Net-Zero Research Forum: Moving to a circular economy

How can Leeds research help shift society towards a circular economy that is in line with net-zero targets?

This net-zero webinar, ‘Moving to a circular economy’, will feature two short presentations by:

• Dr Anne Velenturf, Research Impact Fellow in Circular Economy in the School of Civil Engineering
• Dr Pammi Sinha, Associate Professor of Fashion Management in the School of Design

Professor Phil Purnell, Professor of Materials and Structures in the School of Civil Engineering, will introduce and chair the event.

Dr Anne Velenturf will present a talk titled: ‘Towards a Sustainable Circular Economy’.

A circular economy aiming to make better use of materials and products forms a key part of a green recovery to build back better after Covid-19. However, participatory research from the Resource Recovery from Waste programme showed that actors in the UK broadly strive for three different types of circular economy, all with a profoundly different potential to contribute to sustainability and net-zero targets. Resource management and associated infrastructures have to be transformed to enable sustainable, low-carbon production and consumption.

Dr Pammi Sinha will present a talk titled: ‘Towards a Circular Economy for Fashion and Textiles’.

Dr Sinha will present exemplars of research studies and initiatives along the circular economy principles from fashion and textiles in the UK, Tanzania and Sri Lanka. She will also highlight initiatives that fashion brands have already started putting in place, such as developing recycling facilities and technologies, and materials databases. Dr Sinha will highlight some potential impacts (the good and not so good) that should be considered in light of achieving a circular economy.

This event is the sixth in a series of Net-Zero Research Forums – informal webinars to discuss research and innovation ideas focused on achieving net-zero emissions. Researchers from different disciplines present ideas and provocative questions to stimulate debate and creativity. All are welcome to collaborate on this pressing global challenge.

Staff and students are also invited to join the Microsoft Team – Net-Zero Research Forum by following the link or using the join code 2zzzfir.

This event is part of the University’s Interdisciplinary Research Development Programme.