44 Group Releases Successful Industry Roundtable Insights

June 2025 sessions deliver real-world input for the Recycling Expo and Sustainable Trade & Production Expo agendas

We’re pleased to share insights from two high-impact industry roundtables held in June 2025, which brought together leading voices from across the sustainability, waste, procurement, and circular economy landscapes.

As the organisers of The Recycling Expo and The Sustainable Trade & Production Expo, our mission is to ensure both programmes reflect real challenges and real solutions. These roundtables were instrumental in shaping two commercially focused, practically grounded agendas for October.

The Waste Dilemma: Policy, Progress and the Gaps in Between: Insights from the Recycling Expo 2025 Roundtable

This session gathered senior experts to explore how legislation, infrastructure, and supply chain relationships are currently impacting UK waste and recycling operations.

Key Themes:

• Conflicting policy timelines (Simpler Recycling, EPR, ETS, and the delayed DRS) are creating confusion and financial strain for local authorities and operators.

• A clear mismatch between material innovation and recycling infrastructure is growing — particularly with compostables and flexible plastics.

• SMEs and producers are often absent from policy conversations, despite being central to implementation on the ground.

Takeaways for the Agenda:

• More space for local authority voices and cross-sector debate.

• Spotlight on tech and material solutions via the new Circular Innovation Hub.

• Sessions aimed at SMEs and practical action on food waste, plastics, and recovery.

Roundtable Contributors:

• Dr Adam Read – Chief Sustainability & External Affairs Officer, SUEZ

• Ben Saunders – Commercial Director, E-Waste & Glass Solutions, Enva

• Lewis Pearlman – Strategy & Policy Officer, North London Waste Authority (NLWA)

• Anthony Buchan – Head of Department, ReLondon

• Adam Herriott – Senior Specialist, WRAP

• Dean Thornewell – Managing Director, Liugong UK

• Alistair Green – Circular Economy Development Officer, West London Waste Authority

• Dan Green – Circular Economy Delivery Manager, West London Waste Authority

• Nick Palmer – Head of Innovation, Grundon

• Rory Capper – Head of Innovation & Sustainability, Bywaters

• Chris Taylor – Net Zero Programme Director, UK Business Climate Hub / Broadway Initiative

Read the full Insights Article here

Balancing Sustainability and Profitability: Rebuilding the Business Case for Change: Insights from the Sustainable Trade & Production Expo Roundtable

This strategic session tackled the tension between decarbonisation goals and commercial viability — particularly for manufacturers, logistics providers, and public sector buyers.

Key Themes:

• Scope 3 emissions are complex to report and especially challenging for SMEs and Tier 2 suppliers.

• Procurement culture remains heavily cost-driven, despite growing awareness of ESG as a risk and value driver.

• There’s an urgent skills and transparency gap — organisations want more honesty in ESG claims and greater carbon literacy across roles.

Takeaways for the Agenda:

• Toolkits, frameworks, and live-use cases for SMEs navigating Scope 3.

• Sessions on integrating sustainability into procurement and contract