IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i9p4092-d1647733.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Zero Waste for All? Sustainable Practices in a Small-Scale Zero Waste Community from a Universal Design Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Anna-Sara Fagerholm

    (Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, LTH, Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
    Department of Natural Science, Design and Sustainable Development, Mid Sweden University, Holmgatan 10, 852 30 Sundsvall, Sweden)

  • Henrik Haller

    (Department of Natural Science, Design and Sustainable Development, Mid Sweden University, Holmgatan 10, 852 30 Sundsvall, Sweden)

  • Anders Warell

    (Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, LTH, Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden)

  • Per-Olof Hedvall

    (Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, LTH, Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
    Department of Natural Science, Design and Sustainable Development, Mid Sweden University, Holmgatan 10, 852 30 Sundsvall, Sweden)

Abstract

Since 2003, Kamikatsu in Japan has established a sustainable zero-waste practice that has achieved a recycling rate exceeding 80%. By exploring how the community has shaped itself around the zero-waste concept, this paper aims to enhance our understanding of zero waste in practice from a universal design perspective. Interviews and photo documentation were used to gather data. The zero-waste concept was not driven by technical solutions. Instead, the results highlight what initiatives contributed to the design of the zero-waste concept. Key themes presented include fostering a lifestyle shift, changing norms, creating co-located experiences, establishing an incentive system, and developing self-awareness routines. The paper also addresses the challenges and opportunities from a universal design perspective when applying zero waste, emphasizing the importance of designing for diverse needs while promoting long-term environmental sustainability. This research contributes to the understanding of zero waste practices, combining the ecological dimension with the social dimension of sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna-Sara Fagerholm & Henrik Haller & Anders Warell & Per-Olof Hedvall, 2025. "Zero Waste for All? Sustainable Practices in a Small-Scale Zero Waste Community from a Universal Design Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-22, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:4092-:d:1647733
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/9/4092/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/9/4092/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:4092-:d:1647733. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.