The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has announced the launch of its “refreshed and reset” Policy & Innovation (P&I) Forum.

The P&I Forum is a think-tank consisting of leaders, specialists, and academics, designed to help shape the future of the resource and waste management sector.

CIWM says the new P&I Forum will act as a hub for thought-leadership in resources, recycling and waste management, and provide evidence-based insights to CIWM members and stakeholders.

The reset follows a comprehensive review led by the CIWM Trustee Board to develop the forum’s structure and alignment with CIWM’s strategic objectives.

The new P&I Forum approach reflects CIWM’s purpose to “move the world beyond waste”, and CIWM says it will drive collaboration and direction across the organisation’s Specialist Expert Groups (SEGs) for a greater impact and influence on sector research and policy.

Former CEO of WRAP Marcus Gover is the chair of the new P&I Forum. Other members include Wayne Hubbard from ReLondon, Dr Adam Read MBE from Suez, and CIWM’s Early Careers President Charlotte Davies from Beyondly.

The first Policy & Innovation Forum meeting took place on 12 March 2025. CIWM says highlights from the P&I Forum 3-year workplan will be shared with members and stakeholders soon.

“In a period of unprecedented change and opportunities, our reset P&I Forum provides a crucial role for CIWM, the wider sector and beyond,” Marcus Gover said.

“From industry leaders to specialist academics, we are bringing together a wealth of expertise with a deep knowledge of innovative practices, in order to help shape progressive policy within resource and waste management, and identifying vital opportunities for us to move towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and more circular UK economy.”

The post CIWM launches new version of P&I Forum think-tank appeared first on Circular Online.

78% of UK adults would buy fresh fruit and vegetables loose if they were sold that way, according to a new survey by Love Food Hate Waste.

Released on Food Waste Action Week (17 March – 23 March), the survey found that less than half said they would be likely to buy their usual fruit and veg in plastic packaging, such as plastic trays/boxes/cartons (46%) and plastic bags/sacks (47%).

Commenting on the findings, Jackie Bailey, Senior Campaign Manager at Love Food Hate Waste, said: “Buying loose fruit and veg has the potential to significantly cut the amount of food ending up in the bin and we have the evidence that it is what consumers want – now is the time for retailers and shoppers to make that a reality.”

When survey respondents were asked about the fresh fruit or vegetables they buy most often 56% preferred loose compared to 39% who preferred packaged.

77% said they would be likely to buy fruit and veg packaged in paper bags or sacks, which was the second most popular answer followed by cardboard trays/boxes and cartons (75%).

The only packaging format with a lower preference score than plastic was wooden crates (43%).

Love Food Hate Waste is a campaign aiming to reduce the amount of food waste launched by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) in 2007.

As part of Food Waste Action Week, WRAP has called for a consultation on a packaging ban on 21 fruit and veg items, including apples, bananas, and peppers.

WRAP says selling these 21 items only loose could potentially save 100,000 tonnes of edible fruit and vegetables from being wasted annually in people’s homes, as well as saving 13,000 tonnes of plastic film.

Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said: “Farmers work tirelessly to put food on our nation’s tables – so it is absurd that households are throwing away £1,000 a year in food that could have been eaten.

“Food Waste Action Week is vital for raising awareness and encouraging people to only buy the fruit and veg they need, use what they buy, save money, and slash food waste.”

Last week, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched the new £15 million Tackling Food Surplus at the Farm Gate scheme.

Applicants can apply for grants starting from £20,000 by outlining how they intend to form relationships with farmers to access surplus food, and how they would seek to increase their capacity to redistribute this food to communities.

The post 78% of adults would be likely to buy fresh fruit & vegetables loose appeared first on Circular Online.

78% of UK adults would buy fresh fruit and vegetables loose if they were sold that way, according to a new survey by Love Food Hate Waste.

Released on Food Waste Action Week (17 March – 23 March), the survey found that less than half said they would be likely to buy their usual fruit and veg in plastic packaging, such as plastic trays/boxes/cartons (46%) and plastic bags/sacks (47%).

Commenting on the findings, Jackie Bailey, Senior Campaign Manager at Love Food Hate Waste, said: “Buying loose fruit and veg has the potential to significantly cut the amount of food ending up in the bin and we have the evidence that it is what consumers want – now is the time for retailers and shoppers to make that a reality.”

When survey respondents were asked about the fresh fruit or vegetables they buy most often 56% preferred loose compared to 39% who preferred packaged.

