Keith James, member of the Circular Economy Taskforce and head of public sector partnerships and policy and insights at WRAP, on why the organisation is backing the government’s circular economy plans
We look forward to the publication of the Circular Economy Strategy this autumn, and regulatory roadmaps across the core industries of agriculture and food, textiles, the built environment, transport, and chemicals and plastics.
We are already seeing the green roots of what is possible with a circular economy in these key industries in the UK.
Innovation is driving developments in chemical recycling in plastics, Textiles 2030 is helping to transform more than 60 per cent of clothes placed on the UK market, and the UK Food and Drink Pact is addressing our broken food systems. The UK is in prime position to build on these strong initiatives, and to learn from circular economies developing elsewhere in the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.
We welcome last week’s announcement, which shows the scale of the UK’s ambition. Government, business and WRAP all want the same outcome from a circular economy – to future proof the economy with products built to last, to be used and repaired, and ultimately recycled into new products.
Circular economy policies offer a critical boost to the UK economy of £18 billion per year and will improve resilience in a world in which we can no longer rely on importing 80 per cent of our raw materials and where economic trade shocks are more common.
We echo the need for a systemic shift to reuse, repair and innovation. Our recent report on displacement rates in fashion showed the impact that circular business models for repair and resale are already having in offsetting the sale of new clothes, and developing secondary markets addressing overconsumption.
We will continue to support our industry and government partners to develop this green and healthy vision of a circular systems at scale through WRAP’s work, bringing circular living into every boardroom, and every home.
