Organizations are spending time and money to become more sustainable but they could do more by leveraging new software and web technologies to maximize their positive environmental impact. There are (at least) three ways software and technology is making waste a resource. The first is the use of software to manage waste and resources like other parts of the organization are managed. Software is used for accounting, inventory, sales, and a multitude of other functions within an organization – why not waste and recyclables? New and larger data streams are helping companies such as retailers to aggregate materials for recycling instead of sending materials to a landfill. Information and data also helps recyclers with determining plant locations and investments in new technologies to make better use of waste streams. For example, Pepsi has developed The Dream Machine – a Kiosk that scans 170k different types of plastics bottles – vital information for local recycling plants in order to pickup and process materials.

The second is that enabling technologies are now available for more transparency and reporting to help to solve environmental problems and create a more efficient eco-system. Corporate Social Responsibility reports are now becoming the norm and companies need software to track and manage the data required for published reports to stakeholders. Reports that include waste data with metrics such as Amount of Waste to Landfill and Waste per lb of Production. Another way technology is transforming the waste market is through social media – and by its very nature social media requires transparency. In a recent study by Sustainable Life Media and Zumer they found that 76% of sustainability professionals interviewed believe social media will help gain market share and increase the size of the overall market. Companies such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Dell and Toyota combine social media and sustainability to gain market share and acquire customers in new and growing markets. The study also found that companies have been able to increase internal recognition of their sustainability goals, on average, by 10-15% through the use of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The third way technology is making waste a resource is through knowledge sharing and collaboration – across the enterprise and even across competitors is creating new and innovative solutions to environmental problems. Software and the internet have enabled new knowledge based services such as the Nike sponsored Green Exchange – where companies can share IP assets for the benefit of the environment. Material marketplaces such as FreeCycle for consumers (and RecycleMatch for businesses) provide sharing and transparency to reuse materials that may otherwise be discarded. Collaboration within industries enabled by software is also providing more opportunities to recycle. A great example is the Consumer Electronics Association Billion Lbs Challenge – the first-ever industry-wide electronics recycling initiative to recycle one billion pounds of electronics annually by 2016, which would be a more than threefold increase over 2010. Web based technologies are also enabling crowd sourcing to solve environmental problems. The Timberland Voices of Challenge Website puts thought leaders, issue experts, practitioners and everyday consumers at the heart of an online dialogue designed to present ideas for future innovation.

We would love to get your thoughts and feedback on ways software and technology is making waste a resource. Please join the conversation at our SXSW conference panel by visiting http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/9777

If your feel this topic is worthy and you would like to see a continued discussion at the upcoming SXSW conference – by all means vote for our SXSW panel “Web 2.0 – Three ways Technology Makes Waste a Resource”. Thank you for your support – Chad Farrell – chad.farrell@recyclematch.com