Innovation ignites change.
One person's great idea can spark global transformation and as the world faces an increasingly unstable climate, innovators are iterating at speed to take action for the planet's most pressing need.
A report from Deloitte found more than half of consumers expressed that the "commitment of businesses to climate change and sustainability can impact their trust in them."
The emergence of the circular economy has created a new baseline for businesses to operate at. Trailblazers are leading the charge in developing sustainable solutions and products, and we're now at a pivotal moment where we explore what happens when circular design moves out of development and hits the real world.
What is the Circular Economy?
The Circular Economy conversation began in the 1970s with Dr. Walter Stahel, Founder of the Product-Life Institute in Sweden, who argued that extending the product life of goods was the pathway towards a sustainable future.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a leading charity in the sector, describes the Circular Economy this way:
"The circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling, and composting. The circular economy tackles climate change and other global challenges, like biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, by decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources."
Why is having the right space important for the circular economy?
Broken down, it’s simple. Speed. Equipment. Agileness.
Innovation hubs, such as Plus X Innovation, where innovators can access state-of-the-art workshop facilities, including wet labs, prototyping equipment and machinery, act as a one-stop shop for makers to develop and test their products expeditiously and get them out in the world sooner.
Having the right space and equipment is critical for the innovative mindset shift required to catalyst change in this pressing area. Especially at the pace the planet needs to tackle the climate crisis. The UK Government recognises the need for significant investment with a record £22bn public investment in R&D announced in its latest strategy.
Programmes play their part in the circular economy too
Groundbreaking initiatives such as the Sustainable Smart Factories pilot, a collaboration between Batch.Works, Matta and Plus X Innovation, are happening across the country and are sitting at the bleeding edge of positive impact.
The £1.8m InnovateUK research project explores how designers can use the latest advances in digital manufacturing to produce locally using a circular flow of materials, and take advantage of the possibilities for agile product development, extreme customisation, and low-wastage production.
Creating space for these vital programmes allows businesses to iterate their products and solutions quickly and experience failure in a safe environment that enables them to enact those learnings and retest efficiently.
Sustainability and positive impact lay the foundations of every new Plus X Innovation venture. From our buildings, programmes and initiatives to taking care of our members, our vision for a sustainable future informs every decision and choice.
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To join our community of circular economy innovators, book in for a tour of Brighton or Slough now.
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