Summer often brings a shift in customer habits, industry demands and operational challenges for businesses. Whether you’re in hospitality, retail, manufacturing, or healthcare, waste streams tend to change with the seasons. 

For many industries, summer signals an increase in certain types of waste—from food and packaging to construction debris and product returns. To remain sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective, businesses must adopt circular economy principles tailored to these seasonal trends.

Here, we’ll explore summer waste realities across eight key industries and offer actionable tips to help your business manage waste smarter while staying sustainable all summer long and beyond.

Understanding Seasonal Variations in Waste

Seasonal trends in waste streams arise from shifts in consumer behaviors and industry practices. Summer sees increased outdoor events, peak tourism, construction surges, and warm-weather dining. These trends generate specific waste challenges unique to each industry:

• Automotive sees higher vehicle and tire servicing needs as more people hit the road for vacations.
• Transportation/Logistics face challenges with packaging waste from surges in summer shipments.
• Hospitality/Restaurants encounter food waste spikes amid busier outdoor dining seasons.
• Retail generates additional packaging waste from sales of summer seasonal goods.
• Grocery experiences higher demand for seasonal produce, which increases spoilage risks.
• Manufacturing/Construction accelerate activities due to optimal weather, producing more operational waste.
• Healthcare contends with elevated patient volumes (e.g., heat-related illnesses), resulting in more medical waste.

Being proactive during the summer months offers an opportunity to “close the loop” by designing waste streams to be reused, composted or recycled, reducing environmental impact and optimizing costs.

Practical Steps for All Businesses to Close the Loop

No matter your industry, the following steps can help ensure your waste strategy aligns with circular economy principles this summer:

1. Audit Your Waste Streams.
   Identify what types of waste your facility generates most during the summer and evaluate opportunities for reduction, reuse and recycling.
2. Engage Employees.
   Train staff to follow waste-sorting protocols and encourage creative input on waste-reduction processes. It takes a sustainable ecosystem to move the needle.
3. Collaborate with Vendors.
   Work with suppliers who share your sustainability goals, such as those offering reusable shipping materials or eco-friendly products. Or, better yet, if you work with a waste handling company, there’s a strong chance they are connected with a large network of vendors to identify which vendors are best aligned with your goals and values.
4. Use Technology.
   Implement waste tracking systems to monitor volumes over time and assess the effectiveness of your waste strategies. Know which tech is best suited for your company, so you avoid possibly taking on a new challenge.
5. Educate Consumers.
   Build customer loyalty by showcasing your waste-reduction initiatives. Provide incentives for sustainable behaviors, like discounts for reusable containers or participation in recycling programs.
6. Set Measurable Goals.
   Define success with key metrics (e.g., “reduce food waste by 30%”) and communicate progress transparently.

The Benefits of Sustainability All Season Long

Adopting a circular economy mindset brings numerous advantages. By reducing waste, businesses save on disposal costs, improve efficiency and cultivate customer goodwill. Aligning waste strategies with summer demand patterns ensures your operations remain agile and ready to adapt to other seasonal shifts.

Summer may come with its challenges, but it’s also ripe with opportunities. By preparing now and rethinking waste and recycling management, your business can set the stage for sustainable practices that will carry forward into autumn and beyond. Closing the loop isn’t just about cutting waste; it’s about creating a thriving, connected system where resources are always reused and valued. Will your business take the first step?

Waste Expo 2023 closed the curtain on another exciting event. On May 1-4 in New Orleans, North America’s largest solid waste, recycling, organics and sustainability trade show occurred. It allowed attendees to engage with some of the most inspiring creatives and thinkers while exploring a massive exhibit hall featuring the latest, innovative tech.

For ideas to jumpstart or shake up your sustainability efforts, review the below six great learnings from this year’s Waste Expo!

#1 – Waste is a Resource

Rather than view waste as a problem and a burden, see it as a valuable resource. It can be managed to produce sustainable benefits for a wide range of actions, taking the two ends of a product life cycle (namely resource sourcing at the start and disposal at the end) and linking them together into a closed loop. The materials in end-of-life products can be extracted and used as resource inputs to make new products, like beautiful artwork.

For example, during the Waste Expo session “Trash is Treasure,” speakers Billy Dufala (Recycled Artist in Residency, or RAIR) and Fern Gookin (Revolution Recovery) revealed a surprising and beneficial relationship between waste and art. Through their partnership, Dufala and Gookin give artists free access to discarded materials from construction and demolition sites. Rather than add to the landfill and the demand for new materials, the waste is used to support art projects.

It’s true: one person’s trash can be another person’s treasure. This organization’s work highlights the potential of waste and how art can inspire others to think more deeply about waste’s impact on our world. Consider the second life your discarded materials can have!

“Scope 3 emissions are defined as emissions caused by indirect impacts from your waste.” Image taken from “Scope 3 Emissions: How the Waste Industry Can Help Companies Achieve Emission Goals.”

#2 – Manufacturing Products for Continuous Use 

The “Scope 3 Emissions” session highlighted the importance of design, organization and right-sizing products. One story about a sports tournament especially kicked up intrigue.

At the tournament, reusable cups were made of polypropylene that could be cleaned, sanitized and used again. The cups had a color that matched the clearly labeled bins that were scattered around the event space. Even the bin liners were the same color as the cups to see that every step of the cycle was fulfilled.

A perfect marriage of circularity can be achieved through design and organization. Partner up with those whose values and goals align with yours!

#3 – Don’t Waste Opportunities

A theme across the Waste Expo talks was how much opportunity exists to be more sustainable. This was well exemplified during the “Technologies for Optimizing Organics Processing” session, a discussion centered on achieving carbon neutrality, with solar panels being a prominent topic among the four speakers.

During the final speaker’s presentation, it was noted how Alaska, a state known for its daylight patterns, isn’t taking complete advantage of solar farms to power its cities, like the other states and countries discussed.

Solar panels can help mitigate some of the nation’s highest energy costs and even allow people to sell excess solar energy back to the grid in exchange for credits. So, whether you’re under Alaska’s midnight sun or not, ask yourself: Are you seizing all the opportunities with your energy and waste?

“It’s surprising how many corporate and personal goals are set around increased recycling, but the explicit benefits aren’t that understood.” A slide from “Recoverable Materials: The Benefits and Potential Pitfalls on the Path to Circularity.”

#4 – Dethrone Convenience

Our decisions and behaviors are often based on convenience and situations. For example, at the “Recoverable Materials” session, speaker Bryan Staley (Environmental Research & Education Foundation) told a relatable story about a family vacation. When we’re at gas stations, we don’t see recycle bins. As passionate as we may be about being sustainable and recycling, we’re forced to have a car full of trash or put the items in the trash to go to the landfill.

As it relates to a business, some may find it logistically complex to access recycling facilities. Maybe the facilities are too far away and pushing forward could drive up costs and carbon emissions. This is why a proper waste analysis is critical. Maybe the solution is on the front end and not the back. Discover your path toward sustainability and efficiency, and don’t let convenience stay king.

#5 – Allow Sustainability to Steer

During a panel focused on how to utilize excess food and existing infrastructures and resources to address food waste and insecurity, LaToya Meaders (Collective Fare) spoke about how it’s important to look at things from a sustainability model and not so much from a profit margin.

“If you focus on creating a more sustainable restaurant model rather than driving profits, you can start to tackle other issues around food waste. You’ll find the clientele because they’ll want to be a part of something that’s much larger than them,” Meaders said.

#6 – Be Honest About Your Vision

During another panel about how to scale the reuse economy, Mike Newman (Returnity) spoke about the importance of honesty in our visions.

“We need to be very direct with ourselves. If we lose sight of that, that’s when a utopian vision comes up. [Companies] assume with some better marketing, [they’ll] get there. But the evidence doesn’t completely support that. We need to be open and honest about what works and what doesn’t to address the challenges productively.”

