National Recycle Week: An Interview with Peter Seeley

This week, from October 14th to 20th, marks Recycle Week 2024, an initiative dedicated to fostering a recycling culture in our society. At OCS, we share this commitment and passion, as reflected in our practices. To celebrate the occasion, we spoke with our Group Head of ESG, Peter Seeley, about our contributions to promoting recycling.

What are OCS’s overall recycling initiatives and goals?

Our commitment is to reduce reliance on natural resources, with recycling playing a key role. We aim to meet carbon-savings goals by 2030 through creating a circular economy, promoting recycling across our various operations and eliminating single-use plastics. This is part of our plan to reduce scope 3 emissions.

But it’s the individual initiatives that inspire me the most. Teams in Asia volunteer for beach clean-ups, and in Indonesia specifically, employees are recycling plastic bottles to grow plants. Other examples include a team in the UK digitising their operations to reduce paper use and in New Zealand they helped develop washable bin bags to reduce waste from landfill. It’s the individuals who drive these efforts, making a significant impact.

What are the long-term benefits you foresee for OCS and its stakeholders by achieving Net Zero?

Embedding ESG strategies gives us the opportunity to lead by actively reducing carbon emissions and improving social mobility. This leadership enhances our reputation and enables us to work with environmentally conscious customers and partners.

Improved technologies, processes, and products lead to cost savings and better energy efficiencies, opening up new business opportunities. OCS is committed to making a meaningful and lasting positive impact on the planet, making people and places the best they can be for future generations. This is where I want to see change and create a legacy. By exploring green innovation, we can foster long-term growth and resilience.

What are the biggest challenges OCS faces in achieving net zero targets and how are they addressed?

Our biggest challenge is engaging the entire business across multiple countries and cultures. To achieve net zero, we need a coherent and aligned plan. Changing behaviours in a throw-away culture is crucial, and clear communication is vital to ensure everyone understands the policies and goals.

The landscape is constantly evolving with more complex regulations, requiring us to stay ahead of potential changes and prepare both senior teams and employees.

OCS’s mission is to make people and places the best they can be. How do our ESG commitments help achieve this?

We develop our commitments pragmatically, ensuring they align with our long-term business growth and sustainability goals. Our focus areas include social mobility and environmental targets. As an employer of 120,000 people, we support disadvantaged individuals through programs like People into Work, partnering with NGOs to provide employment opportunities. We also offer apprenticeships, scholarships, and training, fostering an inclusive culture with platforms like CHROMA that gives our colleagues a voice, promoting individuality and inclusivity.

Environmentally, we aim to protect the planet by influencing and supporting other businesses. For example, one of our healthcare contracts uses an on-site composter for a circular economy model, turning kitchen waste into garden compost. Our commitments lead to practical plans that bring these goals to life.

What future efforts and initiatives does OCS have planned to further enhance ESG commitments and drive sustainability forward?

We are committed to the circular economy, aiming to reduce scope 3 emissions by innovating energy use and waste reduction with our suppliers, benefiting both us and our customers. We also focus on social values, making mindful decisions in recruitment and community engagement to improve our culture, customer environments, and community. This approach, “doing business the right way,” centres on colleagues, customers, and community. We will maintain high-quality ESG data to identify improvements and show progress. The UK and Ireland are validating their carbon reduction plans with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and we will continue aligning with SBTi.

Are there any recycling technologies the company plans to implement or explore further?

Over the past two years, we have implemented several initiatives such as Tork PaperCircle in the UK and Ireland, recycling paper hand towels into tissue products in a closed-loop process. In the UAE, we use advanced glasses technology to provide our engineers with remote assistance and real-time information, enhancing efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. We’re also exploring smart technologies like sensors and AI to make buildings smarter, supporting our goal of sustainable business growth.

What key message would you like to share on the importance of recycling and sustainability during Recycle Week 2024?

Creating a better environment and place to live requires collective effort. We all need to make small, mindful changes. Instead of picking up a plastic bottle, consider a recycled one. Buy loose ingredients like cereals from local suppliers and compost at home rather than sending waste to landfill.

Daily actions matter. It’s not just about the environment but also the social aspect, everyone can make a positive impact. I’ve been volunteering since my early teens, and there are many ways recycling can benefit communities. For example, community fridges divert unwanted supermarket food to those in need. It is the small, consistent changes that can lead to a big difference.