We look forward to the publication of the Circular Economy Strategy this autumn, and regulatory roadmaps across the core industries of agriculture and food, textiles, the built environment, transport, and chemicals & plastics.
We are already seeing the green roots of what is possible with a circular economy in these key industries in the UK.
Innovation is driving developments in chemical recycling in plastics, Textiles 2030 is helping to transform more than 60% of clothes placed on the UK market and the UK Food and the Drink Pact is addressing our broken food systems. The UK is in prime position to build on these strong initiatives, and to learn from circular economies developing elsewhere in the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.
We welcome today’s announcement, which shows the scale of the UK’s ambition. Government, business and WRAP all want the same outcome from a circular economy – to future proof the economy with products built to last, to be used and repaired, and ultimately recycled into new products.
Circular economy policies offer a critical boost to the UK economy of £18 billion per year and will improve resilience in a world in which we can no longer rely on importing 80% of our raw materials and where economic trade shocks are more common.
We echo the need for a systemic shift to reuse, repair and innovation. Our recent report on displacement rates in fashion showed the impact that circular business models for repair and resale are already having in offsetting the sale of new clothes, and developing secondary markets addressing overconsumption.
We will continue to support our industry and government partners to develop this green and healthy vision of a circular systems at scale through WRAP’s work, bringing circular living into every boardroom, and every home.
Notes to Editor
WRAP is a global environmental action NGO catalysing policy makers, businesses and individuals to transform the systems that create our food, textiles and manufactured products. Together these account for nearly 50% of global greenhouse emissions. Our goal is to enable the world to transition from the old take-make-dispose model of production to more sustainable approaches that will radically reduce waste and carbon emissions from everyday products. To do so we examine sustainability challenges through the lens of people’s day-to-day lives and create solutions that can transform entire systems to benefit the planet, nature and people.
Our work includes: UK Plastics Pact, Courtauld Commitment 2030, Textiles 2030 and the campaigns Love Food Hate Waste and Recycle Now. We run Food Waste Action Week and Recycle Week.
Please contact: wrap.ngo