Linking the circular economy and net zero

Linking the circular economy and net zero – Cross-service working will allow local government to unlock green and resource-efficient change

Reduce, reuse and repair must be the mantra as we transform from waste disposal and recycling into a circular economy, fuelling our journey toward net zero and linking the circular economy and net zero

As we reflect on the year passed, it is clear that society is pivoting. COP26 and the Environment Act established the UK as a world leader with a clear direction to leave the environment in a better state for the next generation. We are moving into a world where our economic growth no longer relies on resource consumption, and waste is superseded by resource efficiency.

In older generations, for whom home-grown and cooked was the norm, wedding dresses borrowed and shared, children raised in terry nappies, milk delivered to the door in reusable glass not plastic, make do and repair was just part of life. Changes in attitude surely demonstrate the full circle taking place in society now.

As we move into 2022 and await the much-anticipated detail on waste reforms, there will be much uncertainty and many substantial changes for residents and businesses, but also great opportunity for councils. With the UK’s ambition for a green industrial revolution tackling fossil fuel use through investment in green energy, there is an increasing focus on funding linked to green outcomes.

Local government is the driving force to link the circular economy and net zero, and Local Partnerships is actively supporting councils to deliver these ambitions.

Now is the time to cut across service silos and deliver economic, social and environmental benefits while tackling inequality. These range from addressing social isolation in share and repair ventures to reusing unwanted bicycles for school lessons, offering those in need free items from reuse shops, to new job creation and targeted employment for green industries. The opportunities could be limitless with creative, cross-service working to unlock green and resource-efficient change.

Local government is the driving force to link the circular economy and net zero, and Local Partnerships is actively supporting councils to deliver these ambitions.

We can help with many parts of this journey, from reviewing contracts and assessing the impact of the Environment Act and waste reforms to resource modelling. Our website has a range of free tools from the greenhouse gas accounting tool, designed to help authorities calculate their carbon baseline (see localpartnerships.gov.uk/greenhouse-gas-accounting-tool) to our climate adaptation toolkit (see localpartnerships.gov.uk/climate-adaptation) which helps to measure and develop your resilience and preparedness for climate change.