There are many factors to consider when handling waste, packaging materials and products, and what to communicate to consumers. Don’t be afraid to get the help you need to be more efficient!

If you found this information useful, be sure to follow Quest’s social media channels (LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook) to stay current with our articles and posts. And save the date for Waste Expo 2024 on May 6-9 in Las Vegas, NV!

About Us

Quest Resource Management Group (NASDAQ:QRHC) is a national provider of waste and recycling services that uses deep expertise to build single-source, client-specific solutions to address a wide variety of waste streams and recyclables across multiple industry sectors. Quest also provides information and data that tracks and reports the environmental results of Quest’s services and provides actionable data to improve business operations.

These days, every industry is full of unexpected turns. But, with new federal/state/local regulations and growing customer demands, how does one expect to keep tabs on it all while maintaining a profitable business?

Want to know something? Waste secretly runs our businesses – and partnering with a reputable and experienced service provider can ensure that the tasks are managed most efficiently and responsibly, keeping your company compliant with regulations, and taking the next step toward long-term sustainability initiatives.

Learn how you can map out the beats and strategies to cut through all the noise by reviewing three of the most common questions regarding the future of the waste and recycling industry!

Navigating the Unknown

Question 1: How can you confidently run your organization when economic uncertainty, government regulations and growing customer demands cloud the future?

Simply Put: Waste will always be generated despite the economic environment or customers’ demands. Therefore, business leaders must put sustainability strategies and data at the top of their priority list.

With such efforts from a partner, you can:

• See the bigger picture
• Identify patterns
• Find new opportunities
• Measure to manage better
• Craft the right sustainability story (to avoid greenwashing)

Your Next Move: With the right partner and accessible data, they can act as a savior when times are tight or uncertain. They can offer cushion and empower businesses like yours to make decisions with the necessary sense of familiarity and comfort.

Research has demonstrated that companies with robust sustainability strategies backed by data tend to be more resilient and fared better than those focused solely on profit maximization when navigating the unknown.

Consolidating Your Thinking

Question 2: Why should you trust one company to handle all your waste and recycling needs?

Simply Put: Focusing energy on scheduling, pickup times and what waste is going to what location are just added plates to what businesses are already spinning.

Organizations can benefit from hiring an outside source to deal with all waste matters, including:

• Peace of mind
• Eliminating need for specialty disposal equipment and training
• Satisfy federal waste regulations and avoid costly fines
• Skip the need for holding facilities

Your Next Move: No matter your industry-specific needs, experienced professionals can help businesses achieve the best outcome to reduce waste where possible and create the most efficient disposal system and allow room for future growth.

Embracing a Holistic Approach

Question 3: How does knowing the ins and outs of your business’ waste strengthen efficiency and help move the sustainability needle on a larger scale?

Simply put: Businesses can transform with a more holistic approach to waste and recycling initiatives. Thus, creates more adaptable operating/business models and contributes to system-wide change.

Your Next Move: With eyes set on the future, regulations will require mass recycling within the industry. Taking steps toward sustainability, no matter the size, and having a comprehensive view of operations backed by data can generate fruitful, profitable opportunities.

Small steps are being made worldwide but following suit with a similar ambition can bring about the right level of investment that is aligned by legislation and commitment from the industry.

About Us

Quest Resource Management Group (NASDAQ:QRHC) is a national provider of waste and recycling services that uses a deep expertise to build single-source, client-specific solutions to address a wide variety of waste streams and recyclables across multiple industry sectors. Quest also provides information and data that tracks and reports the environmental results of Quest’s services and provides actionable data to improve business operations.

Expect to see accelerated progress toward resolving some of the planet’s most vexing challenges and more organizations (like yours) to step up!

Fueled by rapidly changing regulatory and reporting standards and investor appetites for ESG performance, more products, services and supply chain practices are being developed with sustainability in mind. As a result, businesses are looking to improve their reputations and operational efficiencies while saving on waste, resource and energy consumption costs.

So, how should a company like yours think, plan and take action in 2023? Review the three key sustainability developments below and allow the information to guide those areas — including who you should partner up with to really put your operations on the right track.

