Calls for the delayed Circular Economy Strategy

The Circular Economy Strategy originally expected last October, at the end of 2025, was indicated as being pushed back until early 2026 and called the Circular Economy Growth Plan has as yet not been published.

Based on the work of the Circular Economy Taskforce which was established in December 2024 to design the first framework for England’s transition to a circular economy, it is expected to follow the five priority sectors where circular principles could deliver the most significant environmental and economic gains including; Textiles, Transport, Construction, Agri-food, Chemicals and plastics.

Chaired by Andrew Morlet, former Chief Executive of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the taskforce has spent the last year engaging with industry, local authorities and environmental groups to develop sector-specific “roadmaps” for reforming material use and supply chains. Each roadmap will include specific actions, timelines, and policy recommendations to drive circularity within the sector.

On 6 May, 2026 over 50 leading businesses, trade associations and professional bodies, including CIAT, Arup, UKGBC and the Society for the Environment, wrote an open letter to key Cabinet Ministers calling on the Government to publish the delayed Strategy. Coordinated by Green Alliance, voices from across the UK have warned that ongoing delays to the Strategy will “harm momentum towards a more resilient, resource efficient economy”. The letter states:

"Dear Secretary of State,

CC Department of Business and Trade, Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, Department for Transport, His Majesty’s Treasury and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

As businesses, trade associations, multi-stakeholder partnerships and professional bodies, we strongly support the government’s intention to create a more circular economy. We see the value of such approaches in our own operations and support steps to expand reuse, repair and more efficient use of materials.

With the right direction and support, this approach will have huge advantages for the UK: it will increase resilience, boost productivity and support new commercial opportunities across the economy. Importantly, at a time when cost of living pressures are high and growing, it will offer consumers more affordable options.

As such, we are concerned at the ongoing delay to the government’s promised Circular Economy Growth Plan and are worried that this will harm momentum towards a more resilient, resource efficient economy. We are keen that the plan is published as soon as possible.

A clear and ambitious signal from the government will give us and other businesses the confidence to invest further, scale up what is already working and accelerate a circular economy transition across our operations.

We look forward to supporting the government in delivering this strategy.

Yours faithfully"

It is key to unlocking policy and regulatory reform, which can enable widespread reuse of materials and components, lowering embodied carbon and helping to achieve a net zero built environment.

The full letter can be read on the Green Alliance website here.

This article is based on the CIAT news item "CIAT backs calls for Circular Economy Strategy" dated 6 May, 2026.

--CIAT

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