Supporting the transition

to a regional Circular
Economy: A Programme
Community of Practice
(PCoP) approach.

Dr Gary Walpole, Director CEIC &

Director of the Regional Innovation &
Regeneration Centre

Achieving Social upgrading through a

CE in Scotland
Outline
• Understanding of Circular Economy (CE), a ‘public narrative’
disconnect?

• The adoption and innovation challenge

• Programme Communities of Practice as mechanisms to support

adoption of CE principles, evidence from Circular Economy
Innovation Communities (CEIC)
• Case studies from Wales
CE Innovation Matters
• Number of extreme weather
events has increased fivefold
between 1970-2019
• 2022 saw losses of £100bn, 20% up
on 5year average (John Neal, Lloyd’s
of London)
• Areas and regions un-insurable?
• 4 people died in recent UK floods
• Do the public understand the link
between GHGs and climate related
events and the immediate need to
transition to a circular economy?
• Climate Strategy for Wales (2011)

• Well-being of Future Generations Act (2015)

• Statutory obligation

• Beyond Recycling: A strategy to make the

circular economy in Wales a reality (2021)
• "The circular economy offers an approach
which can work to reduce
consumption. Taking a circular economy
approach is therefore a key pillar of a
green and just recovery, helping not only
to address the climate crisis, but also to
tackle current levels of inequality, whilst
driving better economic outcomes for
Wales".
Developing CE understanding, the adoption and
adaptation challenge
• 13% of SMEs in Wales introduced
CE related innovation in the last
year (Walpole & Renfrew, 2018)
• 20% of SMEs in Wales have a CE
Implementation plan (Walpole et al,
2023)

• Only 44% businesses innovation active

in Wales (UKIS, 2021)
CE Innovation
• Experiments that incorporate behavioural ‘nudges’, can be fruitful (Nisa et al,
2019)
• WG plastic bag charge(2011), canteen food choices, active travel incentives

• Local and regional solutions can be developed through large collaborative

‘test and learn’ projects (Banerjee & Duflo, 2019)
• Practitioners develop understanding of new concepts and develop solutions
to challenges within peer based ‘social learning’ programmes (Smith et al, 2018)
• Regional collaboration through open innovation networks as ‘Regional
Ecosystems’ impactful (Clifton & Walpole, 2023)
 CEIC Regional CE eco-system

Cohorts Organisations Participants Challenge Public Sector Third Private

Groups Sector

SBR 7 36 103 18 80% 18% 2%

CCR 7 45 88 17 81% 18% 1%
S. Wales 14 81 191 35
Highlights CEIC Summer Conference 2023 - YouTube
CEIC Conceptual Framework

A sustainable Community of Practice

Innovation Prototype Reflection

Empathy Challenge Ideation Implementing and
Dynamics Empathy
Definition and testing
Learning

A golden thread of
circular economy
principles
Walpole et al, 2022
Experiential Learning Event – forming a PCoP
Circular Economy opportunities: ‘by-product’ not waste
• In 2012, 40% of an Icelandic cod
was used (meat for human
consumption)
• By 2023, an impressive 95% used,
new products:
• Cod skin as burns and wound
grafts
• Cod liver and organs for nutrients
and vitamin supplements
• Bones for soup concentrate and
fish oils
• Dog snacks (bone meal)
• Residues as fertilizer mix
New Service Solution, incorporates CE & FE/CWB
• Reduced carbon footprint
significantly -
502.02kgCOe annually
• Saved money - £1550.64
p/a
• Supported a local social
enterprise-supporting 66
disadvantaged and/or
disabled staff and
volunteers into training
and reducing local
employment
FE, CE and Social Value synergies
Well-being of Future
Generations Act
(2015) CE Local Food production

Regional
remanufacturing &
Sustainable transport Social recycling
(low carbon) FE/CWB
Value Low carbon energy
production
 • Circular Economy Implementation: Case studies in Wales
https://doi.org/10.25401/cardiffmet.21666719

• CE Capability development
CE matrix: https://www.walescirculareconomy.com/development-matrix
Resources • Map of circular economy providers in
Wales: https://www.walescirculareconomy.com/

• New development: Enhancing regional innovation capabilities through formal

public service communities of practice. Walpole, G., Bacon, E., Beverley, K., De
Laurentis, C., Renfrew, K., & Rudd, J. (2022). Public Money & Management, 1-4.

• A communities of practice approach to promoting regional circular economy

innovation: Liu, Z., James, S., Walpole, G., & White, G. R. (2022). European
Planning Studies, 1-19.
Q&A