Cutting the Crap: die Vorteile einer Strategie zu weniger Ressourcenverbrauch in deutschen Supermärkten

The report argues that German supermarkets, as dominant market gatekeepers, have a significant opportunity to reduce material consumption by approximately 20% through product innovation, reduced packaging, and new business models. It highlights a paradox where Germany is a leader in waste policy but remains one of Europe's largest waste producers per capita. The document calls for a shift from voluntary guidelines to binding national and EU-level resource efficiency targets to drive economic growth and job creation.

• German supermarkets could reduce material consumption across their entire product range by approximately 20% by switching to more efficient products and innovative service-based business models.
• A nationwide increase in resource efficiency of 20% by 2030 could create nearly 700,000 new jobs in Germany, reduce gross producer prices by 4.3%, and decrease imports by 10%.
• Despite its reputation for efficiency, Germany is the largest waste producer in the EU by total volume and the fifth largest per capita, with municipal waste at 617 kg per inhabitant in 2013 compared to the EU average of 481 kg.
• The report identifies a 'paradox' in German waste management where high incineration rates are driven by overcapacity in waste-to-energy plants and incorrect price incentives, making incineration cheaper than recycling in some cases.
• Analysis by Rank a Brand indicates that no German supermarket currently has an effective strategy or policy to reduce the total material input of the products they sell.
• The document argues that current German resource efficiency goals are flawed because they measure productivity relative to GDP rather than in absolute terms, allowing resource consumption to grow as the economy grows.
• Specific material saving potentials are identified: concentrated detergents can reduce packaging by up to 50%, recycled toilet paper can reduce water and energy use by 60-70%, and eliminating packaging for fruits can save up to 80% of materials.
• The report recommends that supermarkets immediately stop selling the most resource-inefficient products for which better alternatives exist, citing IKEA's decision to stop selling halogen lamps as a positive example.

APA

Isakowitsch, A. (n.d.). Cutting the Crap: die Vorteile einer Strategie zu weniger Ressourcenverbrauch in deutschen Supermärkten. Changing Markets Foundation. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Changing-Markets_Cutting-the-Crap_Supermarkets_German_web.pdf

Chicago

Isakowitsch, Anne. Cutting the Crap: die Vorteile einer Strategie zu weniger Ressourcenverbrauch in deutschen Supermärkten. Changing Markets Foundation, n.d. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Changing-Markets_Cutting-the-Crap_Supermarkets_German_web.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Isakowitsch |first1=Anne |title=Cutting the Crap: die Vorteile einer Strategie zu weniger Ressourcenverbrauch in deutschen Supermärkten |publisher=Changing Markets Foundation |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Changing-Markets_Cutting-the-Crap_Supermarkets_German_web.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{isakowitschndcutting, author = {Isakowitsch, Anne}, title = {{Cutting the Crap: die Vorteile einer Strategie zu weniger Ressourcenverbrauch in deutschen Supermärkten}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Changing-Markets_Cutting-the-Crap_Supermarkets_German_web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }