Insights & Commentary

News & Updates

Analysis, commentary, and updates on circular economy policy, sustainability education, and resource reform in the UK and beyond.

FeaturedPolicy

UK's Circular Economy Growth Plan: What It Means for Waste Policy

The government's long-awaited Circular Economy Growth Plan sets out a blueprint for ending throwaway culture, targeting five priority sectors: textiles, transport, construction, agri-food, and chemicals. We break down what it means for producers, educators, and communities.

Dr. Elliott Lancaster MBE

28 March 2026 · 5 min read

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Policy

Extended Producer Responsibility Is Now Live: Here's What Changes

From April 2025, EPR for packaging shifted the full cost of managing household packaging waste onto producers. With eco-modulated fees now in force in 2026, brands using hard-to-recycle materials face higher charges. We explore what this means for the supply chain.

EPRPackagingLegislation

Dr. Elliott Lancaster MBE

21 March 2026 · 6 min read

Circular Economy

Simpler Recycling: England's New Consistent Collections Explained

As of March 2026, all local authorities in England must collect a consistent set of recyclables: food waste, paper, glass, metal, and plastic. This ends the postcode lottery that has confused households for decades. What does this mean in practice?

RecyclingLocal GovernmentWaste

Dr. Elliott Lancaster MBE

14 March 2026 · 4 min read

Education

Green Skills for the Future: DfE Plans to Embed Circular Economy in Schools

The Department for Education has announced plans to further embed circular economy principles and green skills into mainstream education. This aligns closely with our Resource Literacy campaign, and signals a real shift in how sustainability is taught in UK classrooms.

EducationGreen SkillsCurriculum

Dr. Elliott Lancaster MBE

7 March 2026 · 5 min read

Research

EV Battery Circularity: Why the UK Needs a National Strategy Now

With EV adoption accelerating, the UK faces a growing challenge: what happens to batteries at end-of-life? Our latest policy brief argues that second-life applications and coordinated recycling infrastructure must be prioritised before the wave of retired batteries arrives.

EV BatteriesCircular EconomyResearch

Dr. Elliott Lancaster MBE

28 February 2026 · 6 min read

Policy

Digital Waste Tracking Goes Mandatory: What Businesses Need to Know

From October 2026, all permitted waste sites must use the government's new digital waste tracking service. The move replaces paper-based systems and aims to combat waste crime. We look at what compliance looks like and why data transparency matters for circularity.

Waste TrackingCompliancePolicy

Dr. Elliott Lancaster MBE

14 February 2026 · 4 min read

Circular Economy

The Single-Use Vape Ban: A Small Win in the Fight Against Plastic Waste

The UK-wide ban on single-use vapes, which came into force in June 2025, removed one of the fastest-growing sources of plastic and lithium waste from our streets. We reflect on what the ban achieved, and what it reveals about the limits of product-by-product regulation.

Plastic WasteProduct BansLegislation

Dr. Elliott Lancaster MBE

31 January 2026 · 4 min read

Education

Circular Skills for a Net Zero Workforce: Our New Policy Brief

Our latest brief examines how apprenticeships and education systems can be redesigned to equip learners with the competencies needed for a circular economy. From repair skills to lifecycle thinking, the workforce transition is as important as the industrial one.

EducationNet ZeroWorkforce

Dr. Elliott Lancaster MBE

17 January 2026 · 5 min read

Research

Construction Waste: The Sector Generating 62% of UK Waste Must Change

Construction and demolition generates more than 60% of all waste in the UK, yet it remains one of the least scrutinised sectors in circular economy policy. The government's new Growth Plan targets construction. We look at what meaningful reform would require.

ConstructionWasteCircular Economy

Dr. Elliott Lancaster MBE

3 January 2026 · 5 min read

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