Waste Prevention Versus Economic Growth
What Message Does This Send to the Waste Management Sector?
Dipl.-Ing.(TU) Werner P. Bauer
Waste prevention remains a central pillar of sustainable development. However, anyone who believes that waste prevention and circular economy principles alone will solve the major systemic problems underestimates economic realities.
A current example: Europe’s largest car manufacturer, VW, after years of double-digit billion-euro profits, has reported a drop in profits to €6.9 billion after tax (EAT) and has responded by announcing the elimination of 50,000 jobs (DIE ZEIT, 10 March 2026). When revenues decline, companies often take a hard line: the profitability of the core brand is to be improved, according to VW. Employees feel this first through job cuts. At the same time, VW is promoting its corporate goal with ‘Boost 2030’: by 2030, the brand aims to be the technologically leading volume manufacturer. Globally, of course. This means ever-increasing production volumes.
Environmental organisations and climate researchers, however, are calling for a reduction in private motorised transport, the expansion of environmentally friendly alternatives, and a socially just approach to the transition. VW’s strategy, however, leads to more waste and higher greenhouse gas emissions per capita. The approach advocated by environmental organisations and climate researchers, on the other hand, supports the achievement of climate targets.
The transformation of a global automotive corporation into a sustainable mobility provider for individual transport is antagonistic. Furthermore, entire regions and tens of thousands of jobs depend on this flagship German industry.
The VW example brings us back to reality: there will likely be more waste per capita, not less.
My conclusion:
A zero-waste demand without material and energy recovery, for example, waste-to-energy plants, is utopian.What message does this convey?
1) Let us prevent waste – with determination. And recognise the signs that are nevertheless leading to more rather than less waste and greenhouse gases in the world. 2) Let us therefore work toward ensuring that EU policy, with its focus on the triad of waste prevention, reuse and material recycling, does not devalue the energy recovery of waste. If the EU is serious about reducing landfilling, it must also explicitly demand and promote the higher-value fourth stage of its own waste hierarchy.
Yours,
Werner P. BauerYour viewpoint could open up new angles in WasteCulture. Can’t wait to read your comment on the blog!
Sources
Comments:
Werner P. Bauer, this is a compelling and pragmatic reflection, especially when viewed through the lens of environmental governance, management principles, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Your example of Volkswagen highlights a fundamental systems tension between economic growth and sustainability, particularly across SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 12, and SDG 13. It reinforces that waste generation is not just a technical issue, but a broader governance and political economy challenge.
From this perspective, several key points emerge:
1) SDG trade-offs and policy coherence- Economic growth can conflict with waste reduction goals, requiring better alignment of industrial and environmental policies.
2) Pragmatic waste hierarchy application- While prevention is critical, energy recovery (WtE) remains an important transitional tool for landfill diversion, provided it does not undermine recycling.
3) Life-cycle thinking and EPR- Strengthening producer responsibility is essential to drive eco-design and reduce waste at source.
4) Polluter pays principle- Economic instruments are necessary to internalize environmental costs and influence production and consumption patterns.
5) Just transition- Sustainability efforts must safeguard jobs and ensure social inclusion.
6) Systems thinking and adaptive management- Waste management must evolve into integrated resource governance, balancing short-term realities with long-term transformation.
In essence, Werner P. Bauer, your message is clear, zero-waste should remain a guiding ambition, but achieving it requires realistic, balanced, and governance-driven approaches that integrate prevention, circularity, and responsible recovery within existing economic systems.
Your example of Volkswagen highlights a fundamental systems tension between economic growth and sustainability, particularly across SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 12, and SDG 13. It reinforces that waste generation is not just a technical issue, but a broader governance and political economy challenge.
From this perspective, several key points emerge:
1) SDG trade-offs and policy coherence- Economic growth can conflict with waste reduction goals, requiring better alignment of industrial and environmental policies.
2) Pragmatic waste hierarchy application- While prevention is critical, energy recovery (WtE) remains an important transitional tool for landfill diversion, provided it does not undermine recycling.
3) Life-cycle thinking and EPR- Strengthening producer responsibility is essential to drive eco-design and reduce waste at source.
4) Polluter pays principle- Economic instruments are necessary to internalize environmental costs and influence production and consumption patterns.
5) Just transition- Sustainability efforts must safeguard jobs and ensure social inclusion.
6) Systems thinking and adaptive management- Waste management must evolve into integrated resource governance, balancing short-term realities with long-term transformation.
In essence, Werner P. Bauer, your message is clear, zero-waste should remain a guiding ambition, but achieving it requires realistic, balanced, and governance-driven approaches that integrate prevention, circularity, and responsible recovery within existing economic systems.
20.03.2026 18:25:35
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