As a sector, we have always been advocates of preserving the world’s natural resources, getting the most use out of products and safely disposing of them at the end of their life. This is one of the principles on which the institution was founded in 1898.
But the world is a different place now and many developments since then have fundamentally changed what it means to work in our sector. The climate emergency is – and will be – perhaps the biggest, with waste and its impact on the environment being recognised as having a critical role to play in helping to mitigate its effects. Not only this, but what was once seen as a hidden service has even made its way into the awareness of the general public. People are aware of the negative impact their waste can have on the world when poorly managed.
What was once considered simply waste that needed to be dealt with, is now seen as valuable materials that have a use way beyond their first life. From the cars we drive and the clothes we wear, to the tiny bottle top on our kitchen counter.
We know our five values – collaboration, creativity, determination, adaptation and consideration – are shared by you, our members, and that, together, we hold these as paramount in our professional and daily lives.
Valuable and useful materials are locked inside all aspects of our lives, and it’s this understanding that forms the foundations of why moving towards a circular economy matters. Without circular thinking, we are actively creating waste. And that’s something CIWM has always – and will always – stand against.
Our mission is to unite, equip and mobilise the resource community to meet the many challenges that lie ahead. But it’s a challenge that we must face and we must do it together. That’s why we invite our members to share in our clear purpose to move the world beyond waste.
We know our five values – collaboration, creativity, determination, adaptation and consideration – are shared by you, our members, and that, together, we hold these as paramount in our professional and daily lives. They can help empower us to succeed.
By continually building knowledge, expanding opportunities for learning and cultivating innovation, CIWM strives to add more value to its members for their professional lives. Our role is to lead, innovate and champion the journey to a world beyond waste. We set the agenda to ensure the circular economy can make the best use of resources and the economy works in unison with green industry.
Collaboration among CIWM’s community has never been more important, so we all must continue to work together to ensure our planet’s resources are not wasted, but preserved for future generations.
So, how do we intend to start this journey of collaboration? With your help, of course.
Meeting the challenges ahead
As well as working to revitalise its brand identity, CIWM has updated its bigger purpose to reflect the renewed direction of the sector towards a world beyond waste. Liza Salazar talks to CIWM CEO Sarah Poulter about the core priorities supporting this change.
To move the world beyond waste is CIWM’s newly defined core purpose and, as CEO Sarah Poulter explains, is a reflection of the bigger resolve of the sector and the world at large.
As stated in its charter, the institution exists to ‘advance for the public benefit the art and science of wastes management worldwide and so to promote education, the protection of public health and the preservation of the environment’.
This objective is still as true today as it was in 1898 when the institution was founded, however the context has changed. A growing and rapidly developing world has increased the stresses we place on our environment by extracting, using and disposing of resources.
Therefore, moving waste up the hierarchy – starting at prevention – and making the best and safest use of resources throughout their life-cycle are increasingly urgent priorities for all.
CIWM’s mission is to unite, equip and mobilise its community of members to lead, influence and work towards delivering its purpose of moving the world beyond waste
CIWM’s mission is to unite, equip and mobilise its community of members to lead, influence and work towards delivering its purpose of moving the world beyond waste. The institution will help members by giving them more for their professional lives and setting a benchmark for professionalism in the sector.
Much of this work has already begun, including the integration of WAMITAB into CIWM, reforming its scientific and technical offering, and looking at the institution’s net-zero targets so ‘we can lead by example’, says Poulter, who outlines the core priorities for 2021.
Core priorities
CIWM’s long-term strategic plan – which is already written – will be published in the autumn. However, to support members in their professional lives, and in their work towards the core purpose, the institution is working on a number of projects in each of its five core priorities for 2021:
Value and income
This priority involves optimising CIWM’s products, services and channels to ensure members get as much value as possible out of the institution’s knowledge, networks and best practice. It also aims to bring in income to fund current, and future, projects.
Integration
This encompasses the integration of qualifications body WAMITAB and CIWM, a merger aimed at boosting competency and skills in the sector.
