Another step on the journey towards mainstream circularity

Made in Britain CEO John Pearce shares his thoughts on taking part in a discussion on the circular economy

I ALWAYS learn something when I’m speaking to an audience about our organisation – when I’m asked by media outlets or trade bodies to share the story of our famous mark, the membership and their countless amazing achievements.

Manufacturing Management magazine invited Made in Britain to join a panel discussion, chaired by editor Chris Beck, on the subject of circular economy, and what it means for UK manufacturing sectors. Also on the panel were head of product for Sage, Rob Sinfield; Professor Gabriela Medero from Heriot-Watt University and Mark Bustard, CEO, Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre.   

You can watch the event recording here: The circular economy: opportunities and risks for UK manufacturers 

Meaning is important when new terminologies such as ‘circularism’, spoken so eloquently at the event by Mark Bustard, are so quickly becoming mainstream. And it’s more important than ever that members of Made in Britain have clarity about what circularism and resource scarcity really is. Be it a long-term risk to their ability to make a product at all, or a very real opportunity to excel and shine brighter than your less-circular competitors, raw material awareness is manufacturing chapter one, page one. The rewards for designing out waste are massive – the risks of ignoring it are very real.   

Our members have in common the fact that they are using (ever depleting) resources to make a British-made product. We know that all businesses must be aware of circular, less wasteful systems and what they will mean for the future of supply chain resilience and procurement protocols. Materials are becoming ever more expensive and harder to get hold of and alternative solutions are gaining prominence every year. 

My learning experience at this event was hearing from Prof Gabriela Medero on the innovation story of the K-Briq building product – “an unfired brick with 90 per cent recycled content from demolition and construction waste”. You can read the full story here.

If you would like to learn more about sustainable business, the Made in Britain Green Growth Programme has been developed as a new membership service. Beginning with a bespoke Green Growth Survey to benchmark your current progress, you'll then have access to the Green Growth Programme, specifically designed to help every member understand and apply sustainable business practices including resource and waste awareness, governance and circularity - arguably the most challenging area for makers. 

Members that took part in early-stage survey testing will have seen that circular businesses score highly. The Green Growth Programme offers support and insight to members specifically on circularity, as we know it’s relevant to every member. Re-designing products to reduce the impact on the natural environment and managing waste to avoid landfill is fast becoming standard business planning practice. Made in Britain supports its members sell more, by helping them grow greener, faster than they would alone.

By Made in Britain 2 years ago | By Made in Britain

More News

Share this page: