Ebook Make Recycling your Business
With 66% of surveyed small to medium businesses seeking information on how to reduce their impact on the environment and 54% actually initiating at least one such activity in the past year, it is clear that the environment is on the agenda of Australian businesses.
Currently larger businesses, that is those with more than 20 employees, are undertaking a greater range of activities designed to reduce their impact on the environment including: recycling paper, containers and printer cartridges; reducing energy use by installing energy efficient globes and switching off lights and computers; and embedding changes by developing environmental policies and establishing green teams. Sole traders and businesses with 2-5 employees are more likely to have green power.
The research illustrates significant differences in motivations for recycling and going green for businesses of different sizes. Smaller businesses were most likely to be influenced by the personal views of the business owner or manager while larger businesses were more likely to be influenced by concerns about corporate image, government regulation
and competitor’s actions.
Saving energy as a way of saving money was the one positive influence for going green that was shared equally across all businesses, regardless of their size.
Respondents were asked to identify the barriers to recycling a range of products including packaging and containers (bottle, jars, tins and boxes), electronic waste and organic waste recycling. Barriers to recycling include cost, lack of recycling facilities, lack of knowledge, limited need and little government or company policy direction.
In summary, this research supports the idea that businesses are becoming increasingly aware of the environment and are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact, and where possible, to also reduce their operating costs. By highlighting the different motivations and influences for ‘going green’ for different sized businesses, this research opens the way for Planet Ark as well as other interested parties to develop targeted interventions to support positive action, creating a business culture that recognizes the importance of the environment and that debunks environmental myths and misconceptions.
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