Corporate Waste Governance

How is a company's waste production and recycling affected by owners, managers, employees and lenders? Waste from the manufacturing of new materials for products accounts for a significant proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions. In this research project we will document that comparable companies have vastly different waste volumes and recycling patterns – even though they have access to the same technologies and waste systems..

 

The project focuses on how company owners, managers, employees and lenders affect waste management differently. PI Morten Bennedsen will map this with a unique set of data on Danish companies' waste management.  ‘A better understanding of the reasons for companies‘ different waste practices will help both companies and policy makers make decisions and design sustainable policies,’ says Morten Bennedsen.

We explain the differences based on the way companies make decisions and either opt in or out of green solutions and investments.

Research shows that global waste production is expected to increase from 2.01 billion tonnes in 2018 to around 3.40 billion tonnes in 2050. In Denmark, which has one of the world's most efficient waste systems, corporate waste generation is estimated to be 4kg per day per capita. Any marginal improvement in Danish companies' recycling of waste will help our domestic companies. But not just them: The effects are likely to spread to companies in many other countries.

 

 

 

 

Researchers

Name Title Job responsibilities
Morten Bennedsen Professor Ownermanaged Firms, Family Business and Corporate Governance;Applied Microeconomics Billede af Morten Bennedsen

Funded by:

DFF logo

Period:  February 2025 - February 2028

Contact

PI Morten Bennedsen