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Waste delinking: A pathway to degrowth?

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  • Karimzadeh, Sara

Abstract

Cross-border waste trade from high- to lower-income countries contributes to unsustainable economic growth through overproduction and overconsumption in the former while shifting environmental, social, and health costs to the latter. Drawing on Samir Amin's theory of delinking, this article presents waste delinking as an imperative to internalize the costs of affluent regions' post-consumption residues within their own territories and capacities. Using recent evidence on plastic, textile, and electronic waste, the article shows how closing export outlets constrains growth and can catalyze systemic transformation. Waste delinking necessitates a reorganization of production–consumption systems and therefore provides a concrete pathway toward degrowth-oriented futures grounded in non-colonial relations, localization, and ecological justice.

Suggested Citation

  • Karimzadeh, Sara, 2026. "Waste delinking: A pathway to degrowth?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:241:y:2026:i:c:s0921800925003520
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2025.108869
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