Sustainability: business, life, environment

A key component of business sustainability is asset disposition, or investment recovery.  Investment recovery is the practice of recouping the value of assets no longer needed by a company by identifying and reusing or disposing of surplus assets.  

Corporations in virtually every industry have investment recovery departments, including utilities, chemicals, food processing, forest products, petroleum and gas, metals, government, educational institutions, electronics, pharmaceuticals, transportation and consumer products . Depending on the industry, asset categories can include equipment and machinery, manufacturing, repair and operations supplies, obsolete and/or discontinued materials, by-products and waste, buildings and land.
 
As a sustainability consultant, I view Investment Recovery as a contributing role in an organizations sustainability plan.  Its effectiveness as a contributing sustainability concept includes whether or not environmental principles and policies are clearly stated, ongoing sustainability initiatives are in place, green supply chain programs are embedded in the organization, and if a commitment to reducing green house gas emissions is in place.

Investment recovery addresses the sustainability concept of the 3 R's: reduce, reuse, recycle.  Oftentimes, Investment Recovery professionals work with procurement to reduce inventory; however, in my professional consulting, I've seen the emphasis of investment recovery initiatives placed  in reusing equipment / material or recycling it. 

Investment Recovery, as a sustainable business practice can help your organization to reduce inventory (including storage costs, maintenance costs, taxes), contribute positively to the bottom line, and contribute to your company's sustainability plan.