A circular economy offers solutions for global sustainability challenges through the transition from the linear take-make-use-dispose economy to a better organisation of resources.

Wind turbine at sunset

A living lab links academic and operational knowledge and understanding to co-create solutions to real-world problems using society as a test-bed to drive innovation.

Yorkshire Circular Lab

The Yorkshire Circular Lab supports communities, government bodies and companies in the transition towards a circular economy.

Plans for the Yorkshire Circular Lab were co-produced with stakeholders across the region. Together, we developed a partnership to deliver on five priority areas for action:

  1. Develop a knowledge and tools hub to make scientific evidence accessible for practitioners, with examples, manuals and implementation tools for policy and business, and involving communities for behaviour change and skills development.
  2. Bridge research and implementation with student education and research projects.
  3. Build a community of circular economy stakeholders and offer continuity for collaborative implementation of a circular economy in Yorkshire.
  4. Support circular economy implementation by partners outside universities, through dedicated projects, awareness raising and advice.
  5. Monitor progress in circular economy practice and regularly evaluate demand for support, proactively covering gaps in circular economy capacity and avoiding duplication of efforts.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The Yorkshire Circular Lab uses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to guide our activity.  The work we are doing links to many of the SDGs, in particular the following:

  • Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
  • Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
  • Goal 13: Climate Action
  • Goal 17: Partnerships for the goal