Electric Vehicle Transition

What’s Going On: The world is clearly charging down the road toward electric vehicles, with some saying that EVs will represent two-thirds of global vehicles by 2040. However, there’s also been a lot of talk about the sustainability complications with EV batteries and whether manufacturers can supply enough of them when the world transitions. At the current rate, serious progress needs to happen – and fast – or we can anticipate raw material shortages to drag on.

What We’ve Learned: There have been some breakthroughs in the production process of EV batteries. Manufacturers, equipment suppliers and OEMs are looking at the technology used to extract and refine critical materials (cobalt, nickel and lithium) to unlock cost reduction and greatly improve performance and output – ultimately impacting the sustainability behind the entire process. This year, we should have a better idea of whether the next wave of technology, like direct lithium extraction and recycling techniques, will be effective solutions in the upcoming era of resource scarcity.

What’s Applicable: Sometimes, the issue is not always just the broken parts but the machine or system itself. Instead of hiring someone to correct the problem at hand, think more comprehensively and partner with a company that’s set on your organization’s operational efficiency. Having tabs on the ins and outs of your business (and the waste it produces) can be the ultimate move toward sustainability.

Green Industrial Revolution

What’s Going On: With the manufacturing industry responsible for nearly a quarter of carbon emissions and consuming 54% of the world’s energy sources, there’s an urgent need to address the challenges of decarbonization. New policy developments are pushing manufacturers to get serious about it with their operations and supply chains. Significant penalties are on the horizon. What company wants to have less money in their pocket and brand damage?

What We’ve Learned: It’s no surprise that more companies are recognizing the societal and financial value of reducing waste, conserving energy and decarbonizing their practices. In anticipation of further regulatory developments, companies are trying to stay ahead of the curve, invest wisely and create strong relationships and partnerships.

What’s Applicable: This calls attention to the importance of quality data and reporting. This is where the future is going, and you don’t want to be the business struggling to keep up but rather the one leading the charge. So, analyze your practices and strengthen your competitive advantage by working with a waste provider that knows what it takes to keep you compliant and efficient.

Sustainable Food

What’s Going On: In recent years, farmers, food suppliers and grocery stores have been affected by labor shortages, diseases and destructive weather. Have you noticed the availability of eggs in the supermarket lately? Plenty has occurred to speed up our search for solutions to our food problems and build more sustainable and resilient systems.

What We’ve Learned: We are seeing many exciting partnerships aimed at transforming the food system. People worldwide are going through similar struggles and are reaching out about sustainable production, open trade, and supporting international initiatives. (Look at DeHaat for inspiration in sustainable farming.) This growing recognition to make drastic changes to the status quo could lead to significant developments in 2023.

What’s Applicable: This response highlights the benefits of engagement and collaboration. Like any business relationship, you want to work with the people who align with your values, have your best interests at heart and are willing to have the conversations you need to survive and thrive during any obstacle.

Much is going on in the world, and change is constant. It’s a lot to keep up with, and it can create confusion on how one should adapt. Don’t hesitate to get the help you need, so you can focus on what you need.

– December 14, 2022 –

Compared to New Year’s Resolutions, there’s a certain practicality that comes with “past-year reviews.” They can be more informal, valuable and actionable – which is why we’re looking into the rearview.

Over the past year, we’ve checked different industries’ pulses and dug into hot topics such as ESG and economic turndowns. Use the below collection of waste and recycling information to inform your company’s 2023 planning and sustainability strategies.

How to Operate Successfully During Holiday Seasons/Business Upticks

3 ways your business’ waste streams can adapt, survive and thrive during holiday seasons.

Read more>>

How Your Business Can Basket Waste Knowledge from EV Batteries

Electrical vehicles (and the lithium-ion batteries that power them) are creating sustainability concerns. See where your market fits into the conversation.

Read more>>

How Sustainable Strategies/Data Could Prepare Your Business for Economic Downturns and Accelerate Out

The importance of prioritizing sustainability ahead of a recession.

