Q: Are recycled content products more expensive than virgin material products?
A: The honest answer is "it depends". In some cases, recycled content products (RCPs)
are more costly than virgin material products because there is currently lower demand for them
and less established manufacturing and distribution bases. Sometimes RCPs do not compete on a
level playing field because of subsidies provided to extractive industries.
However in many other cases, recycled content products are cheaper than virgin material
products because of access to lower cost manufacturing feedstock. The trend towards RCPs
representing the cheaper alternative will become more widespread and entrenched as economies
of scale improve and public policy frameworks become more supportive.
Price variations generally exist across all products regardless of whether they are recycled
content or not. From a buyer's perspective, the key considerations are:
The overall price trends for RCPs are good as the result of more people specifying
recycled content. With greater demand and higher production volumes, prices of RCPs are
becoming increasingly competitive. When you "buy recycled", you create more demand and
the potential for lower prices RCP manufacturers and distributors are often keen to establish new market opportunities
and are therefore likely to be price flexible. Seek to negotiate the right price where
possible Products should be assessed on overall value for money, including the environmental
and social benefits they produce As with all things, shop around. If you can't find the right price for a recycled
content product, try another supplier
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Q: Are recycled content products lower in quality than virgin material products?
A: No. Recycled content products (RCPs) generally provide the same or better level of
quality than virgin material products. There is a simple explanation for this. Namely, people
have negative perceptions about waste and, in many instances, things that are made from former
wastes. To combat these negative perceptions, RCP manufacturers often have to work doubly hard
to ensure that their products are of high quality.
An increasing number of trials are being conducted to assert the quality of RCPs. For example
recent local and international trials on the frequency of paper jams in photocopiers demonstrated
that recycled content paper matches and in many cases outperforms virgin office paper. Quality
trends for RCPs will continue to improve as more specifications and standards are introduced.
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Q: What is business doing to increase the purchase of recycled content products?
A: As part of their environmental leadership commitment, the members of the Buy
Recycled Business Alliance (BRBA) have pledged to increase the purchase and use of recycled
content products (RCPs) in their own operations, and publicly disclose their progress on
an annual basis.
BRBA members who are product manufacturers are devoting considerable time and resources to
developing RCPs, and promoting the benefits of recycled content goods.
The BRBA also works to promote the "buy recycled" concept to other business organisations
outside its membership, and actively partners and collaborates with Government and community
organisations in promoting the "buy recycled" concept. Examples of such partnerships include:
Jointly developing the "Buy Recycled in Business Toolbox" with EcoRecycle Victoria.
This tool is a step by step implementation guide on "buying recycled" Entering into a Memorandum of Understanding under which DEC (NSW) provides a resource
to assist with delivery of BRBA Programs Partnering with EcoRecycle Victoria on the Waste Wise Melbourne Network
Whilst good progress is being made, realistically business has only "scratched the surface"
in terms of its ability to truly drive the "buy recycled" concept. More businesses must direct
more of their purchasing power towards RCPs if we are to create real market capacity for RCPs.
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Q: What is Government doing to increase the purchase of recycled content products?
A: Governments have huge purchasing power in their own right. Most Governments in
Australia now firmly recognise the potential of this purchasing power in the context of
"buying recycled" and are implementing proactive approaches.
For example, the NSW Government requires all its agencies to implement Waste Reduction and
Purchasing Policy (WRAPPs) which include "buying recycled". DEC (NSW) is charged with the
responsibility of promoting this approach through all Government agencies and Local Councils
in NSW. DEC (NSW) also focuses on an array of resource conservation, waste reduction, market
development and education initiatives.
In Victoria, EcoRecycle Victoria proactively promotes the "buy recycled" concept through
Government agencies and business including through the Waste Wise Program, Industry Advisors,
and the Waste Wise Shopping Guide. Ecobuy has been established to drive green purchasing
through Councils, and the Victorian Government provides significant funding to assist the
development of the RCP manufacturing sector.
Other State Governments and the Commonwealth Government are also increasingly focusing
their attention on increasing the purchase and use of RCPs by government agencies themselves.
Whilst Government purchasing behaviour is trending the right way, as with business there
remains enormous potential for greater support of the "buy recycled" concept. Government is
uniquely placed to show leadership on "buy recycled" both in terms of implementing supportive
public policy frameworks and in applying the "buy recycled" concept to its own purchasing
practices.
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