Arup, one of the world’s leading design and engineering firms, has been announced as the Ellen MacArthurFoundation’s Knowledge Partner for the Built Environment, at the Foundation’s 2016 CE100 Annual Summit today in London.
Arup has been a member of the CE100 network for two years, and is already working on opportunities to embed circular economy principles in the built environment. The firm’s strong relationships with governments, cities and corporates position it well to provide leadership across the sector.
Arup and the Foundation will be working together to analyse and develop circular economy principles as they apply to four priority areas: cities, transport, energy and water.
Since 2007, more than half of the world’s population live in urban areas and this figure is forecast to rise to 60% by 2030[i], whilst at the same time a huge growth in middle class population is expected. Combined, these trends mean that the need to put a circular framework around urban development is more critical than ever before. We are excited to forge this new partnership with Arup to help drive a major shift in mind-set and behaviour across the built environment sector.
At Arup, across all our professional disciplines, our focus is on the positive change design can make. We believe that existing practices regarding the materials, energy and waste produced cannot be sustained. As designers of some of the world’s most enduring buildings and infrastructure we know that leadership is needed to change the way we commission, procure, construct and operate the built environment. It is our intention that working together with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation we can lead our industry toward a more circular economy.
Arup is already collaborating on the CE100’s Built Environment Business Models project. This work evaluates the impact of the circular economy on the built environment, and aims to define how clients and suppliers across the industry can rethink and remodel their value chains.
Stephanie Hubold, Government & Cities Programme Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation explained their goals for the partnership. “This knowledge collaboration will allow us to develop a comprehensive research programme in support of circular construction, an important part of the Foundation’s Circular Cities programme. It will also allow us to work together on joint initiatives and projects that will engage other stakeholders in rethinking the future of living and working in cities.”
[i] United Nations Habitat Ref. http://unhabitat.org/united-nations-adopts-sdgs-cities-in-greater-focus/
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