A performative definition of waste prevention

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The increasing importance being placed on waste prevention in European waste governance raises the question of how waste prevention is defined in practice. This paper presents a qualitative analysis of a sample of fifty-one Swedish waste prevention initiatives with the purpose of identifying which kind of actions are imagined, promoted, and set into motion under the label of waste prevention. The analysis shows that despite their apparent variety, the initiatives in the sample boil down to three main types of actions: raising awareness about the need to prevent waste, increasing material efficiency, and developing sustainable consumption. In contradistinction to the formal definition of waste prevention in the European Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC), what emerges from analyzing the initiatives in the sample is a performative definition of waste prevention as something heterogeneous, contradictory, and evolving. Such a definition of waste prevention in practice provides an understanding of the organizational dynamics of waste prevention.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3-13
Number of pages11
JournalWaste Management: international journal of integrated waste management, science and technology
Volume52
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Free keywords

  • Waste prevention
  • Sustainable consumption
  • Performative definition
  • Material efficiency

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