UK backs circular economy research

27 February 2024

The UK government has announced that it will establish the world’s first United Nations-backed centre for circular economy research.

A circular economy is one in which resources are kept in use for as long as possible, rather than being taken from the earth, used once and disposed of in landfill.

Resources minister Robbie Moore said that the International Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Resource Management in the Circular Economy will help countries across the world to maximise the related environmental and economic opportunities.

Opening formally in April 2024, the centre will comprise five institutions: University College London (UCL), University of Exeter, Brunel University London, Swansea University and the British Geological Survey.

Co-ordinated by a government-funded United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) research manager based in Geneva, the group of organisations will explore circularity in areas such as metals, construction and critical minerals to develop effective data, technological innovation, finance models and policy. 

The five institutions have together contributed £1.85 million to fund the centre’s technical activities. 

In July 2023, the UK government announced plans setting out its long-term aim to use fewer new resources, drive up the repair and reuse of existing materials and increase recycling. The programme – Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste – brings together a range of measures backed by government funding to help keep products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value, including through increasing reuse, repair and re-manufacture.

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