Technical Report: Rethink waste

The way humanity perceives and uses our planet’s natural resources is dangerously unsustainable. The world relies almost exclusively on new materials to make the products and infrastructure we use daily, and this is contributing to the interconnected planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. While we are consuming resources faster than they can be replenished, much of what we produce from these resources ultimately ends up as waste. These actions harm the environment and endanger the sustainability of life on Earth. So why does it still happen? By applying the Theory of Deep Change, developed for the 2025 edition of the Interconnected Disaster Risks report, this technical background report discusses the risks perpetuated by linear production and consumption and what a better system could look like. The report discusses the benefits of circular systems, which treasure and preserve resources, making sure things are used as long as possible and later become the input for something else. The report highlights the necessity for deep change that can be achieved by changing societal assumptions and values, called inner levers, combined with structural changes, such as new laws, infrastructure or behaviors, called outer levers. With this, we can guarantee no scarcity, food and water security for all, and a healthier and more equitable life. Pieces of a more harmonious world are already in place, demonstrating that change is possible if only we encourage our societies to act accordingly.