Strategic Focus: Waste Management And Recycling
Access this research
Access all Sustainable Supply Chains content with a strategic subscription or buy this single report
Need help or have a question about this report? Contact us for assistance
Executive Summary
With over two billion tonnes of waste produced annually, and associated costs reaching $361 billion, the waste management and recycling sector is being called to action. Organizations are pursuing a variety of strategies aimed at progressing towards a circular economy. Investment in digital tools and technologies will be key to drastically reducing waste and valuing secondary materials as a resource. Chief sustainability officers (CSOs) should use this report to assess their current strategies and practices in waste management and recycling, and to discover ways in which innovative technologies can improve their sustainability performance.Limitations in traditional waste management practices inhibit sustainable transformation
Innovative technology developments targeting a circular economy for waste are on the rise
Firms should adopt strategies to support effective waste management and sustainability performance improvement
Figure 2. Distribution of actor roles and responsibilities across the waste hierarchy
Figure 3. Corporate commitments to supporting a circular economy for waste
Figure 4. Environmental impacts from unsustainable waste management
Figure 5. Innovative technologies for smart waste management and recycling
Figure 6. Benefits of implementing sustainability into waste management
About the Authors
Jessie Wilson
Industry Analyst
Jessie is an Industry Analyst at Verdantix, with a research agenda spanning ESG reporting, the circular economy and supply chain sustainability. Jessie has a BSc in Geography ...
View Profile
Kim Knickle
Research Director
Kim Knickle is a Research Director at Verdantix, bringing more than two decades of analyst experience to the evolving world of sustainability. Her current research spans ESG a...
View ProfileOther related content
The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has been delayed again – this time just three months before its planned implementation in December 2025. This marks the second ye...
09 October, 2025
Consumer demand for sustainable products is surging, and businesses are following suit. According to Verdantix research, 56% of B2B buyers are willing to offer preferential contrac...
Upcoming / 18 November, 2025
At the recent o9 Solutions aim10x event in Dallas, one message rang clear: the future of supply chain resilience relies on integrated data and agile decision-making. The o9 Solutio...
29 September, 2025
As business resilience becomes more complex, so does the role of risk managers. Today’s risk teams are contending with an expanding set of challenges, including rising geopolitica...
22 October, 2025
Life cycle assessment (LCA) software is rapidly emerging as a cornerstone technology for firms striving to embed sustainability into their product development, manufacturing and su...
09 September, 2025
The US is entering a new phase of supply chain policy, where security and sovereignty will dominate the agenda. In August, the Trump administration proposed nearly $1 billion in ...
02 September, 2025