1. Achieving a more Circular UK
Economy
Dr Mervyn Jones
WRAP

2. 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.

3. Outline
 What do we mean by a
circular economy?
– why is it important
 How can we become more
circular?
– addressing the barriers

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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?

7. Sustainability benefits of a circular economy
Cost saving
Resource
security &
resilience
Economic
growth
Health, labour
rights
Multiple CSR
goals
Legal
compliance
Environmental
impact reduction

8. UK economic benefits
(R$4bn)
(R$1.6bn)
(R$14bn)(R$14bn  R$67bn)
UK recycling sector

9. How circular is an economy?
Re-use

10. Electricals loop

11. Textiles loop

12. How can we become more circular?

13. Promoting a circular approach
 Ensuring the circular
design of products
 Optimising lifetimes of
products
 Ensuring right collection
routes
 Using closed loop
approaches

14. Barriers to valuing waste

15. 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

16. 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

17. Designing out waste

18. 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

19. 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

20. Effective mass collections
 Kerbside recycling
 Bulky waste
 Re-use
 New models
– take-back

21. Market development

22. Infrastructure
Food grade rPET pellet
and flake
Food grade recycled
content

23. End Markets – financial drivers

24. Market development: increasing recycled
content
 Demonstrating closed-loop WEEE plastic
recycling in the UK
Encouraging demand

25. Quality: plastics loop

26. Resource efficient models
Rethinking ownership

27. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING…
Dr Mervyn Jones
mervyn.jones@wrap.org.uk
www.wrap.org.uk