Circular Economy & Nature-based Solutions

Circular Economy

 

• Circular systems employ reuse, sharing, repair, refurbishment, re-manufacturing and recycling to create a close-loop system, minimising the use of resource inputs and the creation of waste, pollution and carbon emissions.

 A major focus, quite rightly, is on single-use plastics as per this blog from one of our team. One obvious substitute to avoiding bottled water is the provision of tap water.  However, substitutes for other single-use plastics are not always easy to find - 'recyclable' doesn't necessarily mean the items are recycled!

 Another large area is food waste. In order to avoid the many tonnes of food waste every year there are a number of clever innovations, including food sharing apps.

 Our team have extensive experience of working on these and other topics with local and national government, the waste sector, private sector organisations and the not-for-profit sector.

London

 In London, associates have managed the development and implementation of the London 2011 Municipal Waste Management Strategy, the 2011 London Business Waste Strategy, and the development of the Waste chapter and the Low Carbon Circular Economy chapter of the 2018 London Environment Strategy.

 In particular, we embedded Circular Economy thinking in the London Environment Strategy, the draft Economic Development Strategy, the draft London Plan and the Mayor’s Infrastructure Investment Plan 2050

 We also secured funding from the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) to run a communications and behaviour change programme focusing on waste reduction, reuse and recycling. We also helped with LWARB's own new office fit-out saving one-third of the cost and over 13,400kg of CO2e

 In one particular London Borough, we modelled and benchmarked the Low Carbon Circular Economy and designed an action plan to support and grow the sector.

Nature-based solutions

  We hope you can sense our passion for using technology to support the fight against climate change, enhancing the resilience of our towns, cities and businesses, maker us smarter and ensuring a better quality of life for all.

 However, we are also fully aware that technology isn't always the answer - nature-based solutions also have a clear role to play.

 To this end, we are supporting local groups such as the Friends of Avery Hill Park in South East London who have a keen focus on the planting and maintaining of native trees and flora, city-wide initiatives such as London National Park City and nation-wide activities focused on rewilding and wildlife