The Festival of Circular Economy 2025 is shaping up to be the most exciting and impactful yet—and if you’re a CIWM member or a resource and waste management professional, this is your essential guide to what not to miss.

From heavy-hitting government voices to cutting-edge innovators and seasoned sector leaders, this year’s line-up is tailor-made for anyone serious about driving change in the world of waste, resource management, and circularity. 

Here’s your curated breakdown of the must-see sessions, talks and speakers that will spark ideas, provoke debate, and leave you energised.

This three-day hybrid event—virtual on 20–21 May and live in London on 22 May—is all about transforming systems, rethinking materials, and designing waste out from the very beginning. 

Day 1: 20 May – Unleashing the Power of Design for Circularity (Virtual)

16:50 – 17:35: Waste Not: Building End-of-Life into Business Models

Start strong with a practical exploration of how we embed circular thinking into the very foundations of product and service design. Expect big ideas, sharp insights, and real strategies from sector leaders like:

• Dr. Adam Read, Chief External Affairs & Sustainability Officer, SUEZ UK
• Melody Carraro, Senior Policy Manager, Veolia
• Yaseed Chaumoo, Managing Director, Greyparrot
• Tabitha Skeats, FCC Environment
• Doug Simpson, Principal Consultant – Waste and Resource Management Group, GHD

You’ll leave with a refreshed perspective on collaboration, design, and supply chain communication—essential for every modern waste professional.

17:45 – 18:05: Turning Off the Tap on Materials

CIWM President Tim Walker lays out a bold call to action: tackle overproduction at the source.

This session reflects on his presidential report and what it means for the future of the profession. This is your chance to hear directly from the top about the systemic shift needed to truly go circular.

18:35 – 19:05: You Say “Degrowth”, We Say “Resource Efficiency”

How do we reduce consumption without crashing the economy? This provocative panel includes:

• Mark Shayler, Circular Economy Expert
• Prof. Mark Miodownik, Materials Scientist, UCL
• Senior Representative, ReLondon

It’s a session that blends academic sharpness with real-world urgency—perfect for anyone interested in shaping tomorrow’s consumption models.

Day 2: 21 May – Revolutionising Materials & Supply Chains (Virtual)

09:20 – 09:50: Breaking Down the Materials Conversation

For waste managers who love detail, this session is a must. We’ll unpack the complex realities of material design and product composition with:

• Dr. David Greenfield, Vice President, Circular Economy Institute (CIWM Fellow and Junior Vice President)
• Sophie Thomas, CTO / Director of CE, Founder of etsaW Ventures

Topics like POPs, eco-design and lifecycle planning will be front and centre in terms of the make up of materials.

12:45 – 13:30: Valuing Materials: Unlocking Potential in a Circular Economy

Join John Twitchen (Stuff4Life and CIWM Fellow) and Mark Shayler as they tackle the difference between materials and products—and how to design and educate for maximum impact. Also featuring:

• Youma Wally Ndong, Founder, GamPlus Clothing
• Lucy Hughes, Founder, MarinaTex

This session is all about extracting more value while minimising environmental harm—core goals for any waste professional.

15:00 – 15:30: There Aren’t “Bad Materials”, Just “Bad Systems”

One of the most hotly anticipated sessions of the festival. Expect frank discussions from:

• Dr. Adam Read, SUEZ UK (CIWM Fellow and past President)
• Mark Shayler, Circular Economy Expert
• David Dyce, Vegware

This session confronts the realities of legacy infrastructure, biodegradable materials, and supply chain redesign. Unmissable for operational leaders and innovators alike.

15:30 – 16:00: EPR Packaging Laws: Designing for New Legislation

 Extended Producer Responsibility is here—and this session will help you make sense of the changes. Do you think it’s the innovations or the infrastructure that needs to adapt? Learn what packaging designers (and waste managers!) need to know to stay compliant and proactive under the new rules.

16:25 – 17:10: What’s Local vs What’s Global: Debating Production and Supply Chains

In a world of fragile global supply chains and growing calls for localisation, this session helps unpack the trade-offs. With speakers including:

• Dr. Andy Rees OBE, Head of Waste Strategy, Welsh Government
• Amy Peace, Innovate UK
• Omar AlSaleh, Royal Scientific Society
• Sophie Thomas FCIWM, CTO/ Director of CE/ Founder, etsaW Ventures/ Useful Projects/ Thomas.Matthews
• Margaret Bates (Fellow of CIWM and past President), DEFRA, University of East London
• Dr. Mervyn Jones, circular economy and circular procurement specialist at the Rijkswaterstaat in the Netherlands

Expect a global-to-local view on sustainability, resilience and production standards.

Day 3: 22 May – FOCE 2025: LIVE (London)

After two days of online insight and inspiration, FOCE LIVE! brings the circular economy conversation into the real world—in-person, in London, and in full force.

This exclusive, one-day event is where theory meets practice and big ideas turn into tangible action. Expect high-impact talks, thought-provoking panels, interactive workshops, and unrivalled opportunities to connect with fellow changemakers.

This year’s FOCE LIVE! takes place at Second Home (pictured above), an award-winning co-working and events space in Spitalfields, London, renowned for its commitment to sustainability, creativity, and community.

With its biophilic architecture, rainforest-like interiors, and circular-first ethos, Second Home is the perfect backdrop for a festival focused on regenerative thinking. It’s not just a venue—it’s a living example of circular principles in action.

Whether you’re taking part in a workshop, grabbing coffee in the green-filled café, or networking over a glass of wine in the evening, you’ll be surrounded by a space that embodies innovation and low-impact living.

Unmissable FOCE LIVE Sessions

It Ends with Waste, or Does It? Designing for Second Life

Led by Mark Sumner, Textiles Programme Lead at WRAP, this live-use case session will showcase second-life product strategies in action. A valuable case study for anyone seeking to rethink “waste” as the beginning of something new.

Ministers Address: Mary Creagh CBE MP

A headline moment for the Festival—Mary Creagh, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at DEFRA and Labour MP for Coventry East, sets out the UK Government’s goals for the Circular Economy. A vital session for all CIWM members keen to understand where national policy is heading.

CE Taskforce: The Ask, The Plan, The Opportunity for Innovation

Directly following the Minister’s address, this session features:

• Dr. David Greenfield, CEI
• Emma Bourne OBE, DEFRA
• Andrew Morlet, Chair, DEFRA’s CE Taskforce

Together, they’ll break down routemaps, sector focus areas, and the wider vision for circular innovation across government and industry.

After Hours Networking Party

Cap it all off with the FOCE After Hours Party—a relaxed, vibrant way to continue conversations, share contacts, and maybe spark your next big collaboration.

The Festival of Circular Economy 2025 is packed with content that matters to CIWM members. Whether you’re shaping policy, running a facility, managing contracts or driving innovation, this is your moment to connect with the ideas and people transforming our industry.

We’ll see you there!

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