The UK’s transition to a circular economy requires a whole systems approach, according to a new series of reports. The Insight Reports, produced by the National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) program, highlight the importance of products being designed with circularity in mind and integrating circular economy principles into business strategies and culture. The reports, which cover various aspects of the circular economy, including technology innovations, material flow analysis, and human behavior, stress the need for increased pace and scale in the transition to a circular economy.
The reports also highlight the importance of data sharing, stakeholder collaboration, and government support to achieve successful roadmaps and transitions. The authors urge businesses to adopt circular business models, experiment with circular economy practices, and adopt a whole-systems approach to circularity. Additionally, the reports emphasize the importance of considering human behavior and psychological factors in the design of circular products.
Overall, the NICER Insight Reports provide evidence of the progress made in advancing circular economy practices in the UK, but also emphasize the need for further work to achieve a fully circular economy. The reports aim to provide valuable insights and recommendations to policymakers, businesses, and consumers to help them understand the solutions that enable circular resource flows and drive knowledge exchange.