Cultural dimensions of waste

Javaid, Shanzeh, Zvarikova, Katarina, Sivarajah, Uthayasankar and Chatterjee, Sheshadri 2026. Cultural dimensions of waste. Wilmot, Natalie Victoria and Gaibrois, Claudine, eds. The Routledge Companion to Cross-Cultural Management, Routledge Companions in Business, Management and Marketing, New York: Routledge, (10.4324/9781003477723-17)

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Abstract

The circular economy (CE) has gained international momentum as a strategy to reduce environmental degradation and resource inefficiency. Yet, its global application often overlooks the cultural specificities that shape how societies conceptualise waste, responsibility, and sustainability. This chapter examines the intersection between CE discourse and cultural diversity, highlighting the risks of universalised models that may reproduce environmental injustices. Drawing on insights from environmental governance, political ecology, and cultural theory, this critique challenges dominant narratives that portray CE as neutral or technical. Case studies from India, Sweden, and Brazil illustrate how cultural beliefs, informal economies, and traditional knowledge shape circular practices. Without attention to local values and lived realities, CE initiatives risk marginalising communities and reinforcing global inequalities. A more inclusive and culturally responsive approach is needed—one that recognises the political and ethical dimensions of sustainability and promotes equitable transitions across diverse contexts.

Item Type:	Book Section
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Geography and Planning (GEOPL)
Publisher:	Routledge
ISBN:	9781032759456
Last Modified:	14 May 2026 21:22
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/186977

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