World Bank2025-01-212025-01-212025-01-21https://hdl.handle.net/10986/42704Economic and population growth over the past 50 years have increased global natural resource use to levels that severely affect human well-being. In Türkiye, as elsewhere, economic and population growth have been accompanied by increasing levels of material consumption and waste. The need to transition away from current linear resource use patterns is conceptualized and promoted within the circular economy (CE) concept. Türkiye recognizes that it must transition to a more circular and material-efficient growth model. Türkiye launched its zero-waste initiative in 2017, and the CE is flagged as a priority in the 2021 economic reform program. A successful CE transition in Türkiye will also help the European Union (EU) achieve its CE goals of enhancing material efficiency and reducing environmental impact. A significant portion of the EU’s material consumption and footprint is based on imports, with 11 percent of domestic material consumption and nearly 36 percent of the total footprint being imported. This report highlights the importance of a deliberate, strategic, and articulated approach toward transitioning the Turkish economy to a CE, blending immediate actionable steps with a forward-looking long-term strategy. By moving forward with flexibility and vision, Türkiye can use its distinct advantages to not only respond to the changing global economy but also to lead in sustainable innovation and resilience, establishing a model for others in the worldwide move toward a more circular and thriving future.en-USCC BY-NC 3.0 IGOECONOMIC GROWTHRESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTIONCIRCULAR ECONOMYSANITATIONReportWorld Bank10.1596/42704