The Circular Economy Institute and CIWM have announced that Mary Creagh, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will participate in this flagship global event in May as the UK government vows to support the nation’s transition to a circular economy.
Mary Creagh, the government Minister for Nature, will give a keynote presentation at the Festival of Circular Economy reaffirming the UK Government’s commitment to developing a more sustainable economy and providing an update on the Circular Economy Taskforce, an independent expert advisory group established in November 2024 to support the government in creating a circular economy strategy for England.
The minister will be joined by members of the Circular Economy Taskforce for a ‘fireside chat’, discussing the opportunities and challenges presented by transitioning from traditional commercial and economic models. Featuring Dr David Greenfield, Vice President of the Circular Economy Institute and an active member of the Circular Economy Taskforce, the session will also explore how the strategy seeks to break down barriers, drive innovation and support businesses in the transition to a circular economy.
Returning for 2025, the Festival of Circular Economy will bring together the sharpest minds and brightest ideas from across the globe for one of the leading circular economy events. For the first time, the event will feature an in-person day, hosted at Second Home Spitalfields in London on 22 May, in addition to two days of online content.
“It is great to see such strong governmental support for this year’s Festival of Circular Economy, an event which provides a crucial platform for knowledge sharing, innovation and collaboration,” said Dr David Greenfield from the Circular Economy Institute. “By combining diverse perspectives from some of the leading experts in the field, we can accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future.”
Taking place on 20-22 May 2025, the event is set to be an immersive experience, blending virtual and in-person activities facilitated by global leaders across the circular economy, sustainability, environment and waste management sectors. With a focus on the role of design in advancing progress towards a more circular economy, this year’s Festival brings together industry experts, innovators, entrepreneurs and academics to explore advancements in circular economy practices across a range of sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge and insights from leading organisations, including the Design Council, University College London (UCL), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Innovate UK, Defra, BRE, SUEZ, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and the University of Sussex.
Defra’s strong commitment to developing the circular economy and reducing waste was reiterated by Secretary of State Steve Reed MP at last week’s Circular Economy Moment event in London, attended by representatives from CIWM and the Circular Economy Institute.