77% said they would be likely to buy fruit and veg packaged in paper bags or sacks, which was the second most popular answer followed by cardboard trays/boxes and cartons (75%).

The only packaging format with a lower preference score than plastic was wooden crates (43%).

Love Food Hate Waste is a campaign aiming to reduce the amount of food waste launched by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) in 2007.

As part of Food Waste Action Week, WRAP has called for a consultation on a packaging ban on 21 fruit and veg items, including apples, bananas, and peppers.

WRAP says selling these 21 items only loose could potentially save 100,000 tonnes of edible fruit and vegetables from being wasted annually in people’s homes, as well as saving 13,000 tonnes of plastic film.

Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said: “Farmers work tirelessly to put food on our nation’s tables – so it is absurd that households are throwing away £1,000 a year in food that could have been eaten.

“Food Waste Action Week is vital for raising awareness and encouraging people to only buy the fruit and veg they need, use what they buy, save money, and slash food waste.”

Last week, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched the new £15 million Tackling Food Surplus at the Farm Gate scheme.

Applicants can apply for grants starting from £20,000 by outlining how they intend to form relationships with farmers to access surplus food, and how they would seek to increase their capacity to redistribute this food to communities.

The post 78% of adults would be likely to buy fresh fruit & vegetables loose appeared first on Circular Online.

An Environment Agency waste crime operation in Lincolnshire has led to Boston Borough Council issuing six £300 fines and Lincolnshire Police issuing seven fines.

Operation Clean Sweep was a multi-agency operation led by the Environment Agency and involved Lincolnshire Police, British Transport Police, Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council, and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

The operation took place on Thursday 6 March and involved roadside inspections in Boston and site visits in Skegness conducted by the Lincolnshire Environmental Crime Partnership.

Teams conducted roadside stops and inspections of vehicles capable of carrying waste, with 25 vehicles inspected in total.

Of the six vehicles found carrying waste, five were doing so unlawfully. The Environment Agency said some had no explanation for their final destination, while two were carrying hazardous waste insecurely.

Two waste sites were visited in Skegness with one site found to be breaching scrap metal legislation designed to prevent metal theft and the other identified as an illegal waste site.

Stuart Hoyle, Environment Agency Waste Crime Specialist, commented: “Large-scale waste crime and fly-tipping can only happen through the use of vehicles, which is why operations such as Clean Sweep are vital for tackling waste crime.

“Last week’s operation uncovered crime, prevented offences and gathered a wealth of intelligence to aid future investigations.”

Callum Butler, Environmental Portfolio Holder at Boston Borough Council, said tackling waste crime is a “priority” for the borough.

The post Environment Agency waste crime operation issues 13 fines appeared first on Circular Online.

Food redistribution charities can now submit applications for a new £15 million UK Government scheme to help ensure surplus food is redistributed.

The new Tackling Food Surplus at the Farm Gate scheme aims to strengthen links between farms and charities to reduce food surplus on farms.

Applicants can apply for grants starting from £20,000 by outlining how they intend to form relationships with farmers to access surplus food, and how they would seek to increase their capacity to redistribute this food to communities.

The funding can go towards purchasing new packaging and labelling equipment and vehicles to move goods from farms to a redistribution organisation, as well as new equipment, like fridges or freezers, to safely store food and ensure it lasts longer.

The fund is open to food redistribution charities and applications can be submitted online until 11:55am on 27 March 2025.

Commenting on the fund, Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said: “Nobody wants to see good food go to waste – especially farmers who work hard to put food on our nation’s tables.

Nobody wants to see good food go to waste – especially farmers who work hard to put food on our nation’s tables.

“This fund will help charities work more closely with farmers to create new ways to get fresh produce to the people who need it most.

“I encourage our brilliant, dedicated redistribution charities and non-profits to apply for this funding to ensure more British fruit and veg gets to those who need it most.”

Every year an estimated 330,000 tonnes of edible food is either wasted or repurposed as animal feed before leaving farm gates.

In a joint statement, the CEOs of The Bread and Butter Thing, City Harvest, FareShare, The Felix Project and Co-Chairs of The Xcess Group said the fund presents an opportunity to make a “profound impact” by empowering communities and charities.

“By working across the charitable redistribution sector, we can help ensure that this scheme is implemented efficiently through our joint capacity, delivers tangible value to taxpayers, and helps millions of meals reach as many people as possible at a time of considerable need,” the statement said.

The post Defra’s £15 million food surplus fund now open for applications appeared first on Circular Online.

