Going round in circles

It’s not immediately obvious how service-based companies can be circular.

You can’t make a press release, research report or stock recommendation out of recycled ocean plastic. Wasted legal advice doesn’t need to be saved from landfill and upcycled.

You still have a carbon footprint, however, even if you offer good advice instead of goods. And you still produce waste. In fact, in 2016 it was estimated services accounted for a greater proportion of waste than heavy industry.

Consider all the materials you use day-to-day. We’re not just talking printer paper here. Computers, stationery and company phones. You’re probably used to going through these products at a rate of knots. And then there’s electricity use.

Heavy industry generally has a more concentrated flow of materials than service companies. It’s easy to establish how these can be used elsewhere. It’s less clear cut in the service space.

This doesn’t mean a circular economic policy is beyond you. First, identify where there might be an opportunity to reduce waste. There’s probably a disused desktop in your office. Maybe even a pile of phones or cables. Consider finding a way for these to be recycled. Then, invest in new hardware that utilises recovered elements. Repeat.

It’s not easy. And that’s why you don’t have to go it alone. As with all sustainable initiatives, sometimes it pays to cosy up to others – even if they’re your competitors. A sure way to reduce waste is to find similar organisations that could benefit from what you don’t use. The favour may even be returned down the line.

If this sound farfetched, consider this: UK banks are piloting schemes to share branches.

This helps people maintain access to in-person banking services. But it also means the lights only have to be kept on at one location.

It may seem like a small step, but it’s an example of how even competitors can collaborate to lower everyone’s environmental impact.