Analysis of Co-op Food: Circular Economy Megatrend and Policies

This report provides an analysis of Co-op Food's approach to the circular economy, focusing on the opportunities and constraints related to this megatrend. The report highlights the importance of reducing waste in the food industry and how Co-op Food has implemented recycling methods and sustainable packaging to align with circular economy principles. It discusses the company's progress in increasing the percentage of recyclable plastics and the potential for sustainable operations. The report also acknowledges the challenges associated with sustainable packaging materials and their impact on the growth of the circular economy. The analysis includes references to key sources and provides a comprehensive overview of Co-op Food's commitment to responsible business management and environmental sustainability.

Running head: RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
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Discussion based on opportunities and constraints related to megatrends to Co-op Food
Circular economy is considered to be a process in which involves the reduction of
waste which is generated from food and food based products (Geissdoerfer et al. 2017). The
organizations which follow the principles of circular economy aim at reducing the amounts of
waste which are generated from their operations and production based processes
(Geissdoerfer et al. 2017). Circular economy has thereby been selected as the megatrend for
the analysis of the organization named Co-op Food (Geissdoerfer et al. 2017).
As discussed by Geissdoerfer et al. (2017), the concept related to sustainability is
considered to be the base of the megatrend which has led to the development of a circular
economy. The most important part of the circular economy is the decrease of waste disposal
in the food based industry (Geissdoerfer et al. 2017). The amounts of waste which are
generated every year from different industries amounts to 3.5 million tons, which is predicted
to get doubled by the year 2025 (Geissdoerfer et al. 2017). The main aim of the circular
economy is to make use of these huge amounts of waste and reduce its effects on the
environment (Geissdoerfer et al. 2017). This also plays a major role in increasing the
sustainability levels of the business (Geissdoerfer et al. 2017).
According to Stahel (2016), Co-op Food has implemented the culture of recycling in
the different packaging based methods. The organization has implemented recycling methods
in their packaging related processes (Stahel 2016). The major policies which have been
developed under the policies of circular economy are a part of the culture of Co-op Food
(Stahel 2016). The company believes that the culture of throwaway can be considered as
rubbish (Stahel 2016). The process of recycling can be quite complicated, however, the
organization aims at using the packaging based materials in such a manner which can reduce
the after effects on the environment to a large extent (Stahel 2016).

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The organization further aims at using the sustainable plastics for the purpose of
packing the products (Food.coop.co.uk 2018). The use of sustainable products for packaging
can also be considered to be a major step which has been taken by the company based on
circular economy policies (Food.coop.co.uk 2018). The company has increased the
percentage of recyclable plastics from 46% to 71% from the year 2017 (Food.coop.co.uk
2018). This can be considered to be a major progress for the organization with respect to the
policies which have been developed related to the circular economy (Food.coop.co.uk 2018).
According to Theguardian.com (2018), the circular economy based policies are
thereby able to provide effective levels of opportunities of growth to the organization. Co-op
Food will be able to maintain the sustainable operations with the proper implementation of
circular economy based policies (Theguardian.com 2018). The major constraints which are
however faced by the company with respect to the implementation of circular economy are
related to the complications based on the sustainable packaging related materials
(Theguardian.com 2018). The complications related to the process thereby reduces the
growth of circular economy to some extent (Theguardian.com 2018).

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References
Food.coop.co.uk 2018. Packaging & Recycling | Co-op Food. [online] Food.coop.co.uk.
Available at: https://food.coop.co.uk/food-ethics/environmental-impacts/packaging-and-
recycling [Accessed 26 Oct. 2018].
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N.M. and Hultink, E.J., 2017. The Circular Economy–
A new sustainability paradigm?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, pp.757-768.
Stahel, W.R., 2016. The circular economy. Nature News, 531(7595), p.435.
Theguardian.com 2018. Circular economy could bring 70 percent cut in carbon emissions by
2030. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-
business/2015/apr/15/circular-economy-jobs-climate-carbon-emissions-eu-taxation
[Accessed 26 Oct. 2018].