Corporate Recycling Behavior Through the Lens of Situational Factors : Case study at Tarkett AB in Ronneby

Sammanfattning: Introduction: The unsustainable recycling patterns of various companies in Sweden lead to a waste of possible resources. These resources can create value through re-production in circular processes. The issue that this study address is the recycling behavior among workplaces. There is a gap in the research of understanding influences to recycling behaviors among industrial companies, which is the target in this study. Theory & Purpose: This thesis employs behavioral theories on recycling activity through a framework developed by the authors with the aim of determining factors that affect the present recycling behavior within industries. Therefore, the purpose will be to investigate recycling behavior of companies within the flooring industry in Sweden. Furthermore, its purpose is to broaden the knowledge about recycling among companies and what situational factors that affect recycling behavior. Methodology: For data gathering, the thesis followed a quantitative method through conducting an online survey. The survey was sent out to 190 companies, and this resulted in 55 respondents which is a response rate of 28.9%. The survey data were collected to evaluate the prediction of behavior by the use of statistical regression analyses in STATA. Ordinal and binary data were the primary data types collected and used. Analysis & Results: A Probit regression model tested the survey data followed by calculations of the marginal effects. Marginal effect is used to conclude how much each situational factor provoked the probability of RECYCLING BEHAVIOR when the other factors are unchanged. The analysis made the support that RECYCLING BEHAVIOR is significantly related to the factors INFRASTRUCTURE, CONVENIENCE and ORGANIZATION COMMITMENT. Furthermore, there is an existence of latent factors affecting recycling behavior. This existence is because the statistical model partly explains the connection. Alternative factors should be investigated in further research since there are limited studies done on the topic. Conclusions: Considered benefits are for; the flooring industry as well as other industries and society at large. The understanding of enablers for influencing RECYCLING BEHAVIOR is one of the benefits of this study. Changes in arrangement and mobility of recycling stations, together with an increase of social norms and recycling policies, suggests being practical goals. Moreover, communicating these standpoints are important for companies to gain value. Nonetheless, protecting the environmental boundaries by decreasing the use of raw material in a growing global production market. Understanding how situational factors affect RECYCLING BEHAVIOR will help actors move towards more sustainable and circular acts. Regarding recycling among industries, this study can be used to understand how to gain more value in existing circular economy systems as well as waste management systems. Both economic value and ecological value can be determined, from putting waste material into new products instead of incinerating it. Future Research: Directions for future research include qualitative case studies, experimental testing, and models including internal factors, attitude, habits and subjective norms. Extending this thesis with other approaches will benefit to find further correlations and predictions regarding recycling behavior among companies. Further research should also include economic aspects of the material gained through recycling behavior.