British Water event draws circular economy expertise

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British Water event draws circular economy expertise

 

 

British Water is hosting a one-day conference on Water and the Circular Economy during the International Business Festival 2018 taking place in Liverpool. The conference is part of the sustainable energy themed day on 14 June and will explore the considerable business opportunity in building a circular economy of water.

 

Delegates will hear about the interplay between water, food, energy and waste to identify the key drivers and challenges for a circular economy, along with a range of solutions that could be adopted.

 

Keith Lawton, strategy and development director at global engineering firm Wood is conference chair. He says, “Natural resources such as water, energy and food are fundamental components of the systems that drive our lives, health, economies and prosperity.

 

“These resources are critical to everything we require to exist in our society and this is a conference where we’re able to understand not only what is happening around circular economy, but also what we as an industry can contribute to it going forward. The principles of the circular economy inherently recognise interdependency within the system and by understanding this with more precision, we can use our ingenuity, technology and innovation to disrupt inefficient processes and close open loops to maintain value.”

 

Keynote speaker Geoffrey Smith, managing director of infrastructure finance, ING said, “Sustainability is an important strategic priority for ING and we have a long and proud history in the water industry, recognising that water is the ultimate resource.  We are working closely with our clients who recognise that addressing water and other sustainability challenges contributes to business resilience and profitability.

 

“ING is also the leading global bank driving circular economy solutions to be more scalable and bankable. By combining this thought leadership with our innovative financial solutions, ING is committed to accelerating our clients’ sustainability ambitions.”

 

Emeritus Professor Cedo Maksimovic from the Department for Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London is also speaking at the conference. He says, “The changing philosophy of planning, designing, constructing and managing our urban infrastructure is a matter of survival for our economy and our planet.

 

“For example, in the integrated planning for circular economy, wastewater treatment plants don’t just treat sewage, in our blue-green solutions paradigm they act as an urban metabolic

hub with many other functions. The wastewater effluent, sludge and other by-products are new resources which can be recycled, making the plant more economically cost effective.

 

“I will be sharing information about several innovative technological solutions we have developed that meets this requirement at the conference and I am sure it will be of great interest to UK water companies and globally.”

 

John Durkan, sustainability and environmental manager at ABP Food Group, is chairing the session on water and food. He said, “Water is a vital resource for the food and beverage sector, both as an ingredient and for essential processes. It is important that we understand the water cycle and constraints on water due to climate change in terms of both availability and water quality.

 

“The importance of a conference like this is the sharing of best practice and knowledge through open discussion. It will help companies understand further the importance of water within their businesses as they start to develop strategies that will enable them to take control of the water cycle.”

 

Lila Thompson, international director of British Water said, “The circular economy is an alternative to the traditional linear economy of make, use and dispose. It keeps resources in use for as long as possible, saving money and reducing waste.

 

“Water is the most important shared resource across all supply chains and this event will provide a vital shop window for global buyers and thought-leaders to learn from UK expertise in water and the circular economy. The agenda includes case studies, a review of innovative solutions and roundtable discussions.

 

“There will also be plenty of opportunities for networking and I look forward to welcoming delegates from across the globe.”

 

The International Business Festival takes place at the Exhibition Centre on Kings Dock, Liverpool. The three-week biennial event was established to bring together the world’s most ambitious businesses to create valuable business connections.

 

Register for Water and the Circular Economy here or for more information email events@britishwater.co.uk.

 

Find out more about the International Business Festival 2018 here.

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