A few days ago, the University of Bristol Business School hosted its inaugural Circular Economy Workshop, open to all business students. As industries across the globe transform their business models to embrace circularity, new skills and knowledge are essential for tomorrow’s leaders. This workshop is just one of many initiatives aimed at preparing our students for a changing global environment.
A big thank you to Agnes Chruszcz from IEMA, Joanna Knight from Southernsbroadstock and Louise Whitaker from Virgin Media O2, who shared with our students their experiences working in circularity and offered valuable advice on how to best prepare for the future.
Do you want to hear what the experience was like for our students? Read on to hear insights from our brilliant Sustainability Champions, Olivia Loughran and Aleezah Aspinwall.
Understanding Circularity with IEMA
On Wednesday 22nd January, I had the pleasure of attending the Circular Economy Workshop. The afternoon was packed with insightful industry speakers, impactful discussions and career insights.
Agnes Chruszcz, the Policy and Engagement Lead at IEMA, opened the event by introducing the circular economy model. This approach replaces the traditional model of take-make-waste, where products are created and then discarded. Instead, the circular economy designs systems where products and materials are kept in circulation. It is more sustainable than simply recycling and is achieved through reuse, refurbishment and repair and remanufacture. For business models, this looks like reselling, renting and recovering. Agnes explained how circular businesses can extract more value from resources, secure supply chain resilience and gain market advantages.
It was eye-opening that many of us unknowingly participated in circular economy practices, such as renting equipment or getting our electronics repaired. While personal efforts are important, businesses must adopt circular economy models to manage unsustainable resource extraction and waste production. Agnes revealed that if the global population lived like residents from the UK in terms of consumption, we would need 2.6 earths to keep up with demands.
Sustainability regulations and the role of policy
The second speaker was Joanna Knight, a sustainability consultant who specialises in the circularity of furniture. She explored regulations from the UK and the EU which mandate sustainability and circularity, such as the Digital Product Passport and the Green Claims Code. She was particularly impressed by France’s EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) policy which has a specific focus on furniture.
After gaining these insights, it was time for the students to put the circular economy model into practice. We gathered into groups and created circular business models of our own, considering how they could drive change. Our ideas ranged from an air fryer maintenance service to a bike rental business. It was interesting to see how circularity can be applied to such an extensive range of products. This was my favourite part of the workshop, because we received detailed feedback from the industry speakers, and it was amazing to see how collaboration can power innovation.
Real world circularity – Virgin Media and O2
To close the workshop, we heard from Louise Whitaker, the Circular Economy Manager at Virgin Media and O2. Her talk demonstrated how businesses can meet sustainability goals while achieving profitability and meeting customer needs. This is evidenced through the ‘Like New’ campaign at O2. It encourages people to buy refurbished phones instead of brand-new ones, advertising how they can be of the same quality.
This talk was another highlight; we saw how a circular economy can work effectively in real-world business and offer market opportunities.
After the event ended, I gained some valuable career advice from the industry speakers. They shared why they thought it was important for Business students to be aware of sustainable concepts like Circular Economy. Agnes felt that green skills are now essential to all job roles, but the challenge comes with funding sustainable campaigns. Louise agreed, encouraging us champion for change in whichever department we are working in. She believes advocating for sustainability will cause a ripple effect across the whole organisation. As students, we must remain informed by the evolving nature of the business climate.
Getting involved
If you want to learn more, the experts suggested some great ways for students to engage with circular economies. The Ellen Macarthur Foundation boasts a wealth of resources, ranging from case studies to new developments. The IEMA Student membership is also useful, with some accredited courses in the business school offering this membership for free.
Additionally, they shared some of their favourite circular spots in Bristol. Joanna is impressed by the second-hand Furniture stores, such as St. Peter’s Hospice on the Triangle. They praised the Repair Cafes, which welcome people to bring items in for volunteers to repair for free. There are several across the city, including one every Sunday at the Sparks Sustainable Department store in Broadmead.
Conclusion
I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging event! It certainly inspired me to be more mindful of my purchasing habits and encouraged me to support businesses that take responsibility for the lifecycle of their products. It was a privilege to hear from the panel speakers and collaborate with fellow students. A big thank you to Fatima for organising this workshop – I look forward to attending another sustainability event soon!
Authors: Olivia Loughran and Aleezah Aspinwall
Interested in learning more? Find out about our programmes and courses at the University of Bristol Business School.