Putting the circular economy ‘upfront and central’ key to successful climate action

While there is still no sight of the government’s much-delayed Circular Economy Growth Plan, Yorkshire is setting the trend with plans to become the UK’s first circular region.

The Circular Yorkshire campaign has an impressive range of supporters, from the CBI to councils, colleges, food producers, research institutions and businesses.

At the heart of this is Circular Malton and Norton, a town-wide initiative rethinking energy and waste that is already winning awards as an exemplar, which describes the circular economy as “a system designed to reduce waste by keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible“.

Moving towards a circular economy is a key part of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Strategy for a Sustainable Future, which evolved from the 2022 Routemap to Carbon Negative and sees the combined authority embracing leadership on climate action.

Inspiration from the region

Sue Jefferson, Co-founder and Chair of Circular Malton & Norton, has championed public participation in the strategy process. Sue was a guest speaker at a recent Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission meeting and attendees were hugely impressed and enthused by the energy and innovation demonstrated by Circular Malton & Norton. This includes:

• plans for the UK’s first community anaerobic digester (already under way)
• a sustainable business park with multiple renewable energy initiatives
• the first rural circular business innovation hub
• a circular economy hub on the high street combining a shop, workshops and more.

The importance of engagement

Katie Thomas of Creating Impact, who has played a key role in the York and North Yorkshire strategy development, also gave a presentation to YHCC’s forum for local and combined authority officers and elected members.

Outlining the multiple benefits of putting the circular economy “front and centre” of climate change strategies, she emphasised the need to work with stakeholders to define what the circular economy means to them.

There is still much work to do. Despite growing public enthusiasm – 88% of people surveyed were in favour of Malton and Norton becoming the UK’s first circular economy towns – there are still relatively low levels of uptake of circular economy business in the region, and understanding of the concept remains low.

Share, repair and save project

At the Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission, we’ve undertaken our own engagement work in this area through our Share, Repair and Save mini project, which combined an online survey, scoping meeting and a public event, producing a set of recommendations that you can read in this policy brief.

Chief among our findings was the potential for circular economy initiatives to connect climate action to everyday concerns and engage a wider range of people. We found circular economy projects shift mindsets on resource use and deliver benefits such as skills development, improved wellbeing, stronger community cohesion, resilience and cost savings.

Umbrella brands like Circular Malton & Norton and The Great Doncaster Lesstival show how place-based initiatives can boost impact, raise awareness and foster stakeholder networks.

With York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Strategy for a Sustainable Future setting the region’s ambition to lead on tackling climate change and achieve healthy and thriving communities, economic transformation and becoming England’s first carbon negative region by 2040, public buy-in is vital.

The circular economy looks like an inclusive way to do this that provides benefits for businesses and communities alike, along with a much needed route to growth.

Delays to the government’s Circular Economy Growth Plan

Support for the circular economy among MPs is growing, with 150 MPs nationally now signed up to The Restart Project’s Repair and Reuse Declaration (including seven to date from Yorkshire and the Humber). Despite the appetite from cross-party MPs – and enthusiastic backing from the public (four out of five Britons support government action for the right to repair) the promised Circular Economy Growth Plan, which had been due for publication at the end of 2025, has still not materialised.

Both Restart and Green Alliance have written to the government to urge publication of the plan as soon as possible, with a raft of signatories from businesses, charities and other organisations.  Libby Peake, Head of Resources and Senior Fellow at Green Alliance, shared the frustration businesses are expressing at the lack of a national Circular Economy Growth Plan so far to support this.

“The delay to this hotly anticipated plan is really frustrating for all kinds of businesses and is bad news for consumers. At a time when we need every tool in the box to create greater economic resilience, holding back on this transformative plan makes no sense.

“It’s an obvious way to protect business supply chains, stimulate jobs and growth and keep prices down for consumers.”

Meanwhile in Yorkshire, there’s a chance to show how it’s done. Becoming “the first region with no waste where businesses and communities prosper because circular behaviour is the everyday way of life for all” is a vision that centres practical, people-centred solutions – and who doesn’t want that?

Kate Lock, Communications Manager, Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission

Strategy for a Sustainable Future is open for public consultation until 10 June. Take part here.