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Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Mineral-based Construction Materials

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ICEC-MCM showcases research impact at final NICER Circular Economy showcase

13 January 2025

The UKRI Circular Economy Centre for Mineral-based Construction Materials showcased its research and impact at the third and final NICER Circular Economy Showcase at Church House, Westminster.

NICER showcase 2024

 

Along with colleagues from five Circular Economy Research Centres, the showcase brought together academics, policy representatives and industrial partners from across the NICER Programme, as well as engaged members of the wider circular economy community, both nationally and internationally. 

ICEC-MCM displayed a range of projects from our researchers across our 3 challenges areas. Professor Steggeman chaired a panel, Creating the Evidence Base: Circular Business Models and Data-Driven Decision Making, featuring colleague and collaborator Dr Jacob Mhlanga from Loughborough University, who next year will begin a placement at Saint Gobain.  

Professor Julia Stegemann, Director of the ICEC-MCM, said the final showcase represented a significant milestone in advancing sustainability across the built environment by bringing together academia and industry to focus on the issues that matter.  

“The prolific research output from our Centre is driving real change, demonstrating how a circular economy can reduce waste, optimise resource use, and create sustainable, resilient infrastructure. This showcase highlights our collective progress in pushing the circular economy agenda forward in the UK, turning theory into practical solutions that will benefit industries and communities alike." 

Professor Leon Black, Professor of Infrastructure Materials at University of Leeds, said: 

"It was a pleasure to showcase our work at the final NICER showcase, marking a pivotal moment for advancing technical solutions in circular construction materials. Our Centre's research has made significant strides in developing sustainable alternatives that not only reduce waste but also enhance the performance of infrastructure materials. These innovations can transform the way we build, paving the way for a future where sustainable construction is both practical and scalable, benefiting the environment and the entire building industry." 

With £30 million investment over four years, the NICER Programme has been driving the UK towards a circular economy and has been at the forefront of research, innovation, and building the evidence base for a resilient circular economy in the UK. 

Professor Mohamed Osmani, Professor of Sustainable Design and Construction at Loughborough University, said:  

"Design plays a critical role in sustainable construction practices and is integral in the shift to the Circular Economy (CE). Around 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined at the design stage. The design stage is at the heart of reducing waste and maximising resource efficiency. Additionally, design can inspire more conscious circular behaviour across the construction value chain to drive a wider CE system transition. Equally important are the public-private partnerships and multidisciplinary collaborations among the actors of university-industry-government triple helix that drive innovation and generate proofs of CE value. Cumulatively, these elements are essential for creating a truly circular built environment that is not only sustainable but also adaptable to future needs." 

The Circular Economy Showcase has been the annual flagship conference for the NICER Programme celebrating the achievements and sharing the lessons learned from the past four years as well as engaging in discussion about the ongoing challenges, future collaboration and how to take the ideas and solutions forward.