Circular Economy Campus
What is Circular Economy?
Circular Economy is an economic model where materials are recirculated to eliminate waste and pollution. We can think about the Circular Economy as a series of Rs.
The image on the right shows the Rs organised as a waste hierarchy. The actions at the top are best, while the actions at the bottom should be a last resort. We can group them together to get a more in-depth understanding of what the Rs mean in practice.
Eliminating
Refuse, Rethink, Reduce- Eliminating waste at the design phase
- Avoiding high carbon and environmentally damaging materials and processes
- Designing for disassembly
- Reducing material use
- Material passports
Extending
Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose- Extending lifespan
- Reusing materials and assets
- Simple repairs that do not require many new material resources
- Refurbishing items by replacing parts
- Remanufacturing involves significantly less carbon than manufacturing from scratch
- Repurposing something, giving it a useful function beyond its original intended purpose
Preventing
Recycle, Recover- Last resort to prevent resources from being lost
- Some materials, for example aluminium cans are highly recyclable and the captured material can be used for the same application.
- Many materials can only be ‘downcycled’ and do not make it back to the same level of use as their original application. This is true of many building materials like bricks and also many plastics.
Difference between Linear and Circular Economy
Currently our economic system is linear with only 7.2% of materials cycled back into the economy globally. (Circle Economy – Circularity Gap Report 2024). This linear system is sometimes described as TAKE-MAKE-WASTE. Take natural resources, make a product and then when it is no longer needed or functional, dispose of it – waste.
In a Circular Economy we explore and exploit all avenues for reuse, repair and refurbishment before recycling and recovering materials as a last resort.
Strategy
We’re developing a strategy for a more circular campus based on the three main pillars of Circular Economy:
Eliminating waste and pollution
In a circular economy, a specification for any design is that the materials re-enter the economy at the end of their use. By doing this, we take the linear take-make-waste system and make it circular.
Reusing and circulating materials
This means keeping materials in use, either as a product or, when that can no longer be used, as components or raw materials. This way, nothing becomes waste and the intrinsic value of products and materials are retained.
Regenerating nature
By shifting our economy from linear to circular, we shift the focus from extraction to regeneration. Instead of continuously degrading nature, we build natural capital.
Current circular economy projects on campus
Thousands of students move out of on-campus accommodation each year and it is not always possible for them to take all their belongings. The Donation Drive is a project to rehome these unwanted items, to prevent waste and to promote reuse.
The Kitchen Kit Market is the University of Warwick's preloved kitchenware sale taking place during Welcome Week at the beginning of each academic year.
The Workwear Wardrobe helps students to build a workwear wardrobe in an affordable way ahead of interviews, assessment centres and gaining work experience. The permanent WWW can be found in the Student Opportunity Hub in Senate House.
Warwick Swap is for University of Warwick staff/departments only. You can list items that are no longer needed in your department and also browse and search items that other departments have listed that may be of use to your department!
Warwick Small Ads is an area for Warwick colleagues to donate, buy or sell goods or services, or post wanted ads. The forum is free and available to use by any signed in member of staff.
