Changes in Trends During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Focus on Tourism and Plastic Industries

Since February 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic has created a significant disruption of global markets with important effects on the personal, social, economic and professional lives of the people. The uncertainty and fear of the society, together with the severe limitations imposed on a global level, has made tourism one of the sectors most affected by the crisis, contributing significantly to the decrease in the consumption of products packaged in Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), which is widely used in the tourism-related activities. These issues, jointly with the heavy reduction of industrial production, led to an inevitable collapse in oil demand, which made virgin plastics cheaper than recycled ones. The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism sector, examining the consequences of this impact on the consumption of PET and R-PET (Recycled PET). The research methodology firstly involves an investigation of the scientific literature and data sector, comparing 2019 and 2020, in order to highlight the significant issues and changes, both in international arrivals and environmental effects, occurred in the global tourism during the pandemic period. Secondly, by analysing the trends of oil prices, an economic focus on PET and R-PET industry was carried out. A strong correlation was found between the collapse of the tourism market, a decrease in the price of oil, and consequently an increase in the use of virgin PET. This paper adds new insights on the distortive effects on the economics and environment, due to pandemic. Finally, the public health crisis represents a great opportunity to consider tourism holistically in terms of its effects on the environment and climate, but also on consumer and producer behaviours.