Read more>>

How to Avoid Greenwashing Worries with a Waste-Minded Sustainability Plan

Unpacking how businesses are inaccurately tracking/reporting their sustainability efforts and how a comprehensive assessment is key.

Read more>>

How ESG Should Become a Top Priority

A 5-step formula to make sustainable, future-proof decisions, and your business might benefit from profitable opportunities.

Read more>>

How the Organic Waste-to-Compost Journey Provides Valuable Insights Across Multiple Markets

Whether you work in the food industry or not, discover the wonders and benefits that a waste process like this can have on your business.

Read more>>

How to Make Sense of the Most Common Waste & Recycling Terms

Ready for some sustainable alphabet soup? Sip from this industry dictionary (categorized by waste types and systems).

Read more>>

How to Stay Off the Easy Button and Challenge the Status Quo

3 key perspectives you can have as a leader if you make challenging the status quo a staple of your business.

Read more>>

How to Answer Customers’ Needs for Circular/Sustainable Solutions

With the right resources and commitment toward knowledge and data, your waste streams can take your business toward a sustainable (and profitable) future, keeping your customers’ needs in mind.

Read more>>

How to Sort Truth from Trash: Waste Myths Debunked

Waste myths (like “a sustainable operation costs more”) will continue circulating. Break the cycle and establish a proper system that helps to process waste efficiently.

Read more>>

How Small Sustainable New Year’s Resolutions Can Have a Big Impact

Rather than fall victim to the New Year’s resolution slump, these 3 simple steps can help your business reset and embark on a sustainable journey in 2023.

Read more>>

Why should you be thinking about your waste during the busiest time of the year? Well, it just so happens to be the most wasteful time of the year. In fact, according to a few studies, waste generation increases by around 25%, meaning about 25 million tons of garbage produced during the holiday season goes to the landfill. 

Why should you care about this? A few reasons, but the two most important ones to you may be getting ahead of your competitors in the sustainability movement to meet customer demands and achieving an operational efficiency that allows you to see the ins and outs and maybe put or keep some money in your pocket.

What more is there to know, and what solutions should I consider as a leader? Review the three key points below to learn how to optimize your enterprise with sustainability in mind and discover the value within your business’s waste streams!

1. Data & Reporting: Have Visibility on Your Inputs & Outputs

As you face change and the challenges that come with it – whether it’s reduced production or seasonal changes – one major key to success is having access to data reporting. Facts and figures tell you where to spend the most time and resources and what areas need more organization or attention.

Many underestimate the importance of surveying a workplace’s waste streams. It’s like a detailed dumpster dive that identifies what’s being thrown away, what’s being recycled or diverted through other means (by weight or volume). Seasonal fluctuations in service can be vital to driving significant cost mitigation by aligning those services with the seasonal needs of your business.

Through this process, you can:

• Reveal costly, wasteful problems
• Unlock opportunities (like new revenue streams)
• Maximize the effectiveness of your programs
• Improve operations
• Measure your success

Don’t operate in the dark based on guesswork. Instead, discover ways you are overspending, identify savings opportunities and learn how you can apply those insights. After all, analysis is the first step to increasing and improving resources.

2. Reduce Waste Throughout the Holidays

One big change that businesses need to prepare for is a significant uptick in waste volume, especially during the holidays. But there are simple processes to adopt to minimize the waste that goes to landfills during the holidays.

Cut down packaging – The U.S. discards about $11 billion worth of packaging material each year. Take the time to look at how much your company spends on packaging and look at other avenues you take. For example, Amazon has “Frustration-Free Packaging” made from 100% recyclable materials to help reduce unnecessary waste. If shipping products, reduce the size of your packaging or consider using 100% recyclable packaging.

Eliminate food waste –According to a 2021 Delish report, Americans throw away a staggering $408 billion in uneaten or unsold food every year. Consider adjusting portion sizes, donating leftovers to local community organizations and evaluating. Retail grocers, for instance, can reduce their food waste going to the landfill by 95% or more with the right partner.

