Fossil fuel and resource use impacts of raw material substitution and recycling in tourism sector in Türkiye: evidence from circular economy adjusted input-output matrix

Abstract

ABSTRACT Tourism, after the pandemic, has once again become a rapidly growing economic sector both in the world and Türkiye. Even though the sector contributes positively to the economy, it also puts pressure on the environment due to its’ current existing ‘linear’ production and consumption behaviour. This paper searches the possible circular economy solutions to environmental degradation due to growth of tourism while simultaneously sustaining its growth. Specifically, scenario analyses are carried out to allow substitution of recycled materials with primary and secondary materials and to increase recycling from tourism sector by employing the circular economy adjusted input-output matrix of Türkiye. Findings suggest that main circularity instruments to be used by the tourism sector could be the use of more recycled inputs, of any type, resulting in a significant amount of decline in fossil fuel and other resources use. In practice, the best examples of recycled inputs and end-uses are all types of furniture and furnishings in the accommodation sub-sector and the provision and use of cleaning and hygiene products and packaging materials in the restaurant and food services sub-sector. The tourism sector’s input supply for recycling however is less influential, since the tourism sector is manifested as a final service.