Packaging Sustainability Specialist at Ecosurety Alison Appleby explores how the new recyclability assessment is shaking up the packaging industry and why producers should prepare now.

With the final version of the packaging Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) released by government in the last week of 2024, businesses are now starting to wrap their heads around the additional work required to use the RAM and the impact it will have on them.

What is the RAM?

The Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) is the mechanism through which large producers (those companies with a turnover greater than £2 million and that supply or import more than 50 tonnes of packaging in the UK) will need to assess the recyclability of their household and shipment packaging and report it to government, under the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations.

As businesses assess their packaging components using the RAM, each item will receive one of three ratings:

• Red – Difficult to recycle at scale.
• Amber – May experience challenges in the collection and recycling process.
• Green – Widely recyclable in the UK.

They will then need to report the tonnage of their household commonly street binned and shipment packaging into the relevant categories of “red”, “amber” and “green” from the October 2025 EPR data submission.

This information will be important, not only to understand the general recyclability of packaging placed on the market in the UK, but also to inform eco-modulation of Waste Management Fees (WMFs) payable by producers.

WMFs are being introduced to cover local authority packaging waste management costs and are a new cost for producers.

Base fees will be required in 2025, with eco-modulation based on the results of the RAM expected from 2026.

At this stage, government has not yet released information on what eco-modulation will look like. It is understood that packaging classed as “red” by the RAM will likely incur higher WMFs than those with an “amber”, and those with a “green” result.

However, we do not yet know to what extent “red” packaging will be more expensive than “green” packaging, and at this stage we only have a third release of illustrative base fees for 2025 to 2026, which are still subject to change before the final base fees are released sometime after April 2025.

What we do know is that the fees will be modulated within material types, as broken down by the material classifications of the RAM. These are:

• Paper and board;
• Fibre-based composite materials;
• Plastic (flexibles);
• Plastic (rigids);
• Steel;
• Aluminium;
• Glass;
• Wood;
• Other materials.

Challenges for industry

To successfully complete a RAM assessment, businesses will need a much greater level of detail on their packaging. This includes detail on packaging adhesives, label sizes, ink types, and additives – to name just a few.

When looking at the full RAM, there are almost 700 unique data points and features within its 6,500 words. This will be no small task for businesses and should be taken seriously.

One of the biggest challenges for industry will be the collection of this additional detail from suppliers and packaging manufacturers.

This will be a time-consuming task for most, and likely require a lot of back-and-forth enquiries trying to capture all the details required to complete a RAM assessment successfully.

This is because several of the features that will need to be considered as part of the RAM cannot be determined by simply looking at a physical packaging format – it’s about the material make-up of the packaging, which includes lots of new information not previously required for reporting purposes in the UK.

It was also announced in late February 2025 that an updated version of the RAM would be published around April 2025.

Given this news, many businesses are pressing pause on their assessment of packaging using the RAM due to uncertainty and the amount of work that will go into completing an assessment which may have to be completed again.

Expected industry response

One of the key objectives of the RAM is to incentivise the use of more recyclable packaging.

Since its publication, there has been significant talk within the industry around how to reduce the amount of packaging classified as “red” – packaging that is not recyclable.

Over the next few years, we predict several packaging format changes away from “red” non-recyclable packaging components to “green” readily recyclable packaging components as businesses attempt to reduce their costs as much as possible.

This will support the transition towards a circular economy for packaging as businesses move to more recyclable packaging.

We also anticipate movement away from the use of substances of very high concern under the UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and packaging containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as these result in an instant “red” outcome.

This will be beneficial for human and environmental health, and while not directly impacting recyclability functionally, it’s a good opportunity to phase-out these substances in line with bans occurring globally for these materials.

This also aligns with similar phase-outs and bans occurring throughout Europe.

Where to from here?

We are yet to know the full effects of the RAM. Businesses could have a knee-jerk reaction and change packaging that will have higher WMFs, but this could lead to unintended consequences in the long term. For example, in the case of flexible plastic packaging, which is not currently collected at kerbside.

This will be collected in England from 2027 once Simpler Recycling is in play and could receive an “upgrade” in terms of its RAM outcome in two years’ time.

Will we see businesses jump to alternatives in the interim, or will they foot the bill for it being “red” or “amber” in the short term?

Other businesses may wait until after the update to the RAM is made around April 2025. While waiting for certainty, this will give those businesses even less time to assess their packaging before the October submission.

At Ecosurety, we’re supporting businesses through this change. Implementing this new assessment for EPR is certainly complex, and we know this is causing concern about the task ahead.

