Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid brought together members, partners and businesses from a diverse range of sectors at Neath Port Talbot Group of Colleges’ Neath campus on 16 September for an inspiring event focused on celebrating innovative sustainable practices, how to introduce these practices into businesses and encouraging ways to think differently about sustainability.

Moving to a better economy for the planet

While the businesses participating in the event ranged in size and came from different sectors, they were all in agreement about the importance of moving away from the principle of being part of a linear economy and embracing changes that support a circular economy.

A linear economy is an economy in which finite resources are extracted to create products that are essentially thrown away once used and is sometimes referred to as the ‘take-make-waste’ economy. A circular economy model aims to protect and conserve resources through repair, maintenance, reuse and recycling. The move to a circular economy in Wales is supported by Welsh Government strategies as the nation targets achieving net zero by 2050.

What insights did the speakers share?

Mark Dacey, Chief Executive Officer of NPTC Group of Colleges, outlined the diverse ways in which the college was collaborating with the business community. Mark stressed the importance of identifying future skills gaps and upskilling opportunities in the green economy and the college’s role in delivering practical training and apprenticeships to meet these emerging needs.

With a clear focus on skills and training courses that benefit businesses, the college is involved in several net zero and skills projects including Skills Academy Wales, Net Zero Academy, Net Zero Skills, Drone Academy, Homes as Power Stations and Insulating Powys, and works with training providers and 19 of the 22 local authorities in Wales to deliver these services.

Marc Mears, from Chamber partner TSW Training, echoed the college’s attitude to skills and development. While the college predominantly prepares students to enter the workforce, TSW’s training courses support those currently in work and looking to lead on sustainability practices within their workplace. From environmental management certificates to courses on pathways to net zero and sustainability skills for both managers and the workforce, TSW highlighted how businesses can take simple steps to improve and incorporate sustainability practices into their strategies and visions.

Eoin Bailey from Celsa Steel UK encouraged attendees to think differently about the value of our available resources, as well as sharing how the circular economy is about mimicking natural systems and detailing the move from industrialising to digitalising processes. Celsa itself has moved away from traditional exporting practices for scrap steel and has become the UK’s largest scrap recycler, using 100% UK steel and turning it into material that can be used in new projects.

On a smaller scale, Simon Nurse from Capital Coated Steel spoke about the company biodiversity garden they have created to engage with employees about sustainability and the principles of the circular economy. The garden repurposes waste materials, supports local wildlife through bird boxes, feeders and bee hives, while also providing a space for the workforce to reconnect with the natural world and enrich their wellbeing. The project reinforces the belief that all businesses can make a difference, even if it begins as something small.

Small business founder Lisa Hicks who created SNOAP during lockdown proved that small innovative changes can lead to sustainability success. Shocked by the amount of single use plastic her family generated weekly, Lisa identified a gap in the market for solid soap dispensers as part of the solution to the plastic pollution problem before diversifying into other useful products.

From large scale projects to smaller CSR initiatives, and access to funding and training, businesses are successfully transitioning to a more circular economy. To achieve the common purpose of flourishing in the future by making meaningful change through action, the speakers and attendees agreed that not only was collaboration key, but also sharing ideas and best practice.