Achieving a more Circular UK Economy

Dr Mervyn Jones

WRAP

Our vision

WRAP is working towards a world where resources are used sustainably.

We focus on the most important challenges, domestically and internationally, where we can make the most difference.

Outline

What do we mean by a circular economy?

– why is it important

How can we become more circular?

– addressing the barriers

What is a circular economy?

Carbon Water Materials

Price stability

Supply chain

resilience

Competitive- ness

Resource Min

Waste Prevention

Recovery

Recycling

Repair

Re-use

Material extraction

Disposal

Design & Production

Use

Retail & Distribution

Why a circular economy?

Sustainable consumption & production

Decouple resources from growth

Market driven – creates wealth, jobs and growth

Delivers accountability at all levels

Meeting future demand

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 Input prices Output prices

UK manufacturing input (energy & commodities) and output prices 2000 = 100

Source: ONS

30%

90%

Why does it matter?

Sustainability benefits of a circular economy

Cost saving

Resource security & resilience

Economic growth

Health, labour rights

Multiple CSR goals

Legal compliance

Environmental impact reduction

UK economic benefits

(R$4bn)

(R$1.6bn)

(R$14bn) (R$14bn R$67bn)

UK recycling sector

How circular is an economy?

Re-use

Electricals loop

Textiles loop

How can we become more circular?

Promoting a circular approach

Ensuring the circular

design of products

Optimising lifetimes of

products

Ensuring right collection

routes

Using closed loop

approaches

Barriers to valuing waste

How to address the barriers

Government

Business

New markets

Collections

Ensuring supply of quality

material for recycling

Infrastructure

Establishing the capacity to

sort, recycle & reprocess

Supporting recycling

enterprises

Markets

Building demand for &

confidence in recycled

materials

Strategy for action

Improved design

Influencing production & consumption:

– prevent waste

– increase recycling

Market development

Influencing disposal

Embed resource efficient thinking

– REBMs

– procurement

Raw material

extraction

Manufacturing

Retail or service

Use

Collection

Recycling

Material production

Designing out waste

Behaviour change

Food waste prevention – Love Food Hate Waste

WRAP developed Recycle Now – ‘what to recycle and where’

Communication materials for local authorities and partners

(e.g. London 2012)

‘On pack’ labels for packaging in partnership with retailers and brands

Voluntary commitments

Courtauld Commitment improving resource efficiency and reduce the carbon impact across UK grocery retail sector

Hospitality & Food Service Agreement launched in June 2012

R$7.2bn

Effective mass collections

Kerbside recycling

Bulky waste

Re-use

New models

– take-back

Market development

Infrastructure

Food grade rPET pellet and flake

Food grade recycled content

End Markets – financial drivers

Market development: increasing recycled content

Demonstrating closed-loop WEEE plastic recycling in the UK

Encouraging demand

Quality: plastics loop

Resource efficient models

Rethinking ownership

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING…

Dr Mervyn Jones

mervyn.jones@wrap.org.uk

www.wrap.org.uk