In general, we know that detail will be required on inks, adhesives, laminations etc., so businesses should start to capture what they can now.

The post Producers should prepare for recyclability assessments now appeared first on Circular Online.

Packaging Sustainability Specialist at Ecosurety Alison Appleby explores how the new recyclability assessment is shaking up the packaging industry and why producers should prepare now.

With the final version of the packaging Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) released by government in the last week of 2024, businesses are now starting to wrap their heads around the additional work required to use the RAM and the impact it will have on them.

What is the RAM?

The Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) is the mechanism through which large producers (those companies with a turnover greater than £2 million and that supply or import more than 50 tonnes of packaging in the UK) will need to assess the recyclability of their household and shipment packaging and report it to government, under the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations.

As businesses assess their packaging components using the RAM, each item will receive one of three ratings:

• Red – Difficult to recycle at scale.
• Amber – May experience challenges in the collection and recycling process.
• Green – Widely recyclable in the UK.

They will then need to report the tonnage of their household commonly street binned and shipment packaging into the relevant categories of “red”, “amber” and “green” from the October 2025 EPR data submission.

This information will be important, not only to understand the general recyclability of packaging placed on the market in the UK, but also to inform eco-modulation of Waste Management Fees (WMFs) payable by producers.

WMFs are being introduced to cover local authority packaging waste management costs and are a new cost for producers.

Base fees will be required in 2025, with eco-modulation based on the results of the RAM expected from 2026.

At this stage, government has not yet released information on what eco-modulation will look like. It is understood that packaging classed as “red” by the RAM will likely incur higher WMFs than those with an “amber”, and those with a “green” result.

However, we do not yet know to what extent “red” packaging will be more expensive than “green” packaging, and at this stage we only have a third release of illustrative base fees for 2025 to 2026, which are still subject to change before the final base fees are released sometime after April 2025.

What we do know is that the fees will be modulated within material types, as broken down by the material classifications of the RAM. These are:

• Paper and board;
• Fibre-based composite materials;
• Plastic (flexibles);
• Plastic (rigids);
• Steel;
• Aluminium;
• Glass;
• Wood;
• Other materials.

Challenges for industry

To successfully complete a RAM assessment, businesses will need a much greater level of detail on their packaging. This includes detail on packaging adhesives, label sizes, ink types, and additives – to name just a few.

When looking at the full RAM, there are almost 700 unique data points and features within its 6,500 words. This will be no small task for businesses and should be taken seriously.

One of the biggest challenges for industry will be the collection of this additional detail from suppliers and packaging manufacturers.

This will be a time-consuming task for most, and likely require a lot of back-and-forth enquiries trying to capture all the details required to complete a RAM assessment successfully.

This is because several of the features that will need to be considered as part of the RAM cannot be determined by simply looking at a physical packaging format – it’s about the material make-up of the packaging, which includes lots of new information not previously required for reporting purposes in the UK.

It was also announced in late February 2025 that an updated version of the RAM would be published around April 2025.

Given this news, many businesses are pressing pause on their assessment of packaging using the RAM due to uncertainty and the amount of work that will go into completing an assessment which may have to be completed again.

Expected industry response

One of the key objectives of the RAM is to incentivise the use of more recyclable packaging.

Since its publication, there has been significant talk within the industry around how to reduce the amount of packaging classified as “red” – packaging that is not recyclable.

Over the next few years, we predict several packaging format changes away from “red” non-recyclable packaging components to “green” readily recyclable packaging components as businesses attempt to reduce their costs as much as possible.

This will support the transition towards a circular economy for packaging as businesses move to more recyclable packaging.

We also anticipate movement away from the use of substances of very high concern under the UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and packaging containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as these result in an instant “red” outcome.

This will be beneficial for human and environmental health, and while not directly impacting recyclability functionally, it’s a good opportunity to phase-out these substances in line with bans occurring globally for these materials.

This also aligns with similar phase-outs and bans occurring throughout Europe.

Where to from here?

We are yet to know the full effects of the RAM. Businesses could have a knee-jerk reaction and change packaging that will have higher WMFs, but this could lead to unintended consequences in the long term. For example, in the case of flexible plastic packaging, which is not currently collected at kerbside.

This will be collected in England from 2027 once Simpler Recycling is in play and could receive an “upgrade” in terms of its RAM outcome in two years’ time.

Will we see businesses jump to alternatives in the interim, or will they foot the bill for it being “red” or “amber” in the short term?

Other businesses may wait until after the update to the RAM is made around April 2025. While waiting for certainty, this will give those businesses even less time to assess their packaging before the October submission.

