Transforming Tomorrow 12 Over the past decade, our Waste and Circular Economy focus has considered the social and business perspectives of waste. We have particularly examined the role the circular economy can play in transforming industrial operations by keeping products and materials in circulation for as long as possible, eliminating waste, and using greener energy for production. There have been three areas of noteworthy research – electronics; plastics and digital infrastructures. Electronics Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to discarded electronics, including mobile phones, computers, televisions, kettles, and other appliances. Three key consultancy and research projects on e-waste were: • Independent Study on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) flows in the UK • Electronic Waste – Challenges and Opportunities • Organic electronics: benefits, barriers and opportunities WEEE is a major global challenge, due to the increase in products, the changing EU/UK legislative landscape, and the impact on producers. REPIC Ltd, the largest UK Producer Compliance Scheme, sponsored an independent Pentland Centre project on the subject. The project team co-hosted a roundtable event with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and other WEEE stakeholders in July 2018 and published a whitepaper ‘Setting robust and realistic targets to support the transition to a Circular economy’. The research acted as a springboard to secure further funding from UK Material Focus to investigate the unreported flows of e-waste. Understanding the flows and fates of e-waste is crucial in setting effective policy targets, identifying secondary resources, assessing economic impacts, and mitigating environmental leakages. Research outcomes were published in a further whitepaper ‘Electronic Waste – Challenges and Opportunities’ and contributed to an invitation by the Environmental Committee Inquiry on Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy. The team also collaborated with Nanjing University on electronics disassembling and recycling industries. The third project on organic electronics examined the use of biobased materials in medical, wearable, and screen technologies, evaluating implications for industry. In collaboration with partners NeuDrive Limited and ASECCA Limited, a whitepaper was published outlining the benefits, barriers and opportunities for further research. Pentland members: Dr Junfeng Wang; Dr Lingxuan Liu; Dr Ivar Struijker Boudier; Dr Alison Stowell; Dr Dmitry Yumashev. Plastics Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives: Rethinking the consumer attitude-behaviour gap (PPiPL), is a flagship project, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). See opposite for more information. Whilst the main project is complete, research continues on other projects: • Global Challenges Research Fund and Newton PPiPL: Malaysia Pilot Project • Single use plastics and the circular economy Digital infrastructures An exploration into the role of digital technologies in advancing the circular economy, particularly in domestic energy and reusable packaging, was undertaken in collaboration with Edinburgh-based start-up Reath, who have studied the challenges businesses face when adopting reusable packaging, especially with packaging taxes being based on weight. Reusable containers often become heavier when made more durable, leading to higher tax. To address this, members of the Pentland Centre team proposed using digital trackers or barcodes (“digital passports”) to monitor the lifespan and return rates of packaging. These trackers could help businesses manage costs, recycling, and marketing, and ensure lifecycle assessments account for the environmental impact of reusable containers. The system could also support tax exemptions for packaging refills, incentivising businesses to adopt more sustainable practices. Pentland members: Dr Katherine Ellsworth-Krebs; Dr Lucy Wishart. Waste and the Circular Economy https://pod.co/transforming-tomorrow/waste-andthe-circular-economy Listen...
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