Businesses, government and NGOs from across London and beyond are taking part in the second annual Circular Economy Week from 10-14 June, to help drive a resource-efficient and sustainable economy.
The week, led by the London Waste and Recycling Board’s Circular London programme, will involve events, workshops, tours and a whole range of collaboration opportunities to explore more sustainable approaches to resource management, product design, manufacturing and retail.
Circular Economy Week will help raise the profile of this important issue and encourage people across London to support the transition to a circular economy
Events listed so far include:
- A UK cities roundtable hosted by LWARB and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
- Events on sustainable packaging and plastics alternatives, hosted by Future Planet and UCL
- A clothes ‘swap shop’ and film screening from sustainable fashion campaign #LoveNotLandfill
- Business in the Community webinar on the circular office and how to make working spaces more sustainable
- TechWestevent on low carbon innovation and technology’s role in circular economy
- A tour of Premier Sustain’sre-manufactured furniture facility, The Renew Centre
- A tour of circular businesses along the Circle Line, run by Circle Economy Club London.
Circular London
The transition to a circular economy could potentially achieve a 60% reduction in its London’s waste, according to a LWARB assessment.
By 2036, the circular economy could provide London with net benefits of £7bn every year in the sectors of built environment, food, textiles, electricals and plastics, as well as creating 40,000 new jobs in re-use, remanufacturing and materials innovation.
Wayne Hubbard, Chief Executive at London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB), said: “Not only does the circular economy benefit the environment, it also offers real commercial advantages by allowing organisations to respond to consumer demand for more sustainable products and services.
“The circular economy can also create efficiencies as well as new revenue streams, markets and product lines – all increasingly important in this time of economic uncertainty.”
“London is a great global city, and one of the most vibrant business hubs in the world, so our Circular Economy Week is the perfect forum to collaborate, celebrate progress and share learning amongst organisations of all shapes and sizes. Cities are the engine room of the circular economy, and the capital is leading the way.”
Shirley Rodrigues, London’s Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, said: “Our economy is currently geared towards using resources in a way that is inefficient and unsustainable. The Mayor wants to accelerate London’s transition to a low-carbon circular economy by planning for materials to be kept in use for as long as possible and promoting business models which support this.
“Circular Economy Week will help raise the profile of this important issue and encourage people across London to support the transition to a circular economy.”
With growing consumer demand for more sustainable products, Circular London is calling on businesses, public sector and other organisations to ensure they don’t get “left behind”.