3. Collaboration: Look for the Team Players

When seeking assistance, no matter the case, look for partners who are genuinely in your corner and align with your business goals. Ideal partners are an extension of your team. They aid in alleviating pressure points, raise economic intelligence and help to iron out your operational process.

Whether you’re looking to market yourself with a greater environmental conscience or simply chasing better solutions, work with other businesses that have strong, common foundations and can support your long-term business and sustainability goals and provide data reporting of your key metrics.

As the holiday season is in full swing, now is the time to turn good intentions into positive actions by incorporating mindful and sustainable practices into every stage of your business’ lifecycle. Sustainability cannot be an afterthought but rather a business imperative that should be woven into every aspect of your work.

Be ready for the challenge of change!

– October 19, 2022 –

Note: The following content is based on an article Quest Resource Management Group wrote for The Buzz – EV News about the profitability and sustainability of recycling EV batteries. While the content may seem more geared toward auto dealers and fleet operators, it’s clear the electrical vehicle conversation is impacting all markets. Use the following as a guide to thinking more comprehensively about the waste of your business, the alternative solutions to landfill disposal and the value it can bring to your organization.

The world is charging down the road toward electric vehicles. Some say EVs will represent two-thirds of global vehicle sales by 2040. However, recycling the lithium-ion batteries that power EVs continues to be a sustainability headache.

Note: The following content is based on an upcoming piece Quest Resource Management Group wrote for Fleet Equipment Magazine about sustainable efforts for fleet operators ahead of a looming recession. Our original guide has been repurposed and adapted for your business.

When it comes to recession, here’s what’s certain:

• Another one is always coming
• Now is the best time to prepare
• Putting sustainability strategies/data at the top of your priority list is one of the best ways to protect your business during one

Business leaders who put such efforts into practice can use timely, accurate forecasts to maintain safe and efficient operations during and following a recession. As a result, you’ll be better positioned for what’s to come and will see the most payoff within your organization.

Review the four value points below and ask yourself: As a leader, am I doing everything to keep costs in line with my service levels?

Importance of Comprehensive Data/Consequences of Poor Data in a Recession

With an impending sense of doom across industries, businesses often make rash, impulsive decisions. New projects are put on hold, expenditures are reduced too low, and employees are laid off brutally. The unpredictability of future events adds worry to leaders as they navigate through a possible recession.

Data becomes a savior when times are tight. It offers a cushion and empowers businesses to make decisions with the necessary sense of familiarity and comfort. Moreover, research has demonstrated that companies with robust sustainability strategies backed by data tend to be more resilient and fared better than those focused solely on profit maximization during previous downturns.

However, data doesn’t offer the required insights unless you know how to transform it into business intelligence and actionable items. Fortunately, waste management and recycling companies can help brands identify cost savings by finding opportunities to reduce expenses. Understanding how much waste and emissions your operations produce can uncover efficiencies that help you save resources in the long run.

Weathering the Storm with Quality, Comprehensive Data

Fine-tuning your sustainability strategy and making strategic investments in data and reporting can reduce your company’s exposure to risk, helping the business to hit the ground running when the economy starts to recover. Using quality data that identifies core and material issues in your strategy can significantly contribute to your bottom line and help mitigate future price crunches in materials and energy.

For instance, as the movement of your business begins to shift, you may be less operational. Suppose supply chains become more disrupted, and you cannot get all you need and provide what your customers expect. By having access to data, you anticipate these fluctuations and make data-driven decisions. Additionally, as prices drop, waste and recycling collections will also be reduced to a more cost-effective level.

If your team is already in the habit of cost savings and efficiency throughout the recession, you’ll be better equipped to hit the ground running when the economy starts to recover.

Reporting for Forecasting: Improve Efficiency & Gain a Competitive Edge

Every industry is competitive, and companies are constantly adapting strategies to keep up with investor, customer, government and public expectations. Developing an effective sustainability strategy will give you the competitive edge during an economic downturn.

When data is used to remove weak links, other businesses within your industry will pale in comparison. This will help your brand stand out and keep your head above water during a recession.

