Preventative strategies make waste management more sustainable by stopping waste before it is created or reducing it at source. They conserve natural capital and energy while avoiding impacts from collection, treatment and disposal.
This is IB ESS Subtopic 7.3 Solid waste, taught at both SL and HL. Prevention is more sustainable than restoration because it intervenes before materials become waste.
| Preventative strategy | How it improves sustainability | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Refuse and reduce | Lowers demand for raw materials, manufacturing, transport and packaging | Charges on single-use bags reduce consumption |
| Redesign | Makes products durable, repairable and less toxic | Modular electronics allow components to be replaced |
| Reuse, repair and refill | Extends product life and delays disposal | Refillable bottles and repair centres |
| Cleaner production | Reduces waste and pollution during manufacturing | Factories reuse offcuts or water |
| Extended producer responsibility | Makes producers responsible after use, encouraging better design | Deposit-return schemes recover containers |
| Change consumer behaviour | Reduces unnecessary purchasing and food waste | Meal planning prevents edible food waste |
These strategies reduce system inputs, such as energy and raw materials, and outputs, including landfill waste, greenhouse gases and toxic pollution. They support a circular economy, in which products and materials circulate for as long as possible and nature is regenerated.
Germany’s deposit-return system adds a refundable deposit to many drink containers. This gives packaging economic value, encourages return and supports reuse or high-quality recycling.
A common misconception is that recycling is always the most sustainable option. Recycling still requires collection, transport and energy, so refusing, reducing and reusing usually rank above it in the waste hierarchy.
Exam technique: For an “explain” question, identify a strategy and connect it through cause and effect to environmental, social and economic sustainability. For “evaluate,” balance benefits against limitations such as cost, accessibility and unequal impacts on low-income groups, then reach a supported conclusion.
