Study on Circular Economy in Tunisia
Published: February 18, 2025
How can Tunisia successfully transition to a circular economy? The objective of this study funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and led by Trinomics in collaboration with ASF Consulting and ACEN Foundation was to promote the understanding of the circular economy in Tunisia by; The aim is to promote the implementation of a […]
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- Tunisia
How can Tunisia successfully transition to a circular economy?
The objective of this study funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and led by Trinomics in collaboration with ASF Consulting and ACEN Foundation was to promote the understanding of the circular economy in Tunisia by;
- drawing up an inventory of the circular economy in Tunisia
- identifying the opportunities, issues and socio-economic challenges that the circular economy represents in Tunisia in terms of wealth creation, job creation, investment in sustainable development, inclusion and reduction of inequalities; and
- popularising the concept, in order to promote its understanding by policy makers, the private sector, civil society or any other actor.
The aim is to promote the implementation of a circular economy development model in order to ensure the resilience and sustainability of the Tunisian economy. The study includes a definition of the concept, a regional and international benchmark, an analysis of the socio-economic and environmental issues, initiatives in the field, an identification of appropriate sectors of activity, notably in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the links with the SDGs through research and interviews with actors in the field.
The bigger picture
Funded by UNDP and led by Trinomics with ASF Consulting and the ACEN Foundation, the study drew up an inventory of the circular economy in Tunisia, identified opportunities and socio-economic challenges, and worked to popularise the concept among policymakers. It sits alongside a wider push — through initiatives such as SwitchMed and the EU/UNIDO Green Forward Industry project — to embed resource efficiency across Tunisian industry, from textiles to the automotive value chain.
References & further reading
- SwitchMed — Circular economy in Tunisia.
- Green Forward Industry (EU & UNIDO) — Circular economy practices in Tunisia’s automotive value chain.
- UNIDO — Global Stocktake of National Circular Economy Roadmaps (2025).