>This is an increasingly relevant concern as audiences are developing greater environmental awareness. As a result, they\u2019re pursuing more ethical consumption habits. There has been a noticeable trend towards favoring businesses that embody socially responsible values, so companies should fear exposure if they\u2019re not living up to expectations. It could&nbsp;have a knock-on effect on their sales and their reputation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2102\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/pexels-greta-hoffman-9475434-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Online Business School \" class=\"wp-image-33634\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In contrast, companies that are doing the most they can to recycle can share this information in their promotional materials. It has the <strong>potential to attract new clients<\/strong> who are impressed by their commitment and want to support sustainable businesses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most governments already have some<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/insights-andre-hoffmann\/\">&nbsp;legislation regulating businesses and their environmental impact<\/a><\/strong>. As the situation worsens with regards to climate change, we can expect this regulation&nbsp;to become stronger and more strictly enforced.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Businesses can get ahead of these&nbsp;inevitable developments by beginning to recycle independently. This way, they will avoid being obliged to&nbsp;implement recycling infrastructure on pain of penalties at a later date.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As citizens, we might feel frustrated by businesses that only seem to care about money. However, we can also use this as an incentive to advocate for recycling. After all, there are many financially strategic ways that companies can recycle, thereby avoiding waste and making more cost-effective use of their resources. The upfront investment required&nbsp;to recycle could soon pay for itself and go on to generate even more profit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sadly, <strong>recycling is still considered optional by many companies around the world<\/strong>. If a company wants to excuse its environmental inactivity, there are many reasons they might provide for choosing a more wasteful path. However, they shouldn\u2019t be surprised when an increasingly engaged and conscious consumer base demands more from them than mere excuses.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/study.euruni.edu\/info-study-business-europe?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_mode=30&amp;utm_campaign=gif-footer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"125\" src=\"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Define_750x125_3-1.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36087\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A&nbsp;staggering&nbsp;71% of global emissions&nbsp;have been attributed to just 100 companies.&nbsp;Given the&nbsp;huge&nbsp;role that business has played in creating the climate crisis,&nbsp;you might expect&nbsp;recycling to be at the top of the average company\u2019s agenda. However, as recently as 2018,&nbsp;90% of companies&nbsp;in countries like the U.K.&nbsp;were reluctantly admitting that they had absolutely no recycling policies in place.&nbsp; This should be of huge concern to the average citizen. It\u2019s understandable to feel a sense of futility about your own attempts to reduce, reuse and recycle when some of the worst polluters on earth are stubbornly refusing to take any meaningful action. Perhaps&nbsp;the growth of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":33623,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1764],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eu-business-school","post--single"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\r\n<title>Why Are Companies Not Recycling? | EU Business School<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/why-are-companies-not-recycling\/\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"EU Business School\" \/>\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.euruni.edu\\\/blog\\\/why-are-companies-not-recycling\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"EU Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.euruni.edu\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"EU Business School\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.euruni.edu\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/eu-business-school\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Why Are Companies Not Recycling?\"}]}]}<\/script>\r\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Why Are Companies Not Recycling? | EU Business School","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/why-are-companies-not-recycling\/","author":"EU Business School","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/why-are-companies-not-recycling\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"EU Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"EU Business School","item":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/category\/eu-business-school\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Why Are Companies Not Recycling?"}]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33619"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33745,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33619\/revisions\/33745"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}