Circular Economy Taskforce
The Circular Economy Taskforce is an independent expert advisory group established in November 2024 to support the government in creating a circular economy strategy for England.
Role of the taskforce
The Circular Economy Taskforce’s expertise will enable co-design of the first strategy to begin the transition to a circular economy in England. The strategy will:
- support economic growth
- create green jobs
- promote efficient and productive use of resources
- accelerate the transition to net zero emissions
The key objectives of the taskforce are to identify and assess mechanisms that can underpin a Circular Economy Strategy for England; through which the UK government, industry and civil society can:
- drive economic growth by stimulating investment in technologies, sectors and infrastructure that enable resource circularity
- create jobs across the circular economy and bolster the security of supply chains
- increase resource efficiency and productivity
- reduce emissions and accelerate to net zero
- contribute to the government’s missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower, in particular supporting delivery of the UK government’s Industrial Strategy and refreshed Carbon Budget Delivery Plan
Members
The Circular Economy Taskforce comprises a diverse group of experts and leaders from various sectors. The members bring extensive knowledge and experience, to support the development of the government’s circular economy strategy.
The members of the Circular Economy Taskforce are :
- Andrew Morlet (Chair), Former Chief Executive Officer, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
- Professor Paul Ekins (Deputy Chair), Professor of Resources and Environmental Policy, University College London
- Jack Barrie, Circular Economy Senior Research Fellow, Royal Institute for International Affairs (Chatham House) UK
- Natasha Boulding, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Low Carbon Materials
- Colin Church, Chief Executive, Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3)
- Catherine Conway, Director & Reuse Lead, GoUnpackaged
- Andrew Dove, Professor of Sustainable Polymer Chemistry, Birmingham University; Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, 4D Biomaterials Ltd
- Debbie Fletcher, Director – Climate, Zero Waste Team, Local Partnerships
- Shak Gohir, Strategic Programmes Officer, CPI
- David Greenfield, Founder and Managing Director, Social, Environmental & Economic Solutions (SOENECS) Ltd; Co-founder and Managing Director, Tech-Takeback Ltd; Vice President, Circular Economy Institute; Vice President, Chartered Institution of Wastes Management; Visiting Professor of Circular Economy, University of Brighton; Founding Partner and Urban Miner, etsaW Ltd
- Stuart Hayward-Higham, Chief Technical Development and Innovation Officer, SUEZ
- Professor Peter Hopkinson, Professor of Circular Economy and Co-Director, Exeter Centre for Circular Economy (ECCE); Academic Director for Partnership, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
- Wayne Hubbard, Chief Executive Officer, ReLondon
- Keith James, Head of Policy and Insights, WRAP; UKRI National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) Strategic Advisory Group
- Hans Jensen and Chris Newsome (shared seat), Directors, UKWP
- Dr Greg Lavery, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Rype Office
- Libby Peake, Head of Resource Policy, Green Alliance
- Phil Purnell, Deputy Head of School (Civil Engineering), Leeds University
- Charlotte Williams, Statutory Chair in Inorganic Chemistry, University of Oxford; Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Econic Technologies