Planning and Adopting the CE – CE-Hub lunchtime Webinar
How do we plan for a Circular Economy? How do we create priority actions and how do we implement them? In this webinar we are joined by experts in Circular Economy Roadmapping to discuss their experiences in producing and implementing Roadmaps at different scales to facilitate a journey towards a Circular Economy.
Kicking us off, Dr Halid Abu-Bakar from the CE-Hub discussed his recent work reviewing over 300 existing CE Roadmaps to develop an understanding of the principles and characteristics of different types of Roadmaps. CE Roadmaps are a strategic planning tool to forecast critical development need and the steps required to progress development. Halid stressed that these tools are developed through a collaborative and iterative process, engaging with stakeholders and reviewing actions against desired outcomes. This work has created a common understanding and taxonomy of CE Roadmaps to support the NICER Programme to develop a national CE Roadmap for the UK.
Next, Riku Sinerva from Sitra gave an overview of the processes they undertook to develop and implement the worlds first National Level CE Roadmap. Riku highlighted that co-operation was their starting point and key requirement for the CE Roadmap for Finland and they engaged with a range of stakeholders, encouraging ownership of their contributions to the roadmapping process. Sitra are now working closely with the Finnish government to implement a strategic programme to take action. Riku’s three key messages for implementing priority actions are: 1. Define the management model, 2. Involve stakeholders and find synergies to share best practise and inspire engagement and 3. Map funding models for roadmap actions. Sitra have developed a guide ‘How to create a national circular economy roadmap’ which is available online.
Moving to look at city-scale roadmapping, Pauline Metivier gave an overview of ReLondon’s CE Roadmap launched in 2017. ReLondon took the approach to develop plans for specific industries prevalent in London. Echoing the message that collaboration is key, Pauline went on to demonstrate how connecting with businesses and supplier throughout the process has led to enthusiasm to support adoption of priority actions. Through their Roadmapping process, their five key learnings are: 1. Understand your current positions and measure base line (so you can measure progress), 2. Understand why you are developing CE in your organisation and encourage engagement from colleagues, 3. CE is not a one size fits all, find out what it means for you, 4. Engage with stakeholders for input and expertise and 5. Better to start something and refine in an interactive process.
Finally, Jordan Gerrard gave an overview of delivering the West Midlands Combined Authority regional CE Roadmap. Again, Jordan highlighted collaboration and engagement with stakeholders as a key component to success. They engaged with specific sectors that are vital to the region to develop targeted actions. Through the CE Roadmap, WMCA also recognise the role CE has to play in supporting the regions Net Zero goals. One of the key activities is the development of Net Zero Innovation Hubs throughout the region and a framework to support the repurposing existing buildings for regeneration instead of demolition to rebuild.
The following audience discussion chaired by David Greenfield delved into issues such as measuring impact of actions, the of policy and governments in facilitating action and the ‘sharing economy’.
In Summing up, David recognised that there has been excellent progress in developing and implementing CE Roadmaps and that key learnings in ensuring to engage with stakeholders relevant to your scope is key and that taking action and doing something is better than waiting for ‘perfection’.
Meet our Speakers
Session Chair: David Greenfield, Circular Economy Club
David set up SOENECS, an independent environmental research and innovation practice in 2014 following 15 years in leadership roles in local and regional government. David is the non-executive Director of CIWM enterprises, Trustee and Director of Freegle, Chair of the ICE Resource Management Panel, Government Adviser to DEFRA and MHCLG and advisor and past chair to the National Waste Network Chairs (WNC).
Expert Panel:
Halid Abu – Bakar, CE Roadmapping Lead, CE-Hub
An award-winning strategic designer with specialism in design thinking and data-driven innovation. Currently in a postdoctoral research role at University of Exeter Business School leading in the development of a UK-wide circular economy roadmap. Halid has a PhD in data-driven consumption patterns and segmentation and specialised in design thinking and data-driven innovation. He is experienced in big data analytics using both supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques and novel research methodologies.
Riku Sinervo, Sitra
Riku Sinervo works as a specialist in the Circular Economy focus area. His key duties in the team include working on the road map to a circular economy and Sitra’s list of the most interesting companies in the circular economy in Finland. Riku previously worked on waste management development projects at Helsinki Region Environmental Services and he also has experience of working on an idea competition on sustainable business and the world of start-ups. Riku has a master’s degree in environmental technology from the University of Jyväskylä. In addition to his major studies, he also took courses in technology business and in leadership and management.
Pauline Metivier, ReLondon
Pauline Metivier is a sustainability and circular economy expert. She has experience in driving the sustainability agenda both in the public and the private sector, having previously led the drafting of the sustainable and smart mobility bill for the French government, and driven innovation at Veolia UK, the biggest waste management company in the country. She now heads up ReLondon’s business and sector support team, empowering London’s businesses to embrace circularity and driving the circular economy agenda in the city through the development of evidence-based routemap and plans.
Jordan Gerrard, West Midlands Combined Authority
Jordan leads on the development of circular economy policy, and the delivery of the WMCA’s Circular Economy Routemap in manufacturing, construction, and food and has recently joined Sustainability West Midlands as a Young Director. Prior to this, he worked in the WMCA’s Economy Team working on business support and economic strategy. Jordan is a keen advocate for the role that the circular economy and materials efficiency can help the region become more sustainable, and achieve its net zero ambitions.
Watch the Webinar Recording
