Sustainable development and waste management : study of Lassila & Tikanoja’s role in promoting green practices in Finland

Abstract

The thesis discussed Lassila & Tikanoja (L&T), one of the largest environmental services providers in Finland, and its contribution to sustainable development and waste management as a part of a circular economy in Finland and the sustainability agenda of the European Union. The aim of the thesis was to find out how Lassila & Tikanoja incorporates the idea of green practices in its business and how green initiatives support the national objective of ensuring that the country is carbon-neutral in 2035.

The theoretical framework of the study is based on international and European waste management principles with the focus on circular economy, sustainable logistics, and digital transformation of waste systems. Lassila & Tikanoja is a key player in the sustainability change in Finland, as it adopts state-of-the-art recycling technologies, digital monitoring, and energy-efficient logistics. The issues like sorting errors and trade-offs between profitability and cost-efficiency have been overcome, but Lassila & Tikanoja still manages to reconcile profitability with environmental objectives by using innovation and collaboration with stakeholders.

The finding showed that L&T is a good example of a corporate model of sustainable waste management as it is seen that economic performance and environmental responsibility exist. Its practice can be used as a model that can be emulated by other countries and organizations that seek to balance between growth and environmental sustainability.