Reducing the plastic footprint is not just an environmental choice: it is a winning strategy for competitiveness and corporate reputation. Now more than ever, companies of all sizes are challenged to reduce the impact of their processes and products through concrete practices, including recycling plastics and adopting circular economy systems.
1. Understanding the corporate plastic footprint
The plastic footprint measures the amount of plastic used and released into the environment by an organisation. It can come from:
- Product packaging
- Plastic components in machinery or supplies
- Waste generated in production
- Improperly managed post-consumer waste
Analysing this footprint is the first step to reducing it effectively.
2. Recycling plastics in the company: from waste to resource
Adopting an in-house plastic collection, sorting and recycling system allows you to:
- Reduce disposal costs
- Recover materials for new uses
- Reduce the purchase of virgin raw materials
Companies can equip themselves with machinery for recovering and processing plastic materials, even reconditioned or overhauled, to contain costs and optimise production.
3. Choose sustainable suppliers and recycled materials
Another fundamental step is to prefer:
- Packaging made from recycled plastic
- Certified suppliers
- Products with a lower environmental impact
This reduces plastic upstream and supports virtuous supply chains.
4. Automating processes with smart solutions
Even recycling machinery can be optimised with automation:
- Analysis of production data to reduce waste
- Predictive maintenance to avoid malfunctions
These systems allow you to work better and consume less.
5. Communicating efforts and obtaining certifications
Obtaining and communicating certifications such as ISO 14001 (environment) and ISO 9001 (quality) is a way to enhance the value of the actions undertaken and increase the trust of customers and partners.
Plastic recycling is not only an environmental responsibility, but a real opportunity to improve efficiency, reduce costs and increase the sustainability of your business. Through modern technology, up-to-date machinery and targeted strategies, every company can reduce its plastic footprint and contribute to a cleaner, circular future.
