A more circular economy has multiple benefits:

• Greater sustainability
• Security of material supply
• Our economy will be less vulnerable to material price changes and shortages

It also reduces pressure on our environment. This can lead to improvements in health, wellbeing and natural habitats.

For our circular economy to be successful we need to increase awareness. We also need to consider regulations and finances. A circular economy changes the way we work and how people are employed. There are consequences for business, government and society.

To find out more, contact Professor Kerry Kirwan and Dr Stuart Coles

Circular Economy Network + in Transport Systems

Whilst easy mobility has become a way of life for many, the machines (planes, automobiles, trains and ships) that enable this are both highly resource consuming and environmentally damaging in production, use and at the end of their working lives.

Over the years, great attention has been paid to increasing the energy efficiencies of these systems, but the same effort has not been put into optimising their resource efficiency.

Numerous potential benefits could be realised if Circular Economy principles were integrated, including: Recovery of energy intensive and/or technology metals, reuse/remanufacture of components, lower carbon materials substitutions, and improved energy and material efficiency.

CENTS will be forward-looking, in terms of developing future designs, business models and manufacturing approaches so that emergent transport systems are inherently circular.