At Ecosurety, we’re supporting businesses through this change. Implementing this new assessment for EPR is certainly complex, and we know this is causing concern about the task ahead.

In general, we know that detail will be required on inks, adhesives, laminations etc., so businesses should start to capture what they can now.

The post Producers must prepare for recyclability assessment changes now appeared first on Circular Online.

Ahead of this year’s Festival of Circular Economy, Circular Online asks whether targeted legislation and regulation could be the missing link in accelerating the UK’s transition to a circular economy in the construction and textiles sectors.

Regulation is often seen as both a catalyst and a constraint. Yet, as the UK urgently strives toward a circular economy, particularly within the high-impact sectors of construction and textiles, thoughtful legislation may be exactly what is needed to drive transformative change.

The importance of this debate will be explored in depth at this year’s Festival of Circular Economy, with sessions highlighting regulatory innovation, collaboration, and best practices across industries. The theme for this year is around unleashing the power of design for circularity, focussing specifically on the built environment and textiles sectors – two of the most resource-intensive industries.

This focus resonates strongly with the pressing concerns detailed in recent industry analyses around the built environment and textile management, especially as climate targets loom large.

Construction and textiles, two distinctly different sectors, share remarkably similar hurdles. Both are significant contributors to carbon emissions and waste generation.

David Harris, CEO of Premier Modular, highlights that the construction sector alone accounts for approximately 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, primarily due to waste. Similarly, textiles contribute vast amounts of global waste and pollution, driven by fast fashion and consumption trends.

However, both sectors also share opportunities through circular economy practices – specifically reuse, recycling, and modular design – though meaningful progress appears to remain stalled without regulatory guidance and incentives.

Regulation as a driver of circular change

The UK’s road to net-zero has shown measurable progress, with greenhouse gas emissions halved between 1990 and 2023. Yet, critical delays in policy implementation mean further steps are urgently needed, especially in areas like “embodied carbon” (the carbon footprint “built into” an item or structure) and waste management.

As detailed by Harris, initiatives such as the government’s Zero Avoidable Waste in Construction Route map and the England Trees Action Plan have laid valuable groundwork. However, these initiatives need more robust regulatory frameworks to drive meaningful behaviour change and scale up circular practices industry-wide.

Similarly, regulation has emerged as a crucial lever for change within the textile sector through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. Jordan Girling, Head of EPR at WRAP, emphasises the viability of an EPR scheme for textiles in the UK, which could significantly boost domestic recycling infrastructure and shift producer behaviours towards circular design.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s recent report reinforces this, calling EPR a “necessary part” of addressing textile waste. This aligns with successful international examples, particularly France’s advanced EPR scheme, which includes incentives for repairing garments, thereby promoting a systemic shift away from disposable fashion.

The economic and environmental imperative

A comprehensive McKinsey and World Economic Forum study underscores the scale of opportunities available in circular construction.

The report suggests circular approaches could reduce construction emissions by up to 75% by 2050, saving as much as four gigatonnes of CO2 globally. Additionally, these circular practices could generate substantial financial benefits—up to $360 billion annually by mid-century.

Construction can learn significantly from textiles’ move towards EPR by adopting similar producer responsibility models.

Modular construction, highlighted by Harris, significantly reduces waste through precision manufacturing, controlled environments, and reusable components. Yet, without clear regulations, its widespread adoption remains limited.

Conversely, for textiles, EPR policies could push producers to design products with recycling, durability, and repair in mind from the outset, shifting consumer expectations and market dynamics fundamentally.

Legislative challenges and solutions

Despite evident benefits, introducing effective regulation in both sectors faces common barriers – political hesitancy, economic sensitivity, and gaps in data collection.

James Beard of Valpak highlights the UK textile industry’s particular barriers, such as poor-quality post-consumer textiles, underdeveloped recycling technologies, and a volatile global resale market.

Parallel challenges exist in construction, where Harris underscores the need for a staged approach to embodied carbon regulation, cautioning against hurried legislation that could harm industry competitiveness.

Addressing these barriers will require careful regulatory planning, significant investment in infrastructure, and fostering confidence in long-term circular initiatives.

Valerie Boiten of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation underscores this point, noting the essential role robust data plays in reassuring policymakers and industry stakeholders of the feasibility and impact of EPR schemes.

The paradox, Boiten argues, is that EPR itself may be the solution to the existing data gap, creating clearer metrics and transparency about product life cycles, waste streams, and recycling rates.

