In the heart of Turkey, a quiet revolution is taking place, one that could reshape the country’s industrial landscape and offer valuable lessons for the global energy sector. Dr. Ayşenur Albayrak, an academic from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, has been scrutinizing the transformation of Turkey’s industrial policies through the lenses of industrial ecology and the circular economy. Her research, published in the Journal of Design for Resilience in Architecture and Planning, known in Turkish as “Mimarlık ve Planlamada Dayanıklılık Tasarımı Dergisi,” sheds light on a shift that could have significant commercial implications for energy-intensive industries.
Since the 1980s, the world has been grappling with the limitations of linear production systems, which follow a simple ‘take, make, dispose’ model. In contrast, circular economy principles advocate for a closed-loop approach, where waste is minimized, and resources are kept in use for as long as possible. This is where industrial symbiosis comes into play, a concept that has been gaining traction in Turkey since 2010.
Albayrak’s research highlights two main categories of initiatives that have emerged in Turkey: the development of regional industrial symbiosis schemes and the transformation of existing Organized Industrial Zones into Eco-Industrial Parks. “These initiatives represent a significant shift in Turkey’s industrial policy,” Albayrak explains. “They signify a move towards a more sustainable model, where industries collaborate to exchange by-products, thereby reducing waste and conserving resources.”
The influence of the EU Green Deal has further accelerated this shift, with the circular economy discourse becoming the dominant narrative in policy documents since 2020. However, Albayrak’s research also uncovers some critical challenges. “While there’s been a growing institutionalization of circularity, there’s also a risk of reducing it to mere bureaucratic waste trading,” she warns. Moreover, she emphasizes the need to integrate ecological principles holistically within spatial, social, and governance contexts.
For the energy sector, these findings could be a game-changer. The circular economy principles could lead to more efficient use of resources, reduced waste, and lower energy consumption. Industries could collaborate to exchange by-products, thereby reducing their environmental impact and improving their bottom line. Furthermore, the transformation of industrial zones into eco-parks could create new opportunities for renewable energy integration and energy efficiency improvements.
Albayrak’s research serves as a reminder that the transition to a circular economy is not just about technical or economic efficiency. It’s about embedding sustainability into the very fabric of our industries and communities. As Turkey continues to grapple with these challenges, the world watches, learning from its experiences and adapting them to local contexts. The journey towards a circular economy is complex and fraught with challenges, but as Albayrak’s research shows, it’s a journey worth undertaking.