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Catherine Weetman

Catherine Weetman MSc FCILT FRSA - Director, Rethink Global Catherine gives talks, workshops and advice on the circular economy and sustainability. Her award-winning book, A Circular Economy Handbook for Business and Supply Chains, published by Kogan Page, includes wide-ranging examples and practical tips. Catherine has over 25 years' experience in contract logistics, manufacturing, retail and supply chain consultancy, and her career spans food, fashion and logistics, including Tesco, Kellogg's and DHL Supply Chain. She is a Visiting Fellow at the University of Huddersfield, and a Mentor and Regional Organiser for the Circular Economy Club

Lucy Antal Circular Economy Podcast Episode 9 Transforming our food systems

Episode 9 Lucy Antal – transforming our food systems

We explore the food circular economy, with Lucy Antal of food campaigning charity Feedback Global. Lucy explains Feedback’s aim to regenerate nature by transforming our food system. Feedback promotes a circular economy approach to food surplus – using it to feed people, animals and the soil. We talk about farm gate waste, overproduction and ‘gleaning’, supermarket labelling and Feedback’s work with community groups and children. We discuss the importance of food citizenship and connecting food, people and our environment.
We chat about some of Lucy’s projects, including a new social enterprise, Alchemic Kitchen, and Regional Food Networks.

Why reuse is #1 tool in circular economy toolkit

The circular economy’s ‘inner loop’ – reuse, reselling and sharing – forms the core of winning circular strategies. We explore examples of each, look at why you might be missing some of the benefits, and remind ourselves why recycling should be a lower priority.

The bottom line is this: if you aren’t working out how to tighten the loop in your business ecosystem, with strategies to reuse, resell and share, then you’re missing out on the biggest wins.
Even worse, you’re leaving value on the table for your competitors.

Circular Economy Podcast Episode 8 Elaine Kerr Industrial Symbiosis

Episode 8 Elaine Kerr – industrial symbiosis

Elaine Kerr, Deputy Director of International Synergies Northern Ireland talks about industrial symbiosis and how it ‘oils the wheels’ of the circular economy. Elaine explains what industrial symbiosis is, and how International Synergies provides research and facilitation for ‘resource matching’, helping organisations of all types and sizes.
We discuss the multiple benefits of industrial symbiosis: reducing waste and pollution (and associated costs); creating valuable new by-products, jobs, and social value; together with securing access to future resources by setting up local ‘ecosystems’ for materials.
Creating new, local feedstocks from redundant resources can also bring widespread benefits for the local economy, helping improve economic prosperity and resilience. We talk about changing attitudes and the ways young entrepreneurs and social enterprises are creating value from what we used to think of as ‘waste’.

Katie Whalen circular economy game In the Loop

Episode 7 Katie Whalen – fun and games with the circular economy

Katie Whalen of In the Loop AB has developed two circular economy games, including the well-known In the Loop game for schools and businesses and the new Risk and Race circular business model game.
Katie is currently researching business aspects of the circular economy at Lund University. We talk about how to engage people to help them understand the benefits and impacts of circular approaches, and Katie tells us about some of her favourite circular economy businesses.

7 circular economy benefits for business

The circular economy has widespread benefits for society, our planet, AND for business. Whereas most reports tend to focus on macro-economic and sector level benefits, this blog outlines 7 types of circular economy benefits for businesses: Resource security, Regeneration, Risk reduction, Revenue and profit, Relationships, Reputation and Resilience.

Adam Fairweather Smile Plastics on Circular Economy Podcast

Episode 6 Adam Fairweather – reimagine waste

Adam Fairweather and his partner Rosalie McMillan run Smile Plastics, a circular economy business that reimagines local waste streams to make beautiful materials for the built environment. We talk about Adam’s approach to design, and his ethos that ‘material language’ can communicate messages to people through design, creating socially, emotionally and industrially durable products. We explore some of the wide range of projects Adam has been involved in over the last couple of decades. Adam tells us about his plans for decentralised manufacturing, forming an industrial ecosystem to reimagine waste.

circular economy more than recycling

The best circular strategy is NOT recycling

Whilst recycling seems much better than landfill, for most products it’s an expensive, energy intensive and ineffective option. This article sets out the case for adopting other circular economy strategies, or ‘loops’, explaining why the inner loops are better for business and society.

circular economy podcast episode 5 Katie Beverley of Ecodesign PDR

Episode 5 Katie Beverley – Ecodesign

Ecodesign expert Katie Beverley describes herself as a ‘critical friend’ of the circular economy. We dig into Ecodesign principles to find out more, and explore how Ecodesign could add value to circular solutions. Katie explains the benefits of user-centred and systems-thinking approaches. We discuss the business ‘ecosystem’, remanufacturing and the circular economy’s potential for local job creation and social benefits, and Ecodesign expert Katie Beverley describes herself as a ‘critical friend’ of the circular economy. We dig into Ecodesign principles to find out more, and explore how Ecodesign could help overcome the ‘teething problems’ of circular solutions. Katie explains the benefits of user-centred and systems-thinking approaches. We discuss the business ‘ecosystem’, remanufacturing and the circular economy’s potential for local job creation and social benefits, and Katie tell us about a range of projects she’s supported as Senior Research Officer with Ecodesign Centre, PDR, at Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales.

Peter Desmond discusses circular economy on Old Fox Young Fox podcast

Circular economy conversation on Old Fox Young Fox

Peter was invited to join the conversation on Episode 12 of the Old Fox, Young Fox long-form podcast. The wide-ranging discussion covered the circular economy, Peter’s work supporting circular progress in Brighton and Africa, economics, politics, The Blue Economy and much more.

Circular Economy Podcast Jo Godden of Ruby Moon recycled ocean plastics

Episode 4 Jo Godden – recycled ocean plastics

In Episode 4, Jo Godden talks to Catherine Weetman about some of the circular economy elements at the heart of her non-for-profit activewear brand, RubyMoon. Jo was a pioneer of using recycled ocean plastics, and her profits fund other entrepreneurs – putting the ‘economy’ into the circular economy! We chat about valuing your clothing, making sustainability cool, and how the circular economy is the future of fashion. Find out more on www.circulareconomypodcast.com