The Circular Economy Club has been created to change the way in which we approach product design, manufacturing, recycling and reuse.
Bringing together industry leaders and opinion formers from a wide range of UK sectors, the Club aims to shape the national agenda by employing a joined up approach to drive significant changes to manufacturing, industry and retail, which will, in turn, have a positive impact on the environment.
In order to create a circular economy, products need to be designed and produced with recycling and end-of-life in mind, so they can be recycled or repurposed again and again.
In a traditional linear economy, products are designed, produced, used and thrown away, but with recycling and the disposal of end-of-life products making headline news due to the plastic crisis, and landfills bursting their banks, creating a circular economy for the UK has never been so important.
A few facts about waste, recycling and environmental impact .
According to EU research, over 80% of the environmental impact of a product is influenced during the design phase.
44.5% of UK consumers are more concerned about the impact they are having on the global environment than they were a year ago, and 29% have started shopping with retailers with more ethical or sustainable practices as a result.
Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit environmental group, estimates there are 150 million tonnes of plastic in the ocean.
According to a recent government report, the UK generated a staggering 222.9 million tonnes of total waste in 2016, with England responsible for 85% of the total.
Government targets state that the United Kingdom needs to recycle at least 50 per cent of household waste by 2020.
England’s current household waste recycling rate is 45.2 percent and is set to miss the government’s target.
England’s landfill sites will burst their banks in as little as four years if nothing is done to stem the flow of waste being sent there.
With a massive 45.4 million tonnes of waste being dumped in landfill each year – enough to fill over 54,000 Olympic swimming pools – and only enough space for 175.1 million tonnes of waste left in total, a crisis is imminent.
Enough waste to fill the Empire State building ten times over was packed into the ground in 2017. If this continues, landfill will be overflowing with nowhere else for waste to go by 2022
The Circular Economy Club, headed up by Nick Oettinger of TFR Group, aims to create a system that looks after future generations, and takes care of the planet and our environment.
We will meet at regular times throughout the year to discuss pressing issues, identify best practice and ascertain areas where we can make changes that will help to create a circular economy for all.
If you want to be part of this pioneering and progressive working group, sign up here to find out details about our next event and we’ll get in touch.