16 March 2026, Manchester, UK – Today, the Circularity in Practice initiative is launched, a new, nationwide, voluntary initiative inspired by His Majesty King Charles III, that brings businesses together to encourage circularity, designing out waste, focusing on reuse, high‑quality recycling, remanufacturing, and repurposing, where we live and work. From building materials, lighting, furniture, fixtures and fittings, to household goods and appliances, many discarded items could be reclaimed, reused, refurbished, remanufactured, or recycled. Circularity in Practice is about repurposing with purpose – today.
The initiative invites UK companies to pledge to plan, act, partner, and share progress. The initiative is aimed towards, but not limited to, developers, contractors, manufacturers, construction companies, occupiers and landlords, designers and architects, waste management companies, professional bodies, and community groups.
Circularity in Practice is inspired by His Majesty King Charles III, and his lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship. The initiative is driven by a core team of signatories who will promote education, share best practice, encourage cross-sector collaboration, and spotlight commercially viable models, with the intention to help companies create value and reduce costs without relying on regulation or subsidy.
Signatories include significant UK businesses – Sir Robert McAlpine, JLL, Orms, McGee, Great Portland Estates plc, Tata Steel UK, EMR, Rype Office, SUEZ, Therme, Pineapple Partnerships, SAS International, Saint-Gobain, Recolight, 18 Degrees, Alandale Group, Don’t Waste Buildings, Excess Materials Exchange, the British Chambers of Commerce – and many regional SMEs.
Edward McAlpine, Chairman and Executive Partner of Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “Sir Robert McAlpine is proud to support the Circularity in Practice initiative. We recognise that the transition from a linear to a circular economy is critical for the future of the built environment. By prioritising circular design, resource efficiency, and high-value material reuse, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint while preserving natural resources. We are committed to contributing our engineering excellence and sharing best practices through this initiative, driving the collective change needed to transform how our industry builds and maintains a sustainable future for the built environment.”
Matthew Richards, CEO JLL UK and Head of EMEA Capital Markets of JLL, said:“JLL shares this commitment to embed circular economy practices within the built environment, building on our proven track record of transforming circular practices within our own offices. Achieving true circularity requires collaborative action across the entire supply chain. Together, we can ensure that circularity becomes a central pillar in the delivery of the next generation of buildings across our towns and cities.”
John McRae, Director of Orms, said: “The Circularity in Practice initiative will share practical tools, templates and case studies to help organisations of every size act now. We are proud to support the initiative to make circularity the default – keeping materials in use and minimising recycling. Together, we can reduce waste, unlock value from existing resources, and accelerate a more regenerative, low carbon-built environment for future generations across the UK.”
Seb Fossey, CEO of Managing Director at McGee, said:“I have strongly supported this initiative from its inception because it addresses a gap that many well-intentioned circularity programmes do not: genuine inter-sector alignment. In my experience leading McGee, real progress is achieved when commercial reality, technical delivery and behavioural change are aligned across the system, rather than siloed within individual industries. This initiative has the potential to act as an integrator – connecting ideas, capabilities and pathways between sectors and translating ambition into something practical, operational and repeatable. That ambition, and the focus on meaningful connectivity, aligns closely with how we think about value creation, responsibility and long-term impact as a business.”
Dan Nicholson, Executive Director at Great Portland Estates plc, said: “GPE are seeing first-hand the positive impact that embracing circularity is having on our ability to deliver truly sustainable buildings of the exceptional nature that our discerning customers deserve. GPE is therefore delighted to contribute to this initiative and support greater integration of circularity across the supply chain. It is only when it becomes “business as usual” across the UK that the economic benefits of circularity will be realised.”
UK companies that would like to find out more and take the Pledge to become a Signatory can do so by visiting the Circularity in Practice website.
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About Circularity in Practice
Circularity in Practice is about repurposing with purpose – today.
For more information, please visit the Circularity in Practice website.
Notes to Editors
Please see below additional quotes from the core team of signatories:
Shevaun Haviland CBE, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The British Chambers of Commerce is proudly backing, our Patron, His Majesty the King’s support of the Circularity in Practice initiative. We know that firms across our network want to play their part in building a more sustainable economy. Embracing circular practices is central to this. We have confidence that Circularity in Practice will drive the cultural change and action that is needed to make reuse a new norm. Chambers of Commerce stand ready to support businesses to plan, partner, act and share as they make their circularity commitment today.”
John Scanlon, Executive Vice President UK, SUEZ, said: “The debate is over as to why we need to drive change and increase the circularity of materials – we can’t continue to consume the Earth’s finite resources and then just discard them.”
Dr Greg Lavery, Managing Director of Rype Office, said: “Embodied carbon is the major cause of climate change and can only effectively be addressed through the Circular Economy, which also brings economic growth. This initiative will drive awareness of the Circular Economy and its economic, environmental, and social benefits.”
Chris Sheppard, Group CEO of EMR, said: “Circularity is a major industrial opportunity. If we are to build a more resilient economy, everything must recycle. We are honoured to support the Circularity in Practice initiative and to work alongside others to scale practical circular solutions across the built environment.”
