The Infrastructure Podcast: Episode 58

Guest:  John Twitchen, founder, Stuff4Life

Circular thinking

Today we are talking once again about building circular economies and in particular the role and challenge facing the infrastructure sector as it tackles this issue as part of the journey towards a net zero carbon emission future. 

My guest today has just been nominated for the prestigious Earthshot Prize – a prize launched by Prince William in 2020 to search for and scale the most innovative solutions to the world’s greatest environmental challenges.

John Twitchen is the founder of Stuff4Life, and has been nominated for his innovative work to tackle and reuse the vast amounts of waste polyester clothing that is typically burnt, landfilled or abandoned each year all around the world………..

Which is interesting but what’s that got to do with infrastructure? 

Well regular listeners will know that last July I talked to sustainability champion Mark Enzer on the podcast about many of the core concepts that inform the built environment’s transition to a circular economy. Do check that out.

And as we discussed then, there are many definitions of circularity but one is about enabling people and nature to live and grow within our planet’s capacity to provide resources and handle waste.

That means getting the greatest possible value from materials, products, assets and systems already in use in the built environment. 

Which is a definition that certainly works for me today.  Stuff4Lifehas developed a new technique to deconstruct and recycle existing polyester clothes - such as those typically used to make the ubiquitous hi-viz workwear issued and discarded in construction sites – and he is now working to create a new range of work wear that is designed with reuse in mind - and is already being seen on railways and construction sites across the UK.

As his business mantra puts it, John is certainly living in a world of circular action not just words.

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