As the next step in its Love Recycling initiative, RCP EMEA are releasing a localised report looking at the state of commercial recycling and waste management across France. Stemming from research performed between January and March this year, one of the largest commercially funded quantitative studies into business recycling and waste management ever conducted in Europe, the localised report delivers national-level insights into how French businesses are meeting the challenges of sustainability and what factors are preventing them from doing more.
In the initial study almost 800 businesses across Europe took part. After paring down the data for this national report, additional insight has been garnered by undertaking in-depth interviews with French commercial waste management buyers from across multiple sectors.
French businesses were clear in their responses that recycling and efficient commercial waste management play important parts in how we reduce our impact on the environment. They are also clear that while there is a lack of government guidance and education, companies will continue to implement a mix of sustainability policies and derive mixed esults from them.
Insights included in the report:
- French businesses are split almost equally regarding formal sustainability policies, 31% have a formal policy, 31% have no policy and the largest group are those with an informal policy (38%)
- Unfortunately, over a quarter of companies that have a formal policy, don’t enforce it.
- Many businesses we spoke to believe that they are recycling at an above average level, but have neither the understanding nor the formalised protocols in place measure the efficacy of their activities.
- This is reflected by just 15% of French businesses we spoke to considering their waste and recycling programme “successful.”
- As a result, businesses are looking to government for guidance. Over two-thirds of those surveyed felt a lack of government incentives or support was influential in stopping them doing more
Emilio Capelli, Vice President, Rubbermaid Commercial Products EMEA said, “As we get further into the data from our continental study, we see that French businesses are split in their recycling experiences. While many acknowledge the need for improved sustainability practices as both a cost-efficient business practice and an ecologically sound approach, measuring and reporting activities were the lowest of the countries we extrapolated data for. Only 16% of businesses surveyed audit their on-site processes, with just 4% auditing their waste management provider’s activities while even fewer (3%) measure their refuse and recycling volumes. Regular auditing and volumetric measurements are a key component in ensuring efficacy and deriving the cost benefits sustainability can bring. Many businesses are looking to central government to provide not only education, but incentives and sanctions to bolster every company’s ability to make the much-needed changes.”
To read through the findings and get the full set of insights from the research, download ‘The Changing Face of Commercial Recycling in France’ free from loverecycling.com, alongside the previous continental-level report. RCP EMEA continues to analyse the data gathered during the research phase, with plans to release sector-based reporting later in the year.
RCP is a leading global provider of waste management products. Their broad range of durable and innovative products meet the hygiene needs of businesses of any size, across multiple sectors. RCP is a company committed to improving recycling and waste management through superior knowledge, products and performance.
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