Lessons from leading practice

At the upcoming Festival of Circular Economy, scheduled sessions on day two (which is virtual to allow for global access) specifically address these critical regulatory and industry issues, spotlighting “Circularity in Construction: Scaling Up Innovation” and “Textiles and Fashion: Navigating the Circular Economy Transition.”

These sessions aim to offer practical insights, successful case studies, and collaborative solutions to address shared sectoral challenges.

Effective regulation could encourage adoption of innovative financial models in construction – like shifting from capital expenditure (CapEx) to operating expenditure (OpEx), as suggested by Harris, making renting or leasing modular structures financially attractive and environmentally beneficial.

For textiles, successful EPR implementation – exemplified by France’s evolution toward incentivising repair and reuse – is instructive.

This system not only recycles more efficiently but encourages businesses to fundamentally rethink their production and consumption models.

A circular future is possible

Realising a circular future for both construction and textiles is ambitious but achievable through targeted, evidence-based regulation. Such regulation must be designed to unlock innovation, drive market transformation, and overcome entrenched linear practices.

The opportunity to reshape these industries sustainably lies within reach – provided the UK can navigate the political, economic, and infrastructural challenges effectively.

The Festival of Circular Economy offers a critical platform to explore precisely these strategies, share experiences, and build consensus around ambitious, practical regulatory frameworks.

In conclusion, regulation is not merely an enforcement tool – if used properly, it can be the key to unlocking a genuinely circular economy, turning environmental ambition into everyday practice in two of the UK’s most impactful industries.

To explore these issues further and engage directly with experts and policymakers shaping the future of circularity, register for the Festival of Circular Economy today and join the conversation on building a sustainable tomorrow.

The post Can regulation unlock a circular future for construction & textiles? appeared first on Circular Online.

Ahead of this year’s Festival of Circular Economy, Circular Online asks whether targeted legislation and regulation could be the missing link in accelerating the UK’s transition to a circular economy in the construction and textiles sectors.

Regulation is often seen as both a catalyst and a constraint. Yet, as the UK urgently strives toward a circular economy, particularly within the high-impact sectors of construction and textiles, thoughtful legislation may be exactly what is needed to drive transformative change.

The importance of this debate will be explored in depth at this year’s Festival of Circular Economy, with sessions highlighting regulatory innovation, collaboration, and best practices across industries. The theme for this year is around unleashing the power of design for circularity, focussing specifically on the built environment and textiles sectors – two of the most resource-intensive industries.

This focus resonates strongly with the pressing concerns detailed in recent industry analyses around the built environment and textile management, especially as climate targets loom large.

Construction and textiles, two distinctly different sectors, share remarkably similar hurdles. Both are significant contributors to carbon emissions and waste generation.

David Harris, CEO of Premier Modular, highlights that the construction sector alone accounts for approximately 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, primarily due to waste. Similarly, textiles contribute vast amounts of global waste and pollution, driven by fast fashion and consumption trends.

However, both sectors also share opportunities through circular economy practices – specifically reuse, recycling, and modular design – though meaningful progress appears to remain stalled without regulatory guidance and incentives.

Regulation as a driver of circular change

The UK’s road to net-zero has shown measurable progress, with greenhouse gas emissions halved between 1990 and 2023. Yet, critical delays in policy implementation mean further steps are urgently needed, especially in areas like “embodied carbon” (the carbon footprint “built into” an item or structure) and waste management.

As detailed by Harris, initiatives such as the government’s Zero Avoidable Waste in Construction Route map and the England Trees Action Plan have laid valuable groundwork. However, these initiatives need more robust regulatory frameworks to drive meaningful behaviour change and scale up circular practices industry-wide.

Similarly, regulation has emerged as a crucial lever for change within the textile sector through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. Jordan Girling, Head of EPR at WRAP, emphasises the viability of an EPR scheme for textiles in the UK, which could significantly boost domestic recycling infrastructure and shift producer behaviours towards circular design.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s recent report reinforces this, calling EPR a “necessary part” of addressing textile waste. This aligns with successful international examples, particularly France’s advanced EPR scheme, which includes incentives for repairing garments, thereby promoting a systemic shift away from disposable fashion.

The economic and environmental imperative

A comprehensive McKinsey and World Economic Forum study underscores the scale of opportunities available in circular construction.

The report suggests circular approaches could reduce construction emissions by up to 75% by 2050, saving as much as four gigatonnes of CO2 globally. Additionally, these circular practices could generate substantial financial benefits—up to $360 billion annually by mid-century.

