Towards A Circular Economy – Most Recently Engaging Sector Through ‘Gamification’, A Value-Adding Proposition Delivered By Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University
The recent workshop, led by Dr. Marianna Marchesi at Cardiff University’s Welsh School of Architecture, in collaboration with Focus Games Ltd, presented an excellent opportunity to use ‘gamification’ as a way of bringing stakeholders together on a multi-layered, inter-connected topic: ‘circular economy’ which is often misunderstood and therefore misrepresented.
Affiliated with the UKRI Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and built on previous research (Circular Families Game) within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme (MSCA-PF) under Horizon 2020, the workshop encompassed a diverse group of stakeholders from education, local and national government, NGOs, and businesses, all with a shared interest in the circular economy. The objective was to explore how the circular economy is being engaged across sectors and to discuss how an interactive game, Circular Families, can play a role in facilitating these efforts. Circular Families involves players with circular economy concepts in real-world scenarios through gaming mechanisms to facilitate engagement with the circular economy in cities and understanding of initiatives at a local level for environmental, social and economic benefits. The workshop insights shaped a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in this field, while also inspiring future action through collaboration. Key points relevant to the CEWales context included:
- Gamification/’Playful Practice’ as a useful tool for changing behaviour and driving cross-sectoral engagement where open, honest and productive conversations can be had – refer to Centre for Public Impact Research, Game Design for Public Services, Applying behaviour change techniques to key challenges – the climate emergency, health inequalities and sustainable travel
- Using this approach as a way to both educate and build awareness with real-time implementation options
- Integrating design-thinking into public sector engagement to facilitate innovative discussions, especially within established viewpoints
- Breaking down ‘buzz-words’ for effective decision-making, cultural and mindset shifts as needed within the sector
Industry and Government engagement – Broadening CE
Further to this, CEWales has been supporting Welsh Government during last year’s Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency team on the 2024 Circular Economy Hotspot and co-hosting with Regeneration Centre (RIRC) alongside CEIC an event titled ‘Circular Economy and Construction Sector: opportunities and obstacles’. This shed light on research by Pekka Valkama, on how the City of Helsinki is supporting the transition to a circular economy in the construction sector.
Sector Insight, Knowledge and Awareness – Connecting CE
The snippet below from the recent CEWales Green Economy Emerging Sector Insight sets the backdrop to sectoral positioning and further highlights its’ role in transitioning to a green economy. It makes necessary connections across circular economy, net zero, just transition, green jobs and digital resilience where enabling conditions such as value-based procurement, visible and digitally accessible pipelines and legislative drivers such as the Building Safety Act, can transform sector to be profitable, efficient, productive, safe and sustainable:
‘The built environment/construction sector is a significant contributor to the UK and Welsh Government’s green growth agenda which aims to build a stronger, greener, fairer economy captured within the Economic Mission for Wales and the recent Construction Summit in North Wales and South Wales. Through its businesses, projects and people(skills), the sector directly influences the net zero just transition, circular economy principles and supports Wales priority cross-sectors such as clean energy.
A recent presentation delivered by CEWales frames the circular economy opportunity for the built environment as interconnected within the umbrella ‘greener economy’ and governmental drive for a just transition. Where the circular economy is a cornerstone of the green economy and benefits from being understood as integrated with broader green economy principles to address social injustices and connect with concepts like natural capital, biodiversity restoration and just transitions.
The presentation covered the broad understanding of just transition where the term and the concept brings together concerns about social justice in the transition to a sustainable economy and society. Just transition is important not only from an ethical perspective; it is also critical in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the transition process itself. UK Gov use this term too and Scottish Gov have an approach outlined for the built environment. In Wales, the Just Transition Framework has gone through a period of consultation. Achieving a just transition means thinking about decarbonisation as a way to deliver WG commitment to social and economic justice, consistent with their commitment to fair work and Social Partnership. It recognises the technological, social and economic challenges of decarbonisation, and works to identify ways in which we can redress existing inequalities across communities and the Welsh workforce and prevent new ones from forming.
The transition to a circular economy can address several of the most pressing challenges of our time. However, the transition entails a profound systemic transformation of the way the world’s economy’s function. While it is likely that it will generate a net-positive outcome in terms of employment opportunities, many workers, industries and communities could be adversely impacted.
Just transition considerations are crucial to making the circular economy work for human development, and to align the circular economy with the Sustainable Development Goals. Without addressing the human elements, the circular economy will not deliver on important social goals such as improved health, decent working conditions, or reduced inequality.
For more please read, CEWales Circular Economy Sector Insight and Offshore Wind Built Environment Insight.’ These give context for the ongoing intelligence and advisory support that CEWales is providing for the Welsh Government. For more on the WSA CE Research please visit CircuBed – Applying CE To The Design Of Social Housing and the Circular Families Game.