CATCH held their second Humber Business Week event at the Ropewalk in Barton.  An event on Circular Economy and the Environment as part of our annual Environmental Managers Network programme.  Over 40 delegates joined us online and in person and were warmly welcomed by the chair, Martin Jones, SHEQ Manager at Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery.  The event was kindly sponsored by TYR Law.

Andrew Gadd from Footprint Services set the scene with an engaging presentation on developing circular economy business models.  Using a glass jar analogy, Andrew explained how recycling was not the way out of the climate crisis.  The audience were asked to consider how do we move beyond the smash-melt-burn economy and embrace new opportunities to operate around the idea of refuse, rethink and reduce.  Andrew used a case study: baboodle – “rent everything but the baby” as an example of new ways of thinking and sharing resources.  Andrew described how all businesses can move towards being more circular through closing resource loops – using less material per product, slowing – extending product life – intensifying, enhancing the productivity of materials – closing, recovering and reusing materials, regenerating – reviving natural resources used in production processes.

Next up delegates heard about the Reverse Coal Project from Dr Amir Badiee from the University of Lincoln.  Amir first explained the background to the project, aimed at addressing sector specific climate challenges by reducing emission across energy intensive sectors such as energy production and agriculture.  One challenge being carbon dioxide released from drained/drying peatlands in the UK.  One solution developed is the reverse coal project – an idea from Lapwing Estate – to rewet peatlands and grow energy crops which can then be used as biomass with the benefit of improving biodiversity, reduce co2 release and providing new water reservoirs.

The energy crops can then be harvested and turned into Biochar which can be used further as a combustible to generate electricity, used in steel works as replacement for coal or simply buried as permanent carbon storage (if ground conditions are favourable).  Amir explained the advantages of biochar over coal with almost identical calorific values (for biochar produced at higher temperatures) and reduction in the amount of contamination, such as sulphur and nitrogen.  One challenge is the yield following pyrolysis, which is extremely low, meaning that large amounts of land would be needed.  Amir is now researching Bio-Oil as an alternative for power transmission insulation fluid used in engines and machinery.  These solutions are not about decarbonising the whole industry, but about helping to defossilise the economy.

After a break delegates enjoyed a very informative presentation from Will McDonald from Ecosystems Knowledge Network titled An Environment for Net Zero: the role of land, water & nature in net zero goals for North Lincolnshire & the Humber.  Will’s talk focused on natures ability to sequester carbon and how increases in carbon credit pricing will drive demand, against a backdrop of limited supply.  Will described the work of Northern Lincolnshire Environmental Farmers Group, to establish a carbon baseline for a collective of 30,000ha land and then looking at natural solutions for carbon offsetting and determine benefits that can then also be sold to others.

The morning event was wrapped up with a presentation from Alex Hajok, Manager of Humber Nature Partnership, who updated the group on their work streams and strategic framework.  Their aim remains to work towards favourable condition status for the estuary, member site assessment and response, developing formal communication channels and promoting best practice.  Leah Young, Conservation Officer with Humber Nature Partnership, who presented a case study on dealing with protected wild bird species on a local industrial site.

The next CATCH Environmental Managers Network will be held on Wednesday 8th October.  For more information about CATCH membership and networks please contact katie.hedges@catchuk.org