Construction can learn significantly from textiles’ move towards EPR by adopting similar producer responsibility models.

Modular construction, highlighted by Harris, significantly reduces waste through precision manufacturing, controlled environments, and reusable components. Yet, without clear regulations, its widespread adoption remains limited.

Conversely, for textiles, EPR policies could push producers to design products with recycling, durability, and repair in mind from the outset, shifting consumer expectations and market dynamics fundamentally.

Legislative challenges and solutions

Despite evident benefits, introducing effective regulation in both sectors faces common barriers – political hesitancy, economic sensitivity, and gaps in data collection.

James Beard of Valpak highlights the UK textile industry’s particular barriers, such as poor-quality post-consumer textiles, underdeveloped recycling technologies, and a volatile global resale market.

Parallel challenges exist in construction, where Harris underscores the need for a staged approach to embodied carbon regulation, cautioning against hurried legislation that could harm industry competitiveness.

Addressing these barriers will require careful regulatory planning, significant investment in infrastructure, and fostering confidence in long-term circular initiatives.

Valerie Boiten of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation underscores this point, noting the essential role robust data plays in reassuring policymakers and industry stakeholders of the feasibility and impact of EPR schemes.

The paradox, Boiten argues, is that EPR itself may be the solution to the existing data gap, creating clearer metrics and transparency about product life cycles, waste streams, and recycling rates.

Lessons from leading practice

At the upcoming Festival of Circular Economy, scheduled sessions on day two (which is virtual to allow for global access) specifically address these critical regulatory and industry issues, spotlighting “Circularity in Construction: Scaling Up Innovation” and “Textiles and Fashion: Navigating the Circular Economy Transition.”

These sessions aim to offer practical insights, successful case studies, and collaborative solutions to address shared sectoral challenges.

Effective regulation could encourage adoption of innovative financial models in construction – like shifting from capital expenditure (CapEx) to operating expenditure (OpEx), as suggested by Harris, making renting or leasing modular structures financially attractive and environmentally beneficial.

For textiles, successful EPR implementation – exemplified by France’s evolution toward incentivising repair and reuse – is instructive.

This system not only recycles more efficiently but encourages businesses to fundamentally rethink their production and consumption models.

A circular future is possible

Realising a circular future for both construction and textiles is ambitious but achievable through targeted, evidence-based regulation. Such regulation must be designed to unlock innovation, drive market transformation, and overcome entrenched linear practices.

The opportunity to reshape these industries sustainably lies within reach – provided the UK can navigate the political, economic, and infrastructural challenges effectively.

The Festival of Circular Economy offers a critical platform to explore precisely these strategies, share experiences, and build consensus around ambitious, practical regulatory frameworks.

In conclusion, regulation is not merely an enforcement tool – if used properly, it can be the key to unlocking a genuinely circular economy, turning environmental ambition into everyday practice in two of the UK’s most impactful industries.

To explore these issues further and engage directly with experts and policymakers shaping the future of circularity, register for the Festival of Circular Economy today and join the conversation on building a sustainable tomorrow.

The post Can regulation unlock a circular future for construction & textiles? appeared first on Circular Online.

Ahead of this year’s Festival of Circular Economy, Circular Online asks whether targeted legislation and regulation could be the missing link in accelerating the UK’s transition to a circular economy in the construction and textiles sectors.

Regulation is often seen as both a catalyst and a constraint. Yet, as the UK urgently strives toward a circular economy, particularly within the high-impact sectors of construction and textiles, thoughtful legislation may be exactly what is needed to drive transformative change.

The importance of this debate will be explored in depth at this year’s Festival of Circular Economy, with sessions highlighting regulatory innovation, collaboration, and best practices across industries. The theme for this year is around unleashing the power of design for circularity, focussing specifically on the built environment and textiles sectors – two of the most resource-intensive industries.

This focus resonates strongly with the pressing concerns detailed in recent industry analyses around the built environment and textile management, especially as climate targets loom large.

Construction and textiles, two distinctly different sectors, share remarkably similar hurdles. Both are significant contributors to carbon emissions and waste generation.

David Harris, CEO of Premier Modular, highlights that the construction sector alone accounts for approximately 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, primarily due to waste. Similarly, textiles contribute vast amounts of global waste and pollution, driven by fast fashion and consumption trends.

However, both sectors also share opportunities through circular economy practices – specifically reuse, recycling, and modular design – though meaningful progress appears to remain stalled without regulatory guidance and incentives.

