The UK’s creative industries are a major industrial sector, employing more than two million people and growing at roughly twice the rate of the economy as a whole. Given this size, it has a large environmental footprint, and whether it is designer fashion, music festivals or film production there are increasing concerns as to how the industry is contributing to global problems such as plastic waste.

Many in the creative industries have already shown strong awareness and leadership on environmental issues, and there now exists significant best practice in tackling and reducing the problem of single-use plastics.

This event, hosted by the UK Circular Plastics Network and Julie's Bicycle, will showcase the innovations taking place, and the opportunities for creative businesses to better reduce and reuse plastics materials, and to incorporate circular economy design into their strategies and processes.

Speakers include:

· Erica Purvis, Sustainable Design Coach and engineer with Technical Nature
· Alexandra Garcia, Sustainability Strategy Manager at Globe Chain
· Greg Van Duin, Senior Facilities and Operations Manager at Somerset House
· Vicky Chapman, Head of Sustainability at Festival Republic discussing the Circular Festivals project
· Brad Owen, Head of Commercial at Horniman Museum
· Sally Beken, Innovation Lead in the Advanced Materials team at Innovate UK
· Gareth Dinnage, Managing Director at Seacourt
· Adele Orcajada, Partner at MaterialDriven
· Josie de Metz Lydon, Strategic Partnerships Manager at First Mile

Programme

1pm: Registration & refreshments (plus pre-booked clinics)
1.30pm: Welcome & intro – Julie’s Bicycle
1.35pm: Opening industry provocation around plastics and circularity - Sally Beken
1.45pm: Case study panel - Vikki Chapman from Festival Republic on circular festivals, Greg Van Duin from Somerset House, Alexandra Garcia from Globechain, Brad Owen from Horniman Museum, chaired by Erica Purvis
2.30pm: Break (plus pre-booked clinics)
3pm: Breakout groups
4.35pm: Investment opportunities - Tom Campbell
4.45pm: Introducing Julie's Bicycle’s circularity + plastics briefings
4:50pm: Wrap up and summary
5pm: Networking drinks

Privacy note: This event is being jointly organised by UKCPN and Julie's Bicycle. In order to register for the event, both organisations will process your contact data where relevant for the purpose of participant management.

Arboretum Members: Please note that if you are an Arboretum Member you are expressing an interest to attend this event only. If you are selected to attend you will be informed direct from the organisers, so please do not book any travel until you receive your formal confirmation email.

In the Loop: Circular Innovation and Plastic Waste in the Creative Industries