Additionally, the resources saved during this process open more opportunities to shift your focus toward business improvements. Because let’s face it: weathering a recession is better in a planned environment.

When the Clouds Part: Prepare for Post-Recession Growth

When the economy picks up steam again, and your sustainability strategy is in place, your business can:

• Prepare for production to ramp back up with as many operational hiccups.
• Source new suppliers that will help save even more because you’ll have a comprehensive view of your business and what operations work best.
• Separate costs that should be cut from the essential expenses. A sustainability strategy helps establish an agile culture, allowing leaders to act precisely and know the difference between cutting fat and bone.

Investing in sustainability will help make sure the money your organization spends leads to actual results. So why not have better eyes fixed on the ins and outs of your business? After all, it could serve as the dam that keeps the roaring waters of recession at bay. When you can rely on resources to run, you can gain a competitive lead and weather tough times – perhaps making your business stronger than before.

According to a recent Fast Company study, 68 percent of company owners admit that their business is guilty of greenwashing – a shady marketing gimmick intended to mislead customers who prefer to purchase services and products from environmentally conscious brands. Another poll found that two-thirds of executives globally question if their marketing materials are genuine.

Today’s increased scrutiny and prevalence of sustainability are bringing greenwashing to the surface, making it more important to ensure what you claim about your company holds merit.

Review the reality of greenwashing and our suggestions for how your organization can work towards avoiding it with waste-minded solutions!

What Are the Standards on Reporting?

A significant factor in all this is that no standard reporting methods exist. As a result, measuring a company’s actions across the market

is virtually impossible. So, you can’t blame businesses for taking the most advantageous path. The problem, however, is that it can lead to interpretation and doubt about what’s the truth.

Ex. 1) Claiming carbon neutrality by using carbon credits – Companies can use carbon credits to compensate for their emissions. Carbon offset projects can reduce carbon and increase carbon storage when done right, but they fail to directly address the leading sources of carbon emissions. These acts can be considered greenwashing when a company deceives the public on their attested level of reduction in carbon emissions.

Ex. 2) Company claims product packaging is entirely recyclable – While yes, the packaging may be 100 percent recyclable, most o

f the marketplace doesn’t have a collection system to allow it to be captured correctly. So, in reality, it’s going to the landfill.

A global standard is a foundational step toward consistent, compatible and transparent Environmental, Social and Governance reporting and data exchanges. Lesson: Be careful about what you communicate to your customers. Products and services that read “environmentally friendly” or “organic” can capture at

tention, but can they be backed up with accurate data and keep you from damaging your brand’s reputation should someone research your claims more thoroughly?

Get Accurate Data

When dealing with Scope 3 emissions and the vast vendor base that’s typical for some markets, an inability to gather accurate data is relatively common. Unless there’s a formal certification process for the environmental/sustainable claim the vendor is making, you must thoroughly research any claim a vendor makes to ensure authenticity and accuracy. If your company wants to avoid greenwashing, it should rely on key metrics such as total waste, recycled/landfill diversion volumes and carbon reduction equivalents.

You can work with a waste/recycling management company that plugs into the ins and outs of your company to:

• Troubleshoot – Together with identifying the areas of success, the collection of accurate waste data can determine problems areas. If not regularly monitored, potential liabilities can be overlooked.
• Plan – By understanding your company’s current performance across the sector, it is possible to identify the best way to streamline systems and which processes will be the most effective for your sustainability goals.
• Justify – Good data helps support any relevant business cases and justify funding for a new recycling project.

Companies like yours can become more sustainable by reducing the amount of waste created during their operations. Data can help by increasing efficiency and cataloging ways that packaging materials can be reduced without damaging products. This could help cut down on material usage remarkably and give you a competitive advantage while saving money and keeping you focused on your core business.

A Comprehensive Assessment is Key

It’s not supernatural for companies to “selectively” tell the parts of their story that put them in the best light. But this also opens the door for incomplete truths. This will be an ongoing problem until a company gets far enough to build a holistic picture of what they are doing. Until you can do a life cycle analysis of your business and figure out the true impact of what you’re selling and serving, you can only report on what you cherry-pick. Picking single elements and putting all the weight on them is bound to falter.

