Charlotte Davies, Senior Consultant – Resource Efficiency & Circularity at Beyondly, explains why future-proofing the circular economy doesn’t start with emerging technologies or system reform, but people.
When we talk about the future of the circular economy, conversations often focus on policy, infrastructure and investment. We discuss systems like Extended Producer Responsibility, deposit return schemes, digital product passports, and emerging recovery technologies.
I have no doubt these systems will play a vital role in shaping the future of our sector. But there is another challenge that receives far less attention: who will deliver this transition?
Like many people working in waste and resources, I did not grow up dreaming of a career in the sector. I wanted to work in an environmental role and make a positive impact, but being less proactive than most, I found my way into the sector through a friend’s recommendation.
In contrast, my brother actively searched for opportunities within the environmental sector, focusing on ‘energy’ and ‘renewables’ and now works in energy procurement.
I think our experiences reflect a far wider trend among many young professionals. People increasingly want careers in sustainability, where they can make a difference, but waste and resources are rarely the first sector that comes to mind, and as with me, people fall into it.
That presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
Purpose and impact matter more than ever
The good news is that the waste and resources sector offers exactly what many young professionals are looking for: the chance to create meaningful impact.
Across all industries, early career professionals are increasingly motivated by purpose. Salary and progression remain important, but many people also want to know that their work contributes to solving real-world challenges.
Environmental issues and climate change are high on the agenda for younger generations entering the workforce. Few sectors offer such a direct connection between daily work and positive environmental outcomes.
From improving local resource efficiency and recycling processes to supporting circular business models and AI-driven recovery systems, the work has a tangible, visible impact.
Every tonne diverted from landfill, item reused, repair scheme introduced, and circular model implemented contributes to a more sustainable future. For a generation increasingly seeking purpose in their careers, that is a compelling proposition.
Another shift that cannot be ignored is the growing importance of organisational purpose. Increasingly, people want to work for organisations that stand for something beyond profit alone. A recent Deloitte study found that:
- 89% of Gen Z respondents said a sense of purpose is important to their job satisfaction and wellbeing.
- 47% of Gen Zs and 49% of millennials have left a job because it lacked purpose or didn’t align with their values
This is reflected in the growing interest in initiatives, such as B Corp certification, employee volunteering programmes, and community investment projects. Interestingly, many circular economy initiatives naturally align with these values. While reuse hubs, repair centres and social enterprises can create jobs, support local communities and reduce waste.
The circular economy is not just about managing materials differently. It is about creating value in ways that benefit people, communities and the environment. For younger professionals, that broader sense of purpose is often a significant attraction.
An industry that continues to evolve
There is also a perception challenge that the sector must overcome. For many people outside the industry, waste management remains associated with traditional collection and disposal activities. While these functions remain essential, they represent only part of a much broader and increasingly dynamic sector.
Today’s waste and resources industry is evolving rapidly. Digitalisation, AI, data analytics, resource recovery, carbon reporting, producer responsibility, and circular economy strategies are creating entirely new career pathways.
Organisations are diversifying their services and expanding their expertise far beyond traditional waste management. This evolution is helping to create opportunities for people with a wider range of backgrounds and skill sets.
Importantly, it is also creating workplaces where people want to stay. Major employers, such as Biffa and Veolia, have recently been recognised in national workplace rankings by the Sunday Times, demonstrating the sector’s growing focus on employee wellbeing, development and workplace culture.
While attracting talent remains important, retaining it is equally critical. Many people who enter the sector discover opportunities they never expected and build long, rewarding careers.
The AI worry
Of course, no discussion about the future workforce would be complete without mentioning artificial intelligence. Concerns about AI replacing jobs are becoming increasingly common across almost every sector.
It is a conversation that many early-career professionals are having as they consider their long-term career prospects. The waste and resources sector provides a useful example of how technology can enhance rather than replace careers.
AI-enabled sorting systems, improved data analysis and digital resource tracking are changing how the industry operates, but they are also creating demand for new skills. As the sector evolves, the challenge will be ensuring today’s workforce is equipped to work alongside emerging technologies rather than compete against them.
Raising awareness of the opportunity
Perhaps the biggest challenge is not attracting people once they discover the sector. It is ensuring they know it exists in the first place. Many students, graduates or incoming professionals are aware of careers in sustainability, renewable energy and conservation.
Far fewer understand the breadth of opportunities available within waste, resources and circular economy roles. If we want to future-proof the sector, we need to do a better job of showcasing the opportunities available and the impact these careers can have.
This means stronger engagement with schools, colleges and universities. It means promoting apprenticeships and graduate pathways; it means highlighting success stories and providing visible role models for the next generation; most importantly, it means changing perceptions.
As my term as CIWM Early Careers President comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on the fact that I rarely entered this sector at all. Had a friend not pointed me in the right direction, I may never have discovered the opportunities it offers.
The future challenge is not simply attracting people into the sector; it is ensuring they know the sector exists in the first place and the ever-more exciting opportunities it offers.
The circular economy will undoubtedly require new policies, investment and technologies. But ultimately, its success will depend on the people who design the systems, engage communities, develop solutions and drive change.
If we want to future-proof the circular economy, we must future-proof the workforce and the businesses that employ them.