Third 2011 UKNEE Seminar: Benefits of Resource Efficiency for Business
The third 2011 UKNEE seminar took place on Tuesday, 22nd November at 6.00 pm (for a 6.15pm start) to 7.30pm (Churchill Room) at European Parliament Information Office, Europe House, 32 Smith Square, London SW1P 3EU.
High and/or unsustainable rates of natural resource consumption contribute to climate change and degradation of the natural environment. In the UK, each year we generate approximately 280 million tonnes of waste, which causes environmental damage and costs businesses and consumers money. The Government undertook a review of waste policy in 2011, which identified the need for communities, consumers, businesses and government to work together to achieve a goal of a ‘zero waste economy’.
Greater resource efficiency need not be at the cost of economic growth, although for businesses to realise the financial savings available significant market and behavioural barriers may need to be overcome. This seminar will highlight recent economic work evaluating the benefits to the economy and the environment of resource efficiency programmes, and discuss their role in the current push for economic recovery.
Speakers
Peter Willis is a technical consultant at Oakdene Hollins and co-author of a recently completed report for Defra on the “Further Benefits of Business Resource Efficiency” . The research analysed the financial savings that businesses could achieve if they were to become more efficient with the materials, energy and water that they used. It concluded that UK business could save around £23bn per year from resource efficiency measures that are either no or low cost and avert 29 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2).
Roger Hoare is a business and environment manager at the Environment Agency, who lead the award winning Waste Protocols Project, and is now setting up a new programme (EQual) which will look to develop the end of waste concept further. The Waste Protocols Project examined the benefits of creating end of waste criteria for materials whilst protecting human health and the environment. Roger will summarise the approach taken by the project, its savings to date and those predicted by 2020 (over £3bn benefit to businesses by 2020). He will also provide an overview of the approach he will be taking with the new resource efficiency programme (EQual).
Rohit Mistry is a senior consultant at eftec. Rohit will chair the meeting and will provide an introduction to the economic and environmental benefits associated with resource efficiency.
Seminar 3 2011 Hoare presentation
