From Circular Economy to Social Design: Obstacles and Solutions in Heritage Management

Abstract

This study examines how circular economy approaches and social design principles can facilitate the sustainable reuse of Edremit Bay's traditional olive oil factories—rural industrial heritage sites on Turkey's western coast that have been increasingly abandoned or inconsistently transformed. Based on field observations, semi-structured interviews, and focus-group sessions, the analysis draws on evidence from over thirty factories. The findings highlight that short-term populist strategies, fueled by post hoc and bandwagon biases, undermine long-term objectives by prioritizing immediate gains over cultural authenticity. Additionally, broken windows theory ef-fects were observed, wherein unchecked deterioration accelerated social and economic decline. Nevertheless, adaptive reuse projects guided by inclusive planning, minimal interventions, and respect for original structures show promising outcomes in reducing waste, generating employment, and fostering community engagement. By merging the circular economy with social design, local stakeholders are empowered to preserve industrial heritage while creating socioeconomically viable spaces. Thus, successful transformations reinforce the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in revitalizing cultural assets. This research offers policy implications for rural heritage management by clarifying how heritage-led reuse decisions can shape rural livelihoods, place attach-ment, and local governance capacity in peripheral production landscapes. It aligns its circular economy and social design recommendations with the United Nations 2030 Agenda, particularly SDGs 11, 12, 8, and 4, to support standardized comparison across heritage contexts.