Ecobuild has announced a new Build Circular theatre for this year’s event, which takes place from 7-9 March at ExCeL in London.

Complementing the show’s Redefining Sustainability campaign, the dedicated area will discuss how we respond to the challenges of designing sustainable environments and look at all the ingredients for success from policies to design, delivery and infrastructure.

The Build Circular theatre will host an array of senior industry leaders, policy makers, academics, engineers, architects and scientists. Together they will look to amplify practical and viable opportunities for transitioning to a resource efficient economy that reduces resource dependency and waste. Keynote speakers include: Professor Rob Holdway, director at Giraffe Innovation and Brunel University School of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences; Laura Sandys, chair of European Movement UK; Julia Barrett, director of Sustainable Development at Willmott Dixon; Professor Margaret Bates, president CIWM – Chartered Institution of Wastes Management; and Mat Roberts, group director of Sustainability Strategy, Interserve PLC.

Day one, which is sponsored by BSI, will see representatives from leading circular-thinking businesses including: the Renewable Energy Association, Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, Interface, Arup, PWC and the Building Research Establishment take to the stage.

Sessions on this day will range from resource and renewables in a post-Brexit economy, to activating circular business models, addressing climate change and reviewing the Government’s latest reports around sustainability that encourages better resource productivity throughout the life cycle of the built environment. David Fatscher, head of Market Development at BSI will also be leading a session on the new BS8001 framework; the world’s first business-orientated standard for implementing circular economy in organisations.

Day two will take a more collaborative approach to the circular discussion with several panels delving deeper into the role of the supply chain and the industry can bring products and materials into the process. This includes the issues that organisations need to consider to demonstrate genuine commitment to sustainable and ethical sourcing. Panellists throughout the day will include: Jane Thornback, sustainability policy advisor Construction Products Association (CPA); Dr. Robert Schmidt III, BArch, MSc, PhD; Dr Shamir Ghumra and Andrea Charlson, Sustainable Materials manager at High Speed Two (HS2).

For more information about the event visit: www.ecobuild.co.uk