Meet the Innovator – Consumption and the circular economy
Join us for this session to hear from innovative businesses who have collaborated with the public sector to accelerate the adoption of circular economy practices.
Overview
The UK has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050. Achieving this target requires transformative action across all sectors, with the public sector playing a vital leadership role in driving change. Success hinges on accelerating the adoption and diffusion of innovative products and services that are driving progress towards net zero. The public sector is uniquely positioned to drive place-based progress, not only by adopting these solutions but also by creating an environment for test beds and trials for products and services which are still in the development and testing stage.
About this event
The linear “take-make-use-waste” model of production and consumption is depleting natural resources, contributing to emissions of greenhouse gases and generating waste that ends up in landfills and environments around the world. This unsustainable model is driving us towards environmental and resource crises. To address these critical issues, we need to transition to a circular economy model. A circular economy model aims to design out waste, prioritise reuse, keep materials in circulation for longer; and find new uses for by-products which may have previously been classified as waste.
This session will showcase innovative businesses who have collaborated with the public sector to accelerate the adoption of circular economy practices across the country.
Event speakers
- Alex Forrest, Managing Consultant, Eunomia Research & Consulting
- Dr David Greenfield, Soenecs
Alex has 20 years’ experience in environmental consultancy, with a core focus on net zero and circular economy strategy for public and private sector clients. He contributes to circular economy programmes in the Northwest of England, Scotland and Wales – working with Zero waste Scotland, WRAP and combined authorities. Alex has supported local authority partnerships design circular economy strategy programmes that focus on leveraging procurement, planning and business support services to drive a transition towards sustainable consumption and production. He has developed guidance and toolkits to help public sector embed circular economy across commissioning and procurement, and worked with the NHS to help create a transition towards circular products and services.
Who should attend?
Local Authorities looking to find out about the cutting-edge solutions driving the net-zero transition.
Why should you attend?
Each webinar will provide a unique opportunity to:
- Hear from innovative businesses whose products or solutions can be used by the public sector to decarbonise.
- Ask innovators questions about their products or services.
- Discover how these innovators can support your Net Zero goals.
Even if you’re not ready to collaborate with businesses in these areas, join us to be inspired by the talent that is driving the UK’s Net Zero future.
About this series
Running from February to April 2025, the Meet the Innovator webinar series will focus on four key themes where carbon reduction needs to accelerate, and therefore where innovation adoption and diffusion is key. These thematic areas are closely aligned with local authorities’ spheres of control and influence:
- 24 February 2025: Decarbonisation of buildings and the public estate.
- 17 March 2025: Decarbonisation of transport.
- 7 April 2025: Consumption and the circular economy.
- 28 April 2025: Biodiversity.
Related programme
Net Zero Living
Innovate UK’s £60 million, three-year Net Zero Living programme aims to help regional authorities and businesses accelerate the transition to net zero, across the UK and internationally.