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ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûInstitute for Sustainable Resources

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Sustainable, circular, resource-efficient economies and societies

Our research aims to develop the evidence base and analytical capability to enable systemic change towards resource efficiency and the circular economy.

Mountain sloping down to a lake
We produceÌýresearch and train our studentsÌýto tackle current challenges of resource depletion and ecosystem and social stress associated with systems of production and consumption.ÌýThe societal transformation required to transition from current patterns of resource use needs to address the interconnected dimensions of global supply chain, global resource trade, models of consumption, land use, systems of innovation and individual behaviour all shaped by policy frameworks and interventions. The UCLÌýInstitute for Sustainable ResourcesÌýaims to develop the evidence base and analytical capability to enable systemic change towards resource efficiency and the circular economy.

To maximise the impact of our activities, theÌýÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûInstitute for Sustainable ResourcesÌýengages with leading scholars and other stakeholders to produce internationally leading research in the areas of resource efficiency and the Circular Economy. Academics from the ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûInstitute for Sustainable ResourcesÌýhave engaged in the TC323 to develop the new family of ISO standards in the Circular Economy, are members of the World Resources Panel and are part of three of the UKRI Circular Economy Centres.

Jump to: ¸é±ð²õ±ð²¹°ù³¦³óÌý²¹°ù±ð²¹²õÌý| Research stories ´¥Ìý¸é±ð³¦±ð²Ô³ÙÌý±Ê°ù´ÇÂá±ð³¦³Ù²õ | ±õ²ÔÌý³Ù±ð²¹³¦³ó¾±²Ô²µÌý´¥ ResearchersÌý


Research areas

Our research and teaching agendas are solution oriented and work across the following core interrelated areas:

  • Developing modelling capability to map and understand global flows of resources and assess the impact of policies and interventions towards sustainability
  • Identifying policy mixes and areas of policy experimentation and innovation, including assessing the impact of policy interventions for the transition to sustainable, circular and resource-efficient economies and societies based empirically grounded policy analysis approaches
  • Analyse complex supply chain and leverage points towards more sustainable resource use
  • Engaging and fostering transdisciplinary collaboration to advance knowledge in the area of sustainable societal transitions
  • Exploring the role of new business models and systems of innovation towards resource efficiency and circularity
  • Transforming societies and individual behaviours towards resource efficiency and the circular economyÌý

Research stories

Read on the ReLondon website the report 'London’s fashion footprint: An analysis of material flows, consumption-based emissions, and levers for climate action'. The recently released London's fashion footprint maps the flows of fashion textiles throughout Greater London’s from a whole fashion supply chain perspective, identifying where the main carbon and waste hotspots occur and highlighting leverage areas for the city to tackle its fashion-related consumption emissions. The report is based on the environmental modelling led by Dr Teresa Domenech from the ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûInstitute for Sustainable Resources.

Image of steel being used in industry

Remaking steel for a net zero carbon circular economy

Climate action’s goal to deliver net-zero emissions will require joined-up thinking across different parts of the economy and society. The circular economy is a key opportunity to reduce carbon emissions through transforming industry. Steel is widely used in key sectors and has unique properties of durability and recyclability. In this article our researchers explore the possibilities for steel in a net zero cirular economy. 

The concept of a Circular Economy was in its infancy a decade ago, now it's regarded as a core aspect of a sustainable future. Discover our involvement in this research area over the last ten years, outlined by Associate Professor Teresa Domenech.

Photo of plastic waste

Vision for the future of plastics – policy brief

We rely on plastics for our everyday lives. Decarbonizing the plastic sector is possible but can only be achieved if we stop throwing them away or incinerating them and move towards a circular economy of plastics. In this policy brief, researchers from the  outline a Vision for the Future of Plastics.

Research projects

  • UKRI Circular Metals Centre - .
  • UKRI Circular Textiles Centre -ÌýLondon’s Fashion Textile Footprint - .
  • UKRI Construction Minerals Circular Economy Centre - access the external webpage.

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Sustainable, circular, resource-efficient economies and societiesÌýin teaching

Our MSc Programmes aim to educate the next generation of thought and business leaders to address the net zero and circular economy transition.

Sustainable Resources: Economics, Policy and Transitions MScÌý

The Sustainable Resources: Economics, Policy and Transitions MSc, provides a comprehensive overview of main analytical tools, the economic foundations and policy mixes for the transition towards the Circular Economy. As part of the programme the students will get familiarised with circularity assessment tools, circular economy business models, challenges and drivers for the management of the transition towards circularity and will reflect on the system changes required to create a system which is regenerative and aims to maintain circular flows of resources across different economic sectors.

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Doctoral research (PhD)

Our PhD students conduct cutting edge research in the areas of resource management, critical materials for batteries and the net zero transition, circular economy new business models and other aspects of the circular transition.Ìý

Current PhD students:

  • Haoning LiÌý- 'Sustainable Critical Materials for Batteries in China.'
  • Zijie Ma - 'Macro economic modelling of Steel with material flow extension.'Ìý
  • - 'Circular Economy New Business Models.'

Recently completed PhDs:

  • Lilia Caiado Coelho Beltrão CoutoÌý-Ìý'Socioeconomic Impacts of Long-Term Renewable Electricity Generation: a multi-regional analysis for Brazil.'
  • Victor NechiforÌý-Ìý'Modelling freshwater resources use and the economic impacts of demand-driven water scarcity.'
  • Metin Piskin - 'Regional Input Output analysis of construction Minerals.'

Researchers

Teresa DomenechÌý
Associate Professor
t.domenech@ucl.ac.uk

Alvaro CalzadillaÌý
Associate Professor
a.calzadilla@ucl.ac.uk

Matthew Winning
Senior Research Fellow
m.winning@ucl.ac.uk

etin PiskinÌý
Research Fellow
m.piskin@ucl.ac.uk