Enforcing sustainable development by legislation: Entrepreneurial consequences of the new German waste management act

The new German Closed Substance Cycle and Waste Management Act can be regarded as an effort on the part of the Federal Government to implement the concept of sustainable development in the business sphere. The Act introduces new regulations to substantial areas of entrepreneurial waste management activities by broadening the entire national waste concept, setting new priorities with regard to the avoidance of and the duty to utilize waste, extending specific duties for companies to provide information and, above all, by legally codifying manufacturers' product responsibility (product stewardship). This last point gives rise to serious consequences for entrepreneurial management. Generally speaking, the numerous forthcoming governmental ordinances based on this Act may be expected to cause a shift in companies' perspectives from environmental management towards entrepreneurial risk management. Serious consequences for product planning and management can also be expected.