Businesses from across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have met to learn about the opportunities of moving to a circular economy.
Delegates at BCP Council’s Towards Net Zero event heard from local businesses and circular economy experts, who are leading the way in carbon reduction.
They also had the opportunity to tour Lush Cosmetics’ Green Hub, the Poole based brand’s circular recycling site.
The engineering and manufacturing sector has a major role to play, both in decarbonising its own operations and in developing the products and services needed for a low-carbon economy to work.
Speakers shared the processes and thinking in reducing waste and carbon emissions through reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible.
The event on 23 September supported BCP Council’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions across its services by 2030, and to work with the wider community to make the region carbon neutral before the UK target of 2050.
Councillor Philip Broadhead, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration, said: “Working with local engineering and manufacturing businesses to build a local circular economy is a key part of the Green Futures Fund set up to support the transition to Net Zero and achieve BCP Council’s ambition to achieve this by 2030.”
Lush Cosmetics shared how the company has already made significant inroads to reducing the impact of their products, with around half being package free, and customers encouraged to return their packaging to stores to be recycled.
Ruth Andrade, Lush Regenerative Impact and Earthcare Team said: “It was a pleasure to partner with BCP Council for the first external event at the Green Hub. Our vision is for that space to be a source of inspiration and action for a more circular economy in our region.
“Making our materials circular and helping others to do the same is a core pillar on our ‘to do list for climate nature’ as we know only through collaboration, we will make the comprehensive changes to our environment as well as our local economy.”
Local SMEs (Small and Medium-sized businesses) can receive free help and advice via BCP’s Carbon Reduction Project, including access to the Climate Essentials platform which helps organisations to measure, track and reduce their carbon emissions and set a meaningful net-zero pledge.
The platform assists SMEs to identify where their biggest impacts are, meaning better investment decisions can be made.
Event chair John Twitchen, a local circular economy expert, said: “The way we use finite resources has a big impact on our planet. The drive to reduce carbon emissions requires a complete rethink of the way these materials are used, how products are created and essential services are delivered.
“The good news is that many organisations have already started the journey, and there’s help available to local businesses who are about to start on the journey towards ‘net-zero’.”
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