Brunel University to Lead in World’s First UN-Backed Centre for Circular Economy Research
The UK will establish the world’s first United Nations-backed International Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Resource Management in the Circular Economy, Resources Minister Robbie Moore announced today.
Recognising world-class British academic expertise and cutting-edge scientific research, member states of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) have agreed to the establishment of the centre in the UK.
A circular economy is one in which resources are kept in use for as long as possible, rather than being taken from the earth, used once and disposed of in landfill.
The centre will develop sustainable approaches to the circular economy and resource efficiency to enable carbon reduction and the transition to a greener future. The UK will help countries across the world to maximise the environmental and economic opportunities the circular economy offers.
Opening formally in April 2024, the centre will comprise five institutions: Brunel University London – through the Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST) – together with University College London (UCL), Exeter University, Swansea University and the British Geological Survey.
Co-ordinated by a Government-funded UNECE research manager based in Geneva, this coalition will leverage their expertise to explore circularity in areas such as metals, construction and critical minerals to develop effective data, technological innovation, finance models and policy. The five participating institutions have together contributed £1.85 million to fund the centre’s technical activities.
Full circularity of metals has long been the technical vision of BCAST, which will bring to the UN-backed centre its world-class facilities and expertise in applied metallurgical research.
Prof Zhongyun Fan, Director of BCAST, said: “Our aim is for the global demand for metals – from our phones to our cars, from our wind turbines to our buildings – to be met through reuse, remanufacture, recycling, recovery and refining of metals. For more than two decades, BCAST has been working extensively with industry partners to develop lightweight alloys from recycled metals, to establish environmentally friendly metal processing solutions, and to improve their competitiveness in global markets.
“Being a leader in this new Centre of Excellence will help us realise this aim sooner, by helping other countries accelerate their own journeys towards a circular economy for metals.”
Professor Brian Cantor, BCAST Professor and Senior Advisor, said: “Making metal products produces 10-20% of all greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. The world cannot stop using metals, so we must work out how to extend metal product lives and increase reuse and recycling. BCAST is a world leader in the necessary science and technology needed to do this. We are excited at the prospect of helping to lead this new UN-backed research initiative, which will ultimately help maintain and enhance the health, wealth and wellbeing of millions of people worldwide.”
Prof Andrew Jones, Brunel University London’s Vice-Chancellor and President, added: “I am very proud and excited that Brunel will play a key part in this centre. BCAST has proven strengths in improving the durability of metals and in developing repair technology to reduce the amount of scrap metal in the first place. I look forward to the seeing the centre help countries make progress towards a more sustainable and prosperous future.”
Resources Minister Robbie Moore said: “This is real recognition of the UK’s global leadership in sustainable resource management and testament to Britain’s world-leading academic expertise.
“We are delighted to host this centre, enabling our cutting-edge UK academics to develop the tools and research that will help countries across the world seize the opportunities of the circular economy, leading the way in the transition to a greener future.”
UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean said: “Making the use of our resources more sustainable and moving towards a circular economy is fundamental to sustainable development and climate action. Partnerships mobilising international expertise play an important role in UN cooperation to develop and share best practices. I welcome the establishment of this new Centre of Excellence, with its focus on circularity of metals, construction and critical raw materials.”
The centre will also draw heavily on the success of several of the partner institutions in the National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) research and development programme, a four-year £30 million investment established by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ chief scientist in 2019 under the UK Government’s Strategic Priorities Fund.
In July 2023, the UK government announced new plans setting out its long-term aim to use fewer new resources, drive up the repair and reuse of existing materials and increase recycling. The programme – Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste – brings together a range of measures backed by government funding which will help to keep products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value, including through increasing reuse, repair and remanufacture, helping to grow the economy and boost employment.
Today’s announcement will help drive the programme forward and contribute to the UK’s world-leading efforts to protect the environment and improve its use of resources.