The current linear economy of ‘take – make – dispose’ – taking resources from the ground to make products which we use and then dispose of – is no longer acceptable.

We must instead move to a circular economy; reducing whole life carbon and based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use and regenerating our natural systems.

The School with its Partners and member companies has an extensive presence and reach. Together we can make a significant difference.

The School’s Waste and Resource Efficiency Group is the forum to help enable this change; taking individual and collective action against waste and inefficiency, including initiatives to encourage supply chains and enable innovative School members to showcase what they can do to help.

A NEW detailed report by the School demonstrating the opportunities, challenges and practicalities of optimising packaging.

This comprehensive report harnesses the expertise of four of the UK’s biggest and most influential housebuilders – Bellway Homes, Crest Nicholson, Taylor Wimpey and Vistry Group, working in partnership with Waste Management experts Biffa and Reconomy, together with Ibstock, Stark Group, Saint Gobain and Zero Waste Scotland. The partners listed have co-funded this project, also donating their valuable time and helping the project team to engage with 23 of their specialist suppliers, manufacturers and merchants, selected to cover all the most significant aspects of the housebuilding supply chain. The report also reaches beyond this sector, providing knowledge, ideas and potential solutions for any organisation interested in optimising the packaging they generate, transport or receive on site.

Material Exchange Platforms (MEPs) are location based and online services that help excess but usable materials and products to be exchanged from one user to another. This helps reduce both carbon and waste to landfill and can also be a way to deliver social value by supporting local community projects.

Use the map to find out the locations of MEPs in the UK and to find out more information on donating your unused material. You may have surplus stock from a recently finished project, or maybe be looking to donate or secure second hand upcycled furniture; these are just some examples of how you might use MEPs.

MEPS are a great way of providing social value in the localities where you work. If you are aware of any MEPs that need to be added or deleted from the map, or any information that should be revised, please complete this form.