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The Kingston Green Business Community (KGBC) is a forum for businesses and organisations committed to reducing their environmental impact, promoting sustainability, eco-innovating and thriving.

Developing Kingston’s circular economy event

Developing Kingston's Circular Economy

This event took place at Kingston University's Town House building on 18 November 2024. The information below has been kept as a record of the day and for those looking to reconnect with people they met during the event.

Kingston Council and Kingston University (KU), in partnership with Kingston Chamber of Commerce, invites all businesses in and around the borough, and local residents, to join our event on circular and regenerative economy.

Building on previous Think Green discussions, academic research and successful local case studies, we are bringing together at the Town House, businesses, academics, policy makers, students and residents to show the triple positive impact of shifting to a circular economy: on businesses, the consumers and the planet. The Earth’s resources are limited, the population is growing and commodity prices have increased considerably over the last 20 years. The environmental and financial costs of disposing of waste are substantial. 

The solution is to move from our linear ‘take-make-dispose’ economic model, to a circular economy. An economy where waste is eliminated; a zero-waste, regenerative economy. 

Themes

A. Innovative Partnerships: KU Academics and Businesses Advancing Circular Economy through Research (open to university staff and students only)

B. Circular Innovation Exhibition - 13:00 - 18:00 (open to everyone including residents and local schools)

  • Construction materials
  • Electronics and electrical equipment
  • Fashion/garments
  • Food & single use of cups and containers
  • Furniture
  • Cosmetics/Toiletries including containers.

Exhibitors can be found at the end of the programme.

B. Developing Kingston’s Circular Economy: A roadmap for the local communities - 13:30 - 18:00 (open to everyone including residents and local schools)

  • 13:30- 13:40 - Welcome by Dr Martin Davies, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Kingston University & Councillor Ian Manders, Portfolio Holder for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Planning Policy, Kingston Council
  • 13:40 - 13:50 - Keynote, Regenerative Economy: Business perspective. Matthew Johnson, Account Manager Lead - First Mile
  • 13:50 - 14:00 - The Principles of Circular Economy, Samira Gomes, Senior Venture Associate - Sustainable Ventures
  • 14:00 - 14:05 - Recap from the morning session, Dr Smirti Kutaula, Ass. Prof. in Human Resource Management - Kingston University Business School
  • 14:05 - 14:35 - Group Discussion on Kingston’s opportunities to transition to a circular economy and next steps - Facilitated by Amanda Baker, Kingston University
  • 14:35 - 14:50 - Feedback to the Plenary from Group Discussions
  • 14:50 - 15:35 - Coffee break and networking in the exhibition area
  • 15.35 - 15:40 - Consolidation of feedback from the Group Discussions - Forbes Low, CEO, Kingston Chamber
  • 15:40 - 16.30 - Panel Discussion: Turning Kingston’s economy into a circular economy. Panellists: Susan Randall, Sustainable Solutions Advisor, rype office; Nishant Parekh, Founder, KAPDAA; Prof Vasileios Argyriou, Kingston University; Dean Carran, Founder, JNDC; Samira Gomes, Senior Venture Associate - Sustainable Ventures. Facilitator: Matthew Essex, Place Director, Kingston Council
  • 16.30 - 16.45 - Two minutes pitches by participants (Students and KU staff). Facilitator: Dr Sahand Hosouli, Senior Lecturer in Renewable Energy, Kingston University. Pitches by: Souri Batebi: Redesign football boots specifically for female players; Sohag Ahmed: Circular Fashion Initiative; Martin Agyemang: Competencies in charitable circular supply chains; Dipanshu Rupeshkumar: Rooftop solar panel cleaning with drones; Manzeela Chowdhury: Optimizing Work Arrangements Using Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM): A Focus on Environmental Sustainability and CO2 Reduction; Nima Roumianfar: Development and Utilization of a Test Bench for Thermochemical Heat Storage Material Testing; Rania Asma Hassani: Application of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model for solar plant location selection; Mastaneh Hosseinzadeh: Optimizing Energy Efficiency in Steel Plants through Pinch Analysis: A Case Study on Heat Recovery and Utility Reduction.
  • 16:45 - 16:55 - Closing Remarks, Forbes Low, CEO, Kingston Chamber of Commerce and Mansoure Aliakbari, a student at Kingston University
  • 16:55 - 18:00 - Drinks (sponsored by Kingston University) and networking in the exhibition area including 2 minutes pitches by participants from 17:15 - 17:30. Facilitator: Dr Sahand Hosouli, Senior Lecturer in Renewable Energy, Kingston University.

Book your free tickets on Eventbrite

Business exhibitors:

ALDStone: ALDStone is a multi-award-winning London based company. They supply a revolutionary, reusable dry fit flooring underlay product which transforms flooring installation and deconstruction. They proudly support the circular economy and sustainability initiatives within the flooring sector.

Genuine Solutions: We are multi-award-winning experts in the recovery and distribution of mobile technology. Reducing the impact that wasteful mobile technology has on planet earth by providing ethical and sustainable choices in recovery and distribution.

Just Clear: Sustainable Clearance Service.

KAPDAA: KAPDAA is a local sustainable company developing an Ai solution for unusable garments which helps local recycling in the UK and stops them from going to landfill or shipped to other countries.

Kingston Council: Waste Reduction' is one of the key actions in Kingston's Climate Action Plan. We have been developing a number of initiatives and campaigns to help Kingston's residents reduce their waste and adopt more circular behaviour.

Limetrack: A pioneering food waste technology start-up, utilises data on food waste deposits to combat food loss and waste. Our SMART IoT-connected wheelie bins collect data effortlessly, helping businesses cut costs, achieve net-zero goals, and minimise food waste.

Real Nappies for London, Wen (Women's Environmental Network): A charity focused on the connections between women, health, equity, and environmental justice. Promoting sustainable solutions to help reduce waste and support families in making healthier choices.

Rype Office: Rype Office supplies high quality, circular economy, furniture remanufactured to as new condition with an 80% reduction in embodied emissions and waste and at lower cost than new furniture.

Save The World Club: Save The World Club's mission is to promote positive environmental action and self-empowerment for local people via surplus food support, re-use of quality second-hand items and local mosaic making.

Surbiton Windows: Distribution and installation of the world's highest-insulating, soundproofing, longest-lasting and most-recyclable glazing from OKNOW VIG.

Team Repair: Team Repair is on a mission to tackle the electronic waste crisis by instilling a repair mindset into the next generation. We enable schools to teach the skill of repair with our circular, curriculum-aligned programme.

Transition Town Kingston: Helping to raise awareness of the climate crisis and encourage the transition to a sustainable low-carbon future. We work to educate about the climate crisis; encourage sustainable consumption: share ideas, skills, information and news.

weekly.shop: We sell your weekly groceries, 100% zero waste.

Your Green Energy Queen: Sourcing green energy supplies for businesses - often cheaper than brown. Solar, EV charging units, air source heat pumps. Free quotes and advice. Recruit others wishing to assist in their spare time.

Exhibitors from Kingston University:

Zoe Almazan - Phosphorescence roads 

Cathy Gale - Tomorrow's News Today: a Future Newspaper for the Eco-Social Imaginary

Mansoureh Aliakbari - Barriers to solar panel and heat pump installation and marketing strategies to overcome: a case study in Kingston Upon Thames.

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