King Charles launched the nationwide circularity initiative for businesses at the Renew Hub in Greater Manchester.
Circularity in Practice is a voluntary initiative for businesses inspired by the King, with signatories including Tata Steel UK, SUEZ, and the British Chambers of Commerce.
Signatories pledge to embrace the circular practices of reuse, remanufacturing and recycling.
The initiative is aimed towards developers, contractors, manufacturers, construction companies, occupiers and landlords, designers and architects, waste management companies, professional bodies, and community groups.
Circularity in Practice says the first signatories will promote education, share best practice, encourage cross-sector collaboration, and spotlight commercially viable models.
SUEZ hosted the launch event for the initiative at the Renew Hub in Greater Manchester, the UK’s largest reuse and repair facility, which it operates on behalf of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
Since 2021, the Renew Hub has sold just under half a million items through the network in Greater Manchester and donated £1.6million raised through those sales to charity.
King Charles visited the hub as part of the launch event and toured the facility with John Scanlon, EVP UK for SUEZ.
The launch was also attended by over 150 business leaders who have since signed up to the Circularity in Practice pledge.
John Scanlon, Executive Vice President UK, SUEZ, said: “Driving resource efficiency to preserve Earth’s finite, natural resources is a core mission for SUEZ and a huge passion for me personally.”
“Our throw-away, linear economy is unsustainable, and the debate is now over as to why we need to increase the circularity of materials, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to discuss how we are addressing this challenge with His Majesty The King.”
Manchester mayor Andy Burnham recently criticised the Duchy of Lancaster, the King’s private estate, for what he called a failure to support the clean-up of a large-scale illegal waste site spread across land owned by the Duchy and Wigan Council.
