Sustainable, circular, resource-efficient economies and societies

Our research aims to develop the evidence base and analytical capability to enable systemic change towards resource efficiency and the circular economy.

We produce research and train our students to tackle current challenges of resource depletion and ecosystem and social stress associated with systems of production and consumption. The societal transformation required to transition from current patterns of resource use needs to address the interconnected dimensions of global supply chain, global resource trade, models of consumption, land use, systems of innovation and individual behaviour all shaped by policy frameworks and interventions. The UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources aims to develop the evidence base and analytical capability to enable systemic change towards resource efficiency and the circular economy.

To maximise the impact of our activities, the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources engages with leading scholars and other stakeholders to produce internationally leading research in the areas of resource efficiency and the Circular Economy. Academics from the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources have engaged in the TC323 to develop the new family of ISO standards in the Circular Economy, are members of the World Resources Panel and are part of three of the UKRI Circular Economy Centres.

Jump to: Research areas | Research stories | Recent Projects | In teaching | Researchers

Research areas

Our research and teaching agendas are solution oriented and work across the following core interrelated areas:

Developing modelling capability to map and understand global flows of resources and assess the impact of policies and interventions towards sustainability
Identifying policy mixes and areas of policy experimentation and innovation, including assessing the impact of policy interventions for the transition to sustainable, circular and resource-efficient economies and societies based empirically grounded policy analysis approaches
Analyse complex supply chain and leverage points towards more sustainable resource use
Engaging and fostering transdisciplinary collaboration to advance knowledge in the area of sustainable societal transitions
Exploring the role of new business models and systems of innovation towards resource efficiency and circularity
Transforming societies and individual behaviours towards resource efficiency and the circular economy

Research stories

Mapping the flows and emissions of Fashion Textiles in London

Read on the ReLondon website the report 'London’s fashion footprint: An analysis of material flows, consumption-based emissions, and levers for climate action'. The recently released London's fashion footprint maps the flows of fashion textiles throughout Greater London’s from a whole fashion supply chain perspective, identifying where the main carbon and waste hotspots occur and highlighting leverage areas for the city to tackle its fashion-related consumption emissions. The report is based on the environmental modelling led by Dr Teresa Domenech from the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources.

Remaking steel for a net zero carbon circular economy

Climate action’s goal to deliver net-zero emissions will require joined-up thinking across different parts of the economy and society. The circular economy is a key opportunity to reduce carbon emissions through transforming industry. Steel is widely used in key sectors and has unique properties of durability and recyclability. In this article our researchers explore the possibilities for steel in a net zero cirular economy.

View from above of a park with a circular lawn in the middle

Sustainable Resources and the Circular Economy

The concept of a Circular Economy was in its infancy a decade ago, now it's regarded as a core aspect of a sustainable future. Discover our involvement in this research area over the last ten years, outlined by Associate Professor Teresa Domenech.

Vision for the future of plastics – policy brief

We rely on plastics for our everyday lives. Decarbonizing the plastic sector is possible but can only be achieved if we stop throwing them away or incinerating them and move towards a circular economy of plastics. In this policy brief, researchers from the Plastic Waste Innovation Hub at UCL outline a Vision for the Future of Plastics.

Research projects

UKRI Circular Metals Centre - access the external webpage.
UKRI Circular Textiles Centre - London’s Fashion Textile Footprint - access the external webpage.
UKRI Construction Minerals Circular Economy Centre - access the external webpage.

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Sustainable, circular, resource-efficient economies and societies in teaching

Our MSc Programmes aim to educate the next generation of thought and business leaders to address the net zero and circular economy transition.

Sustainable Resources: Economics, Policy and Transitions MSc

The Sustainable Resources: Economics, Policy and Transitions MSc, provides a comprehensive overview of main analytical tools, the economic foundations and policy mixes for the transition towards the Circular Economy. As part of the programme the students will get familiarised with circularity assessment tools, circular economy business models, challenges and drivers for the management of the transition towards circularity and will reflect on the system changes required to create a system which is regenerative and aims to maintain circular flows of resources across different economic sectors.

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Doctoral research (PhD)

Our PhD students conduct cutting edge research in the areas of resource management, critical materials for batteries and the net zero transition, circular economy new business models and other aspects of the circular transition.

Current PhD students:

Haoning Li - 'Sustainable Critical Materials for Batteries in China.'
Zijie Ma - 'Macro economic modelling of Steel with material flow extension.'
Seigo Robinson - 'Circular Economy New Business Models.'

Recently completed PhDs:

Lilia Caiado Coelho Beltrão Couto - 'Socioeconomic Impacts of Long-Term Renewable Electricity Generation: a multi-regional analysis for Brazil.'
Victor Nechifor - 'Modelling freshwater resources use and the economic impacts of demand-driven water scarcity.'
Metin Piskin - 'Regional Input Output analysis of construction Minerals.'

Researchers

Teresa Domenech
Associate Professor
t.domenech@ucl.ac.uk

Alvaro Calzadilla
Associate Professor
a.calzadilla@ucl.ac.uk

Matthew Winning
Senior Research Fellow
m.winning@ucl.ac.uk

M etin Piskin
Research Fellow
m.piskin@ucl.ac.uk