Inspired by approaches adopted by other cities around the world, we've chosen to focus on the following 5 approaches to help deliver our vision and prioritise actions and opportunities over the coming 13 years.
- Changing the approach to design to embed circularity and change behaviour
- Extending product life through systems across the city
- Exploring new business models
- Treating waste as a resource
- The use of resources will prioritise social, environmental and economic value
1. Changing the approach to design
The way products, infrastructure and services are designed impacts their entire lifecycle.
Therefore, if the focus shifts to one that uses new sustainable materials; reduces the use of materials; remanufactures during use; disassembly at end of life; and recycling as a last resort, there will be less damage done to the environment.
In 2019 a Sussex University graduate designed MarinaTex – a home compostable alternative to plastic film and created from fish waste and algae.
The creator of MarinaTex has won international awards and has spoken at a
UN panel on the potential for designing out plastic.
"Create a Circular Economy Framework, incorporating Sustainable Development Goals, to 2035, for priority sectors, for the Brighton & Hove City Region"
- Brighton & Hove Economic Strategy 2018 to 2023
2. Extending product life
Good product design promotes reuse, sharing, redistributing, donating, repairing, and remanufacturing. Recycled goods shops, repair and redistribution projects, community tool banks (tool lending), apps for sharing food, and resource sharing projects and businesses are all examples of organisations and initiatives supporting extending resource, material and product life.
We are working in partnership with Tech-Takeback and The ZeroNet to extend the product life of electricals within the city.
The RevaluElectricals service is for residents and small businesses and collects from the doorstep, via an app, end of life electricals for data erasure, refurbishment, and reuse with local charities and digitally excluded families.
We are also supporting thriving community reuse and repair projects across the city through the council’s community grants programme and supporting them in building their capacity and reach.
3. Exploring new business models
Instead of the traditional consumption model of purchasing items, goods or capital, a move to offering products as a service, renting products, sharing, re-selling, or leasing could be better financially and environmentally over the longer term.
This is because it allows customers to purchase a desired result rather than the equipment that delivers that result.
For example, Brighton & Hove’s BTN BikeShare provides users with the chance to pay for the miles cycled and not the bike itself.
4. Treating waste as a resource
Using waste products of any kind as a source for a new product, saving waste from landfill, incineration, and closing the loop.
The Brighton Waste House is Europe’s first permanent public building made from 90% post construction waste (University of Brighton, 2013).
It was designed by Duncan Baker Brown, Senior Lecturer, School of Architecture and Design, University of Brighton with materials sourced via Freegle.
Over 50 tonnes of waste that were destined for landfill have been used to build the university’s headquarters for ongoing sustainable design research, while doubling up as a public exhibition and workshop space for green-themed events.
5. The use of resources will prioritise social, environmental and economic value
We will prioritise the use of resources and products that are renewable, do not contain any hazardous chemicals, are biodegradable, or have minimal packaging.
Wind farms, green roofs, local and organic farms, community gardens, restaurants who compost and serve seasonal, local foods provide a range of examples where social and environmental value is prioritised already within Brighton & Hove.
The Real Junk Food Project and Brighton & Hove Food Partnership are proving how approaches to food waste reduction within the city can result in multiple benefits for the community.