The implications of Circular Economy for the Tourism Sector
摘要截稿:
全文截稿: 2025-01-31
影响因子: 8.086
期刊难度:
CCF分类: 无
中科院JCR分区:
• 大类 : 环境科学与生态学 - 1区
• 小类 : 工程:环境 - 2区
• 小类 : 环境科学 - 1区
Overview
Circular economy has emerged as a pivotal industrial approach capable of harmonizing socio-economic development within planetary boundaries (Kirchherr et al., 2023; Blomsma & Tennant, 2020). The essence of circular economy lies in pursuing economic opportunities while constraining environmental and social impacts through implementing well-planned, effective, and efficient resource and waste management practices throughout the entire value chain and product usage (Morseletto, 2020; Geissdoerfer et al, 2017). The primary goal of circular economy is to retain the value of materials, components, and products within the economic system for as long as possible, fostering sustainable and inclusive practices (Urbinati et al., 2021, Boluk et al., 2019). Simultaneously, it offers an opportunity for individuals to actively engage in the transformation through heightened awareness and responsible consumption (Desing et al., 2020).
The tourism sector is not immune to these shifts, facing its own set of challenges and opportunities within the circular economy framework. The sector is a known contributor to environmental and social impacts, including the pressure on natural capital and local resources, ecological habitat disruption, and contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions through various activities (Einarsson & Sorin, 2020; Rodriguez et al., 2020). Addressing these impacts is becoming increasingly urgent, with sustainable tourism development models that promote resource efficiency and waste reduction seen as vital for the sector’s future (UNWTO, 2020).
Recent studies have explored the integration of circular economy principles within the tourism sector, offering new insights into the sector’s practices and potential for sustainable transformation (Inchausti-Sintes, 2021; Boluk et al., 2019). These investigations highlight the adoption of closed-loop production and consumption processes across the tourism value chain, including food production, transportation, and accommodation sectors, and emphasize the importance of practices like recovery, reuse, and regeneration in fostering circular tourism (Girard & Nocca, 2017).
Businesses and destinations within the tourism industry are adopting circular economy practices to reduce resource consumption and mitigate environmental and social impacts (Rodriguez et al., 2020). Noteworthy examples include circular practices in the accommodation and food service sectors, such as the recycling of building materials, asset renovation, and the use of renewable energy sources, among others (Einarsson & Sorin, 2020; Manniche et al., 2021; Girard & Nocca, 2017). Furthermore, the food service and restaurant industries are focusing on reusability, recycling, and reduction in their operations, impacting food production, packaging, logistics, and waste management (Alhola et al., 2017; Privitera, 2016). These efforts reflect a collective commitment to embracing circular economy principles, paving the way for a more sustainable tourism industry.
While the integration of circular economy practices in tourism holds great promise, empirical research in this area remains limited and calls for further exploration (Manniche et al., 2021). A recent study on the hospitality industry in Europe highlighted key areas of concern, including food waste, water, and energy consumption, while noting the need for greater attention to ecosystem protection and development (Bux and Amicarelli, 2023). The tourism sector’s diversity and complexity make it an excellent candidate for advancing circular economy research and practice.
However, establishing a solid theoretical foundation and conducting empirical studies are crucial for understanding how to implement circular economy principles effectively in tourism. Moreover, fostering collaborative dialogues with stakeholders is essential for innovatively addressing sustainability challenges through access to relevant network resources (Markovic et al., 2023). The use of varied terminologies such as regenerative tourism, sustainable tourism, and green tourism underscores the need for harmonization in future research directions. The imperative for ongoing research and development in circular tourism is clear, inviting scholars to contribute to the theoretical and practical growth of this emerging field.
This Special Issue invites submissions that reside at the intersection of circular economy and tourism management. It endeavors to offer a comprehensive examination and furtherance of circular economy concepts as a revolutionary means to tackle global challenges and promote sustainable development within the tourism sector.
Starting from these premises, we we seek contributions from both scholars and practitioners to examine and explore the theme of circular economy in the tourism sector by deepening the following research agenda, including (but not limited to) the topics listed below:
redesigning tourism value network and proposition of the sector on the basis of circular economy principles
defining and elaborating on circular economy practices for tourism industry
circular economy practices in accommodation, hotel, food services, and restaurants
travel impacts, over-tourism, and overconsumption from the point of view of circular economy
stakeholder perspectives: transitioning to circular tourism
challenges, barriers, and solutions in implementing circular economy principles
harmonizing sustainable development goals and circular tourism
the impact of circular economy initiatives on social and environmental sustainability of the tourism value chain
circular design, renewable energy sources, and other sustainable-by-design initiatives in the hospitality sector
the role of technological advancements in the transition pathway towards circular economy in the tourism sector
cultural differences in the adoption of circular economy practices among and/or different touristic destinations
the role of entrepreneurial initiatives in redefining new business models and value propositions in the tourism sector coherent with circular economy principles
Guest editors:
Julian Kirchherr 1, 2, 3, juliank@ruc.dk
Valentina Ndou 4, valentina.ndou@unisalento.it
Fabian Takacs 5, fabian.takacs@unisg.ch
Andrea Urbinati 6,*, aurbinati@liuc.it
1 Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University, Denmark
2 Innovation Studies Group, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
3 Cambridge Center for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
4 Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Italy
5 Institute of Management and Strategy, University of St. Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland
6 School of Industrial Engineering, LIUC Università Cattaneo, Castellanza, Italy
* Managing Guest Editor