Industry associations as levers for the implementation of cascading - A longitudinal study of post-consumer wood recycling in Germany

Abstract

This study focuses on the implementation of cascading, a key principle in the context of circular and bio-economy policy strategies that aim at a more efficient use of renewable resources. By adopting a longitudinal multi-case study approach, the study explores the role of industry associations representing manufacturing, processing, and waste management industries in an established market and an emerging market for recycling post-consumer wood-based products in Germany. The results show that based on the level of market maturity and shared understanding among actors, the roles of industry associations oscillate between standard-setting activities based on physical properties of goods and services (i.e., validation) and value-generating activities through which product qualities are attributed (i.e., valuation). By looking at temporal patterns, our study highlights the political character of markets that affects the resolution of coordination problems and, therefore, the implementation of cascading.