Life cycle analysis can help to guide or provide values on:

• ESG materiality
  • Product manufacturing
  • Use
  • Transport
  • Final disposal
• Analyze indicators such as:
  • Climate change
  • Water use impacts
  • Human health impacts
  • Land-use

Organizations need to get accurate data and consider the complete life cycle of a product when determining the total environmental impact. It’s a puzzle that takes time, and companies must be diligent and conservative in their reporting and message to be proactive and minimize their legal risks.

Why press the easy button? Challenge the status quo!

Today, a call to “challenge the status quo” seems played out – and honestly, what does it even look like? In a highly competitive market and the sustainably minded world, does challenging the status quo mean you need to be a rebellious company leader, constantly pointing out flaws in your organization, or be a manager who zigs when everyone else zags? Maybe. But what if challenging the status quo was more positive than negative and more exciting than daunting, all while being achievable?

To begin, let’s review three key perspectives you can have as a leader if you make challenging the status quo a staple in your business.

An Outside-In Look

Most executives spend their time looking at the world from where they sit—an inside-out look. While this vantage point is certainly valuable, it’s equally as important to look at things from the outside-in to achieve sustained growth in the marketplace. This means starting at the ending and working backward to understand the difference between what you make and what your customers need.

Typically, an outside-in perspective can lead to substantial questions, such as:

• Where are the growth markets available for my business?
• How can I tap into available opportunities?
• What are the modern trends, and how can I meet them?
• Why does my company only recycle [X] when we could also recycle [Y] and [Z]?

Perhaps there are good reasons you’re unaware of, or maybe it’s because “that’s the way it’s always been done.” The answers may lead to further questions, problems, or solutions that you maybe haven’t considered. That’s why staying inside your own internal box is not a formula for success.

An Openness to Innovation

According to Harvard Business Review, about 72% of leaders say they “never” or “rarely” challenge the status quo or their employees to think outside the box. However, true growth requires change. It takes innovative thinking and keen insight to keep up with current market trends, foresee where it’s going and have tabs on what’s coming in and going out for businesses. 

Why do I need to change? A new analysis by the International Energy Agency showed that the world economy rebounded strongly from the pandemic. As a result, global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose to 40 billion tons in 2021 – their highest level in history. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 75% of our national waste stream is recyclable, but we only recycle about 30% of it. Business leaders need to act now to meet the demands of science, government, investors, and society at large – and the pressure to act will continue to grow exponentially.

Does it need to be a big change? No. That’s a common misconception when it comes to challenging the status quo. Sustainable solutions call for new ways of thinking about existing systems. Everything doesn’t need to burn down to start fresh. Sometimes, it’s the small, incremental steps that can put your business on an efficient path.

How do I sustain growth? You need a culture that embraces innovation across all levels. It requires a structural mechanism to enable ideas to flow to decision makers from anywhere within the organization. And if you make a change, and it pays off, you’re not all set. To remain relevant, you must consistently welcome unconventional thinking. These elements are more crucial today than ever as businesses redefine how they respond to constantly evolving requirements and consumer needs.

Knowing the True Risk: Doing Nothing

Our Achilles heel is that we see something new as inherently risky while something familiar as safe. But waiting to implement ideas such as continuous data analysis and recycling solutions could come at a much greater cost, putting your business at a disadvantage that may ultimately leave you reeling.

What are the benefits of doing something?

• Maintain economic neutrality
• Add brand value and attract new customers
• Better focus on your operations (rather than stretching your responsibilities)
• Boost workforce morale and attract valuable talent
• Societal impact and sustainability success stories

Change is inevitable for any company striving to create a competitive advantage, and staying stagnant is far riskier than implementing new techniques or technologies to improve old processes. For this reason, getting comfortable with being uncomfortable can drive your organization’s operations toward a more efficient and controlled environment with a strong sustainability position.