Regulation as a driver of circular change

The UK’s road to net-zero has shown measurable progress, with greenhouse gas emissions halved between 1990 and 2023. Yet, critical delays in policy implementation mean further steps are urgently needed, especially in areas like “embodied carbon” (the carbon footprint “built into” an item or structure) and waste management.

As detailed by Harris, initiatives such as the government’s Zero Avoidable Waste in Construction Route map and the England Trees Action Plan have laid valuable groundwork. However, these initiatives need more robust regulatory frameworks to drive meaningful behaviour change and scale up circular practices industry-wide.

Similarly, regulation has emerged as a crucial lever for change within the textile sector through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. Jordan Girling, Head of EPR at WRAP, emphasises the viability of an EPR scheme for textiles in the UK, which could significantly boost domestic recycling infrastructure and shift producer behaviours towards circular design.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s recent report reinforces this, calling EPR a “necessary part” of addressing textile waste. This aligns with successful international examples, particularly France’s advanced EPR scheme, which includes incentives for repairing garments, thereby promoting a systemic shift away from disposable fashion.

The economic and environmental imperative

A comprehensive McKinsey and World Economic Forum study underscores the scale of opportunities available in circular construction.

The report suggests circular approaches could reduce construction emissions by up to 75% by 2050, saving as much as four gigatonnes of CO2 globally. Additionally, these circular practices could generate substantial financial benefits—up to $360 billion annually by mid-century.

Construction can learn significantly from textiles’ move towards EPR by adopting similar producer responsibility models.

Modular construction, highlighted by Harris, significantly reduces waste through precision manufacturing, controlled environments, and reusable components. Yet, without clear regulations, its widespread adoption remains limited.

Conversely, for textiles, EPR policies could push producers to design products with recycling, durability, and repair in mind from the outset, shifting consumer expectations and market dynamics fundamentally.

Legislative challenges and solutions

Despite evident benefits, introducing effective regulation in both sectors faces common barriers – political hesitancy, economic sensitivity, and gaps in data collection.

James Beard of Valpak highlights the UK textile industry’s particular barriers, such as poor-quality post-consumer textiles, underdeveloped recycling technologies, and a volatile global resale market.

Parallel challenges exist in construction, where Harris underscores the need for a staged approach to embodied carbon regulation, cautioning against hurried legislation that could harm industry competitiveness.

Addressing these barriers will require careful regulatory planning, significant investment in infrastructure, and fostering confidence in long-term circular initiatives.

Valerie Boiten of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation underscores this point, noting the essential role robust data plays in reassuring policymakers and industry stakeholders of the feasibility and impact of EPR schemes.

The paradox, Boiten argues, is that EPR itself may be the solution to the existing data gap, creating clearer metrics and transparency about product life cycles, waste streams, and recycling rates.

Lessons from leading practice

At the upcoming Festival of Circular Economy, scheduled sessions on day two (which is virtual to allow for global access) specifically address these critical regulatory and industry issues, spotlighting “Circularity in Construction: Scaling Up Innovation” and “Textiles and Fashion: Navigating the Circular Economy Transition.”

These sessions aim to offer practical insights, successful case studies, and collaborative solutions to address shared sectoral challenges.

Effective regulation could encourage adoption of innovative financial models in construction – like shifting from capital expenditure (CapEx) to operating expenditure (OpEx), as suggested by Harris, making renting or leasing modular structures financially attractive and environmentally beneficial.

For textiles, successful EPR implementation – exemplified by France’s evolution toward incentivising repair and reuse – is instructive.

This system not only recycles more efficiently but encourages businesses to fundamentally rethink their production and consumption models.

A circular future is possible

Realising a circular future for both construction and textiles is ambitious but achievable through targeted, evidence-based regulation. Such regulation must be designed to unlock innovation, drive market transformation, and overcome entrenched linear practices.

The opportunity to reshape these industries sustainably lies within reach – provided the UK can navigate the political, economic, and infrastructural challenges effectively.

The Festival of Circular Economy offers a critical platform to explore precisely these strategies, share experiences, and build consensus around ambitious, practical regulatory frameworks.

In conclusion, regulation is not merely an enforcement tool – if used properly, it can be the key to unlocking a genuinely circular economy, turning environmental ambition into everyday practice in two of the UK’s most impactful industries.

To explore these issues further and engage directly with experts and policymakers shaping the future of circularity, register for the Festival of Circular Economy today and join the conversation on building a sustainable tomorrow.

The post Can regulation unlock a circular future for construction & textiles? appeared first on Circular Online.