The responsible use of natural resources is a cornerstone of future-oriented social policy. Since the 1970s, it has increasingly been realised in Germany, but also worldwide, that it will be impossible to maintain in the long term the massive level of consumption of natural resources, in particular of primary energy. In particular in the industrialised countries there is a need to dramatically improve the efficiency of use and consumption of resources. Although the future scarcity of resources can be alleviated by process and product innovation such innovations cannot be predicted with certainty. A „principle of caution“ therefore urges the economical use of natural resources. It is the task of the state and society to provide the necessary behavioural incentives for this. On the other hand, competition as an organising principle of the economy is also a cornerstone of future-oriented social policy. Sometimes it can be difficult to reconcile the demands of competition and environmental protection. This conflict of interests raises the question of how much weight should be attached to competition as an organising principle in the protection of resources and the environment.