What is the circular economy?

Circular Economy is a production and consumption approach that the products and materials’ value is preserved for a long time; the usage of harmful materials -including carbon- and limited resources are minimized; wastage and formation of waste are prevented; products are reused after the expire date safely and sustainably for environment and people; adds more value to the products, and supports decarburization.

A Livable World with Circular Economy and Green Development

When we view nature with a perfect cycle, we observe that there is no “waste” in nature, and it conserves its cycle by itself. However, we are witnessing that the uncontrollable usage of natural resources in today's world's the production and consumption model poses a threat to a sustainable life and causes extraordinary nature events and climate crises. It is impossible to ensure environmental and economic sustainability with the present linear economic model focusing on a “Buy-Use–Throw” approach.

Along with the Circular Economy notion that played a significant role in achieving European Green Deal’s “climate neutral” goal becoming widespread implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change specifically focused on the subjects such as the management of effective and efficient resources, usage of products and materials longer, diminishing the formation of waste, and use of recycled material in the production process.

A new perspective for environmental sustainability and sustainable development

In conjunction with the Circular Economy notion becoming prevalent in recent years, substantial studies are being conducted by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change specifically on efficient resource and waste management. The studies of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change performed on legislation and implementation have the feature of being a guide for the most within this scope.

An action is identified for “Determining Primary Sectors in the Field of Circular Economy” and “Conducting Detailed Impact and Need Analyses” within the context of the “Green Deal Action Plan” published by the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change is appointed as the responsible institution for this action. “Preparation of the Need and Impact Evaluation Reports” intended for the sectors is the action’s primary output. Sectors such as textile, plastic, construction, and manufacturing will be analyzed in detail while prioritizing activities.

Another action under the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change is the “Preparation of Circular Economy National Action Plan until the 2nd Quarter of 2023.” The main output of this action will be “Circular Economy National Action Plan” and “determining the technical criteria oriented on the usage of recycled secondary materials.”

General principles are incorporated into the law related to generalizing the implementation of “zero waste” and “circular economy”; preserving, ameliorating, and preventing the environment from being polluted with the amendment on the Environmental Law in December 2020 as well. The regulation, which will contribute to the economic vision of our country in the upcoming term, concerning the mandatory usage of waste or recycled materials gathered from waste is another significant step in this revision.

“Technical Assistance for Assessment of Türkiye's Potential on Transition to Circular Economy (DEEP Project)” is officially put into practice on 07/02/2022 to ensure that all the studies are performed systematically, to determine our country’s roadmap related to the circular economy and to strengthen the corporate and technical capacity of Turkey during the circular economy transition according to the EU Circular Economy Model. 

The Project, which the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Department of European Union Investment acts as the Contracting Authority, and is operated by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Circular Economy and Waste Management Department as the End Recipient, is supported under the Environment and Climate Action Sector Operational Programme as part of European Union Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA).

The Project that will contribute to developing a new perspective about “sustainable environment” and “sustainable development” and building a sustainable future in our country has a budget of 3 million 200 thousand € and will continue for 36 months.