Circular economy awareness and motivations in the furniture industry: İnegöl as a microcosm of global south dynamics

Abstract

This study examines the distinctive characteristics of circular economy (CE) transitions in the Global South with the aim of elucidating the complex dynamics. The furniture cluster in İnegöl, Türkiye, is employed as a case study. A circular economy awareness survey is employed to illustrate the current perspective of the industry. In total, 40 companies from the cluster were reached, and the results were analyzed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Furthermore, a semi-structured interview was conducted with a key figure within the ecosystem to gain a deeper understanding of the barriers and motivations for potential CE transitions. The study’s key findings reveal that companies operating in the Global South have less awareness of the coverage of CE with applications confined to waste reduction and energy efficiency in comparison to the Global North. Additionally, new design and innovation efforts are not identified among the expected benefits related to implementing CE. This paper highlights the fact that exporting companies from the Global South may face challenges for sustaining their competitive advantage in EU markets, particularly after the 2026 Net Zero CO2 Plan due to their limited understanding of CE.