Ethical and environmental considerations: recycling

The idea

Recycling means collecting used materials and processing them so they can be used again, for example melting used glass bottles to make new jars. For a business, recycling can reduce the cost of buying raw materials and of sending waste to landfill, and it can improve reputation with customers who care about the environment. It also supports ethical and environmental aims by conserving finite resources and cutting energy use and pollution linked to extracting new materials. However, recycling brings trade-offs: sorting equipment, separate collections and staff time all cost money, and recycled inputs may be limited in supply or quality. A business must therefore weigh these costs against savings, legal obligations and customer expectations before deciding how much to recycle.

What earns the marks

• Defines recycling as collecting and reprocessing used materials so they can be used again, rather than simply reusing an item or throwing it away.
• Explains a financial benefit, such as lower raw material costs or reduced waste disposal charges, because fewer new materials are bought and less waste goes to landfill.
• Explains an environmental benefit, such as conserving finite resources and reducing energy use or pollution from extracting and processing virgin materials.
• Explains a reputational or marketing benefit, such as attracting environmentally conscious customers and strengthening the brand image.
• Explains a cost or limitation, such as investment in sorting and collection systems, staff time, or uncertainty over the quality and availability of recycled inputs.
• Applies the point to a context, for example a drinks manufacturer using recycled glass or a retailer offering recycling points for packaging.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing recycling with reuse.

  Put it right: Reuse means using an item again in its current form, whereas recycling means processing the material so it can be made into something new.

• Assuming recycling is always free or always profitable.

  Put it right: Recycling usually involves set-up and running costs that must be compared with the savings it creates.

• Treating recycling as only an ethical choice.

  Put it right: It is also a business decision affecting costs, legal compliance and customer appeal.

Exam tips

• Link each recycling point to a business consequence, such as lower costs, higher costs or a stronger reputation, rather than describing recycling in general terms.
• Use the case study context, naming the product or material involved, so the answer shows application rather than a generic list.
• When asked to evaluate, give both a benefit and a drawback of recycling and reach a clear judgement about whether it is worthwhile for that business.