Now in its 7th year, Circular Economy Week continues to grow in popularity. What are the key goals of Circular Economy Week 2024, and is there a specific theme or focus this year?
Circular Economy Week has always been about showcasing and celebrating the circular economy, promoting fantastic initiatives, and driving progress for both businesses and citizens. While CE Week initially had a strong focus on making businesses more circular, we’ve seen a huge rise in citizen engagement over the years. This is reflected in the number of events being organised for and with Londoners – a record high this year. We’ll be covering all sectors where improvements can be made (from waste and food to construction, energy, fashion, and policy-making) with different formats including talks, workshops, networking events, and tours. We want each event to be both educational and practical for Londoners. The main focus this year is to ensure the circular economy creates not only economic value but also social value, providing good jobs while building stronger communities.
ReLondon is organising this busy week of events. What does ReLondon do on a daily basis to promote the circular economy in London?
Our ultimate goal is to make London a circular city and promote sustainable living that benefits not just organisations, but communities and the entire city. This can only happen if we radically change our relationship with things, waste less, and reuse, repair, share, and recycle more. Think of the single-use coffee cup you had this morning, those old but perfectly good clothes in your wardrobe you were about to throw away, or your bike that just needs a simple fix to get going. To achieve this, we work closely with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, boroughs, businesses, communities, and citizens. We provide insights, data, as well as advice and grants, helping everyone make informed decisions and take action. And I’m lucky enough to do all this with a fantastic team!
Are there any specific sectors or initiatives that will be highlighted during Circular Economy Week?
As with previous years, we want to ensure that all sectors (fashion, food, recycling, repair, plastics, reuse, buildings etc.) are covered so that everyone can take something valuable from Circular Economy Week. I can mention that this year, some events will be specifically focused on the construction sector, which is one of the biggest generators of waste in the capital. These events are more geared towards businesses in the sector, but changing practices here could benefit us all.
How can businesses and Londoners get involved and participate in Circular Economy Week events?
We encourage everyone interested in the circular economy to get involved and register – it’s really easy! Just go to the dedicated webpage (https://ceweek.london), where you’ll find a daily calendar of all the events. Signing up is straightforward, and most events are free and open to everyone. You can even filter events by your preferences and interests (e.g. fashion, food) or by audience (e.g. government, businesses). If you’re unsure about attending alone, feel free to bring a friend or neighbour, as many events take place within local communities. Just be sure to sign up!
London, with nearly 9 million residents, is a hub of consumption that’s not always sustainable. What do you think are the three biggest challenges London needs to overcome to successfully transition to a more circular economy?
I can think of three key challenges London needs to address to become more circular. First, it has to work for people by making things available and easy to access. For example, in a survey we conducted on refill schemes, we were pleased to see that the majority of people support the idea, but many find it hard to put into practice because there aren’t enough shops offering refill options near their homes. Refill schemes need to be both cost-competitive and convenient. Second, we need to adapt to London’s incredible diversity. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work because people have different needs. We want to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, age, whether they have children or not, their level of English, or their familiarity with technology, can participate. Finally, it has to work for businesses too. They need to see clear benefits, such as saving money by reducing the amount of resources they use or improving their processes to save time.
Are there any examples of local businesses or organisations already making significant progress in circular economy practices in the capital?
There are many, and the number of local initiatives and community groups committed to taking action continues to grow. I’d like to congratulate all the small shops, cafés, restaurants, grocers, and innovative businesses (we’ve supported over 700) that are organising events, workshops, and helping to drive the transition. These businesses are making a real difference in moving towards a more circular economy.
What simple actions can Londoners take that will make an immediate difference in their daily lives?
There are two simple things people can do straight away. First, they can make sure they eat all the food in their fridge, as food waste is a major contributor to CO2 emissions and waste in our city. I recommend people check out our “Eat Like a Londoner” campaign, which provides tips and ideas on how to creatively use up leftovers. Second, adopt a reuse/repair mindset when something is broken. Most of the time, it can be repaired, and there are more local repair shops than people realise. Rather than buying new items, let’s give a second life to the things we already love!
What are the next steps for ReLondon in its efforts to make the city more sustainable and circular, and what would a completely circular city look like?
At ReLondon, we want to make circularity as easy and engaging as possible. We believe people are more likely to take action if services like waste collection, reuse, and repair shops are available in their neighbourhoods. That’s why we’re focusing on a local approach, as we did in Heston, in the borough of Hounslow, earlier this year.
As for what a fully circular London would look like, imagine a city without waste, because what we currently see as waste would be repurposed as a resource to build or create something new and valuable. It would also mean using fewer resources overall, leading to fewer imports, more local jobs in the green economy. In short, it would create more jobs for Londoners and make the city more resilient by reducing its dependence on external resources. We’re not there yet, but we’re making progress – so let’s keep pushing!
