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Project title

Enhancing the Circular Economy for Tourism

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Central Solutions Ltd

Lead Applicant

Ken Stockil

Project Abstract

The overarching aim of this research is to investigate how the circular economy approach can be applied to the tourism sector in Ireland to make it more environmentally sustainable and develop a roadmap to facilitate mainstreaming of circular economy business models and best practice in the tourism sector. The specific objectives of this project will include: Identify approaches and opportunities for integrating the circular economy into the tourism sector in Ireland. Develop suitable indicators for measuring the effectiveness of these approaches that can be applied at both national, regional and local levels. Develop an Irish tourism circular economy roadmap based on case studies from representative tourist areas in Ireland, e.g., coastal, island and onland (rural/urban) areas, to explore where issues relating to the circular economy are arising, or may arise, and to recommend potential solutions. In addition, the collaborative partners to this proposal (20FIFTY Partners, Fáilte Ireland and Skillnet Ireland’s Climate Ready Academy (CRA) and Lean and Green Skillnet) will: Carry out a current state assessment of the existing circularity initiatives and maturity levels across the tourism and hospitality sectors using data from sectoral engagement in the CRA’s Waste and Circular Economy Leaders and Sustainability Leaders programme, the current EPA funded Waste and Circularity Community of Practice and data from Fáilte Ireland’s existing climate action and circularity initiatives. Identify opportunities to fast track the development of potential solutions by utilising the synergies of the partners and their broader network of enterprise support agencies to develop a coordinated response consisting of a compelling suite of enterprise supports that is easily accessible for the 350+ strategic tourism businesses that Fáilte Ireland is supporting on Climate Action initiatives. This research will conceptualise how the Irish tourism sector can embed circular economy practices within tourism and hospitality accommodation providers (hotels, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, hostels, self-catering, caravan and camping), but also the role that accommodation providers can play to accelerate the mainstreaming of circular practices along the tourism industry value chain (e.g., food and beverage suppliers, cleaning and laundry services, waste service providers, transportation companies, local tourist attraction green accreditation, etc.). Existing EU, national, regional and local policies, tools, instruments and approaches will be identified, and a circular economy roadmap will be developed for the Irish tourism sector, through high-level surveys and detailed semi-structured interviews of stakeholders across the tourism value chain and relevant national stakeholders (including Fáilte Ireland and Skillnet Ireland), academic experts and policy makers on green or eco-tourism on identifying, developing and implementing circularity best practice initiatives that align closely with the skillsets and supports of the project partners. The study will provide a representative baseline of the current state of Irish tourism sectors engagement with circular economy concepts, business models and best practice, while also charting how future national, regional and local supports and initiatives can accelerate the transitions towards a more circular economy, through sector specific best practice guidance, training / competency development and other enterprise supports.

Grant Approved

�377,766.78

Research Hub

Green and Circular Economy

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

01/02/2024

Initial Projected Completion Date

31/01/2027