A forest-based circular bioeconomy for sustainable development: a case study of Konya Province, Turkey

Abstract

The concept of the circular bioeconomy is becoming increasingly important for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development worldwide. The aim of this study is to develop a set of indicators suitable to monitor the implementation of the circular bioeconomy principles in the forest-based sector. The indicators were defined considering the 4R framework and tested in a case study in Konya Province, Turkey. The data to calculate the indicators were collected through the administration of a questionnaire to wood processing enterprises in the study area. The results show that the majority of roundwood processed by enterprises and the workforce are locally sourced. Two strengths of the forest-based sector are the high average productive yield and the economically efficient allocation of wood residues for panels and bioenergy production. Conversely, the main weaknesses are the low amount of certified roundwood processed and the high CO2 emissions due to the transport of wood materials. Considering the results of this study, the current situation in Konya Province could be improved through an enhancement of the Chain of Custody (CoC) certification for both local roundwood and wood residues.