In the near future, the winners will be those companies that have put sustainability strategies as one of the pillars of their operations, according to Kaspars Zukulis, SIA Latvia’s Green Point director. Research Brand Capital the survey conducted within the framework shows that 54% of respondents choose brands that stand for a clean environment, notes K. Zukulis, adding that the topics of sustainability, as well as waste sorting and recycling are becoming more and more relevant in society. This is also proven by the efforts of companies – a large number of merchants actively invest funds in the implementation of more environmentally friendly solutions.
Ambitious goals
It is the duty of companies to do everything possible to minimize the impact of their waste on the environment as much as possible, according to Madara Apsalone, SIA Philip Morris Latvia head of external relations. “We look at sustainability as an opportunity to grow, introduce innovations and create long-term values. Ten years ago, Philip Morris International (PMI) announced an ambition to transform its business, setting the tobacco business the seemingly impossible mission of creating a future without cigarette smoke. To achieve this, we focused on scientific research and developed smokeless products based on it. At the same time, we strive to make our products less harmful not only to health, but also to nature. A sustainable approach underpins the entire production cycle of our products, from growing tobacco leaves to taking back and recycling electronic tobacco heating devices. Also, we continue to decarbonize our direct production activity, and 13 of our factories have already been certified as carbon neutral,” says M. Apsalone, emphasizing that Philip Morris Latvia provides corporate investment and support through various public initiatives and social programs aimed at improving the environment.
“Since last year, we have been participating in the extended producer responsibility system in order to promote the correct disposal of cigarette butts, as well as to reduce the pollution and negative impact they cause on the environment. PMI also implements several initiatives, including the CIRCLE program, which provides for the acceptance of used or unused tobacco heating devices for recycling. As part of the program, we were able to collect more than 80% of the devices globally, taking them to recycling centers where the devices are dismantled. Some of the components are diverted for use in new devices, and some are recycled. Since Latvia joined the CIRCLE program in 2023, we have sent more than 100 thousand devices to the recycling center,” said M. Apsalone.
Sees the benefits
The company also thinks about device recycling Tet. “Each industry or specific business has its own important waste, for us it is equipment. In addition to the responsible disposal of equipment, which is already stipulated by law, our efforts are to prevent equipment from ending up in waste prematurely, or in other words, to extend the service life of equipment. This has a particularly significant effect in the situation with service equipment located at the customer’s home, such as decoders and modems. Last year, in more than 60% of cases, when installing a new service, we used equipment previously used by other customers. The powerful and valuable servers of the data centers are used for educational purposes after their service, while we encourage the return of other equipment, creating comfortable conditions for it and educating customers about the importance of such a practice. When Tet household appliances are delivered to the buyer, used ones can be returned to our cooperation partners for disposal in the same visit without additional payment Eco Baltic Environment. Handing over of smaller equipment is also possible in the shopping centers where it is located Tet stores,” says Adriāna Kauliņa, Tet director of sustainability development
Also the company Tele2 since 2022 offers its customers the opportunity to return used devices. “It is possible to bring the old smart device to one of the customer centers, where it is evaluated and a reward is received for it. This money can be used to buy new equipment, or it can be donated. Some of the devices are sent for recycling, and some are repaired and end up on the secondary market. In general, it must be said that for the time being, old devices are handed over for recycling quite lazily, but despite this, we have set a goal to accept back and recycle 30% of the mobile phones that the company has sold to customers by 2030. If we talk about the waste generated by the network infrastructure, it should be noted that in 2023, the company produced 42.6 tons of hazardous waste, as well as 28.6 tons of other waste, and all of them were 100% recycled,” says Oskars Fīrmanis, Tele2 public relations manager, adding that the company invests in sustainability because these investments bring benefits not only to people and society in general, but also to the company, its customers and shareholders.
Educates the public
Sustainability and waste sorting are essential elements in responsible business management, which not only help to reduce our ecological footprint, but also promote the efficient use of resources, notes Daiga Buča, AS Olpha public relations manager. “For this reason, we implement various activities and implement solutions in energy efficiency, green energy, wastewater treatment, waste management and other areas of environmental sustainability. It must be said that waste sorting allows us to reduce the amount of waste and at the same time optimize costs. We also use separated waste collection, sorting plastic, cardboard, metal, glass, wood, construction debris, bulky, manufacturing and other types of waste. Equipment that is no longer usable and whose parts cannot be reused are handed over to the waste manager,” says D. Buča.
The company also advocates for the efficient and responsible use of resources Maxima. “We have been implementing activities that extend the life cycle of used resources for a long time. In order to reduce food surpluses, we not only plan precise deliveries, but also implement price reduction initiatives. We also donate food to charities, and fruits and vegetables to zoos. In addition to that, we also provide sorting of waste and its further transfer for recycling both from stores and logistics centers, as well as from the office. It should be noted that it is important for us not only to sort the waste we generate, but also to offer environmentally friendly choices to our customers. In some of our stores, customers can get rid of both batteries and small household appliances. We also offer one of the widest coverage of deposit points in Latvia with 135 modern and automated deposit machines, including one empty machine. Until September of this year Maxima our customers have delivered more than 100 million packaging units to the ATMs of the sales network throughout Latvia. In addition to this, we are also actively involved in various information campaigns to tell our customers about the possibilities and benefits of waste sorting,” notes Liene Dupate-Ugule, Maxima Latvia communication manager.
Must invest now
The introduction of new requirements and processes can initially be a challenge for entrepreneurs, but taking into account the green goals of the European Union (EU) and public opinion, it is quite clear that it is necessary to think about it, said K. Zukulis. “The requirements of the EU are increasingly being integrated into the regulatory acts of the member states, which means that the long-term winners will be those merchants who start practicing these sustainability practices already today. Currently, for example, it has been determined that only 10% of the total amount of waste can be buried in landfills in 2035, therefore the country as a whole has to think about how to promote the recycling of resources. Also, from July 1 of this year, the plastic packaging tax procedure has been changed with the aim of promoting the use of recyclable packaging in production and trade. Various sustainability-supporting requirements are also incorporated into state and local government procurements, as a result of which more favorable conditions are available to those entrepreneurs who are more environmentally friendly,” notes K.Zukulis, emphasizing that also Latvia’s Green Point implements various measures that ensure that used goods are properly managed and do not affect the surrounding environment.
“At the same time, we also organize educational events, informing the public about the need and benefits of waste sorting, thus creating greater public awareness and participation, which is also essential for the successful operation of companies in this system. Also, various waste collection points are organized in cooperation with waste managers, as well as the cooperation of companies in waste management is promoted, involving businessmen in joint waste reduction and recycling initiatives,” says K. Zukulis.
Source: www.diena.lv
