Current carbon emissions from food drink and other products bought by residents and visitors to Cumbria are estimated to be more than 2 MtCO2 equivalent, these emissions need to be reduced by more than 70% by 2037.
* Figure excludes cars. [Figures sourced from updated carbon baseline]
Under-pinned by data from Cumbria’s Carbon Baseline Report, the Consumption, Waste and Circular Economy sector group has been formed to create and steer Emissions Reduction Action Plans, in order to achieve Cumbria’s ambition of becoming carbon net-zero by 2037.
As with wider society, here in Cumbria we buy, consume and discard goods in a largely linear way.
So for instance whether this is food, clothes, electricals or furniture, resources are extracted, produced, supplied, consumed, and then often simply disposed of as waste. However all this activity hugely increases our carbon footprint.
Major challenges creating significant waste include disposable products designed and used for only a very short amount of time, food which is never eaten, products which can’t be repaired, materials which can’t be recycled, and excess packaging.
To rapidly cut emissions, we’ll need to move away from our current linear economic model, and adopt a far more circular approach which keeps materials in use for as long as possible.
A circular economy emphasises reusing, repairing, and recycling materials to create a closed-loop system, where our finite resources are used far more efficiently and effectively, and any waste generation is minimised.
Meeting this huge challenge will require strong top-down leadership from government and businesses, pursuing ambitious policies to significantly reduce waste. This will need to combine with shift changes across society in our consumer behaviour towards consumption and waste.
There are many positive benefits of transitioning to a circular economy. As well as cutting waste and emissions, it can also help to save us money, conserve natural resources, protect the environment, increase food security, and improve public health.
Moving to an economic model based on repair and reuse can also stimulate skills training and job growth, creating new economic opportunities for individuals and businesses. There is great potential to innovate in how we design, use, repair and recycle products, minimising any waste generated and the environmental consequences.
As home to around 500,000 people and with an extra 47 million tourists annually, Cumbria faces a significant challenge in addressing emissions resulting from consumption and waste. This update sheds light on the ongoing efforts within the Consumption, Waste, and Circular Economy sector and their progress towards developing their
As home to around 500,000 people and with an extra 47 million tourists annually, Cumbria faces a significant challenge in addressing emissions resulting from consumption and waste. This update
This area takes into account all Cumbrian residents’ household emissions from goods and services bought and used. Including food, packaging and recreational activities.
This area looks at the consumption of those visiting Cumbria. This scope includes goods and services bought and used, food and recreational activities.
This area of scope examines the options for preventing and reducing waste. Including; reusing, repairing, recycling and the treatment of waste.
Including the circular econonomy and supply chain.
It’s recycle week! And the perfect time to flag up some of the services here in Cumbria that will support your recycling needs – reducing the rubbish in landfill, reusing vital resources and lowering our carbon footprint. The theme this year is all about those items that you may not
Half the UK’s food is imported from overseas – and worsening climate events, such as extreme heat, wildfire, and flooding, threaten our food security. International Food Waste and Loss day highlights the importance of cutting food waste and loss at an international scale. Nearly 30% of the world’s agricultural
As an example of a community focused, climate aware business The Rebuild Site has lots to offer. It was a recent recipient of the one of Cumbria Action for Sustainability Community Climate Grants – and is a finalist in this years (2023) ECO-I NW awards, as ‘most promising new business’.
This year’s Youth Climate Summit was held in Kendal. At the summit the young people were asked about barriers and solutions for each sector group area. Watch their thoughts on ‘consumption, waste and the circular economy’ below. ‘
To tackle Cumbria’s ambitious target of reaching net-zero by 2037, the Consumption, Waste and the Circular Economy sector group plays an integral role.
To help achieve this, some suggested Priority Emission Reduction Actions (PERAs) have been identified, based on extensive research across a broad evidence base ranging from IPCC and UK Government reports to emissions data from Cumbria’s carbon baseline report.
These PERAs offer a key starting point from which the Consumption, Waste and the Circular Economy sector group can develop detailed Emissions Reduction Action Plans leading to rapid countywide action.
The suggested PERA’s for the Consumption, Waste and the Circular Economy sector group are focussed on the following areas:
