Due to trends in sustainability and carbon reduction, IT giants in the electrical and electronic industries have demonstrated their corporate social responsibilities by raising sustainable goals to the status of strategic priorities. Circularity is becoming a key source of innovation for businesses in the electrical and electronics industries. The adoption of more circular and low-carbon emission materials is a growing trend in new product development.

This webinar of the month highlights the barriers for change in the transition to a circular economy, the perspective on recycling, life-cycle analysis in the design process, challenges for e-waste repair and recycling, and drivers for change in the complex industrial system.

SPEAKERS

Andrew Mullen, Beko PLC

Following an Honours degree in Electronic engineering, Andrew has spent nearly 35 years working for major brands in White Goods and Consumer Electronics. During that time, he has had responsibility for After sales, product Safety & regulatory compliance as well as New Product & technology development. For the last 17 years Andrew has worked for Beko PLC where he now works with the Sustainability and Quality Teams. This means working with R&D teams in the UK and in Turkey to ensure products are safe, durable as well integrating sustainability. Beko plc supplies appliances to 1 in 4 homes in the UK and distributes over 2.9 million products every year. Their largest brand is Beko, which is UK’s number 1 bestselling large home appliance brand.

Andreas Margo Reynolds, University of Exeter

Margo is a PhD researcher at the University of Exeter within the UKRI National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Hub. Her research seeks to determine how to effectively disseminate and govern metrics to enable businesses to successfully transition to circular business models that shift, create, and retain value. She is interested in regenerative economics and sustainable business practices. Margo moved from Australia in 2021 after completing a Masters in Sustainability at the University of Sydney.

Emma Burlow, Founder, Lighthouse Sustainability (Moderator)

Emma Burlow is the founder of Lighthouse Sustainability. She is one of the UK’s leading specialists on the circular economy and sustainability in businesses. She has worked with businesses on sustainability for 25 years. She has an excellent overview of how to manage large-scale projects, along with details of what drives individual businesses and, ultimately, sustainability outcomes. This experience gives Emma a unique depth of understanding of the critical success factors for implementing more circular business models, particularly the importance of understanding the financial model, establishing key partnerships, and understanding the marketplace. She works with established businesses to help them find a pragmatic, solid pathway through sustainability, carbon, and circularity, supports start-ups to disrupt conventional industries; and delivers bespoke training.