Background

The linear industrial processes of ‘take, make, dispose’ that have driven economic growth and shaped lifestyles in the developed world are not sustainable. The linear economy has required an easily accessible supply of cheap materials and energy and both are expected to become significantly more expensive during the course of the 21st century. Businesses must change radically to enable the transition to a more Circular Economy, which is restorative by nature, where waste is reduced or eliminated entirely through for example, the development of new business models and product eco-design. According to estimates (Mckinsey, 2013) this could be worth as much as $630 billion a year in materials cost saving within the EU.

Things are changing, with an increasing number of business opportunities developing in remanufacture, product lifecycle extension and repair, the advent of novel repair technologies, eg SUGRU silicone putty (www.sugru.com) and the increased availability of funding for research and development.

This free workshop will highlight current sources of business R&D funding and support, including the Technology Strategy Board’s new competition on ‘Supply Chain Innovation towards a Circular Economy’. It will explore opportunities presented through remanufacture and look at how the emergence of the Maker and Fixer movements is starting to change the way businesses interact with consumers.

Benefits of attending

This free workshop is for pre start up businesses and SMEs involved in the provision of eco-innovative products or services.Those attending will gain an insight into available funding and support, hear about some of the key emerging business opportunities and societal trends relating to the Circular Economy and have the opportunity to network with other businesses, researchers and CE practitioners.

Programme


13:00
Registration & networking
13:30
Welcome & Introduction
Prof. Martin Charter, Director, The Centre for Sustainable Design®
13:40
Funding and Support for Small Businesses to Engage with the Circular Economy
Ben Peace, Knowledge Transfer Manager, The Environmental Sustainability Knowledge Transfer Network
14:15
Business Opportunities from Remanufacturing
Casper Gray, Director, Wax RDC Ltd
14:45
Makers &Fixers
Scott Keiller, The Centre for Sustainable Design®
15:15
Networking, coffee & tea
15:45
Space to Make Things
RDM Makerspace - Jurjen Lengkeek,The Netherlands
16:00
Is 3D printing an environmental win?
Jeremy Faludi, Faludi Design, USA Youtube logo
16:15
Open Discussion
17.00
Close

Fees & Registration

There is no charge for this event. Please download the Registration Form

Map & Directions

Please refer to the map at ucreative.ac.uk/farnham/map

Social networking

Use the social networking share buttons at the top to tell your colleagues and networks about the opportunity. If you're tweeting you may want to copy in the following: @mcharter1

For any further UK enquiries please contact:

Scott Keiller
The Centre for Sustainable Design ®
University for the Creative Arts,
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 892772
Email: skeiller@ucreative.ac.uk

Social networking

Use the social networking share buttons at the top to tell your colleagues and networks about the opportunity. If you're tweeting you may want to copy in the following: @mcharter1