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Ethics and the environmentCosts and benefits of recycling

Businesses can choose to work in a way that profits only the owners or in ways that benefit the community. Working ethically means acting in ways that are both fair and honest. Ethical businesses try to minimise their impact on the environment.

Part of Business managementOperations

Costs and benefits of recycling

100% recycled sign
Image caption,
Recycling can improve a business's image but can increase costs

Recycling is the process of converting waste material into new materials or products.

Businesses need to consider the costs and benefits of recycling:

CostsBenefits
Recycled material may reduce the quality of the finished productCan save money if recycled materials are used to make new products
Image of the product may be perceived as inferiorImproves the brand image of the organisation
Some items, such as paper, can only be recycled a limited number of times Reduces cost because less landfill is required
Recycled materials need to be sorted and processed, which can take timeTakes less energy to recycle than to extract and manufacture new materials
Can be used as a unique selling point (USP)
Recycling can give a business a competitive advantage
Awards can be gained for good environmental practices
CostsRecycled material may reduce the quality of the finished product
BenefitsCan save money if recycled materials are used to make new products
CostsImage of the product may be perceived as inferior
BenefitsImproves the brand image of the organisation
CostsSome items, such as paper, can only be recycled a limited number of times
BenefitsReduces cost because less landfill is required
CostsRecycled materials need to be sorted and processed, which can take time
BenefitsTakes less energy to recycle than to extract and manufacture new materials
Costs
BenefitsCan be used as a unique selling point (USP)
Costs
BenefitsRecycling can give a business a competitive advantage
Costs
BenefitsAwards can be gained for good environmental practices