Bringing together the two organisations has given CIWM the opportunity to create a stronger professional services department to move forward its operation and strategy for training, professional development, qualifications and skills, and compliance.
This means CIWM will offer a broader portfolio of training and qualifications than it currently does, giving members further opportunities to learn and develop.
CIWM will offer a broader portfolio of training and qualifications than it currently does, giving members further opportunities to learn and develop
Poulter says: ‘This integration is a major initiative that will enable us to up our game in the professional development and qualifications we offer to our members, so they can develop themselves, their teams and organisations, to drive the sector towards the ultimate purpose of moving the world beyond waste.’
CIWM’s new president, Dr Adam Read, has also recently published his Skills for the future presidential report, addressing the skills that will be needed to drive a green, circular recovery (read more on page 37 in your July/August (2021) issue of Circular).
With the aim of becoming a world-class leader in professional development and qualifications in the sector, CIWM is in talks with UK and international organisations – as far and wide as Nigeria, Australia, India and Dubai – about developing training.
Impact
This priority primarily involves the reinvention of CIWM’s scientific and technical capabilities, as well as its special interest groups to ensure how they work is fit for the future.
This work is still ongoing – with details to be announced later this year – but the intention is to bring members and volunteers together to help bolster CIWM’s technical offering, helping to inform research, white papers and knowledge.
‘Our sector is wide, and our membership is broad, and there are many different specialities under waste and resource management. This improved structure will give everyone an opportunity to get involved and call on other experts in their field,’ says Poulter.
‘The aim is to create and nurture a space for incredibly passionate and knowledgeable people to come together and work, and make a difference.’
The overall ambition is a structure that accelerates CIWM’s abilities to gather, discuss, debate, develop and share technical knowledge across the sector and beyond. This will also help to influence, direct and support government and authorities in their decision-making in the wider area of sustainability and climate, as well as waste management’s role within this.
CIWM’s volunteers are at the heart of this, says Poulter; ‘they will get a huge amount out of this for themselves, for their careers, and be able to give back to the sector’.
Identity
This priority focuses on refreshing the institution’s brand, with the intention of ‘bringing CIWM to life’ and making it modern and more relevant for the wider world.
Although not a dramatic change, Poulter says members ‘will start to see a fresher, more vibrant, CIWM’.
Inspiration
This involves the people and projects that will enable the institution to inspire its membership, and those beyond it.
‘Inspiring our teams and volunteers, and allowing that inspiration to flow out into the sector, has to start from within, and, going forward, members will see great clarity and energy from our staff and volunteers,’ says Poulter.
Part of this is the work of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) group, which aims to help build a more diverse institution for the future.
Part of this is the work of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) group, which aims to help build a more diverse institution for the future.
CIWM has set up seven EDI focus groups, which are open to all staff, members and volunteers. Even if members feel these groups don’t directly affect them, they can join to become an ally, and learn more about the issues people are facing and how CIWM is addressing them in the organisation and across its membership.
The aim is to ‘build EDI into our everyday’, says Poulter, and this starts with collecting as much data as possible so CIWM can understand what it does well and what it needs to improve – not only as an organisation, but in the sector as a whole. It will then survey its members and the wider sector in September, before putting together a strategy for the Board at the beginning of 2022 and sharing this with members.
Members who are interested in learning more about EDI can contact Anna Havard on anna.havard@ciwm.co.uk or visit ciwm.co.uk/edi
Working together towards a shared purpose
Developing CIWM’s purpose, brand and core priorities has been a collaborative effort. To inform its direction of travel, CIWM has undertaken research, consulted the sector and listened to its members, trustees and stakeholders, says Poulter.
‘We’re all in it together,’ she adds, ‘and I would invite everyone to get involved in shaping the future of CIWM, bringing your passion, energy, knowledge and skills to the table, because every single view, comment and idea will be taken on board.
‘It’s time for our sector, and our organisation, to play a role in the global movement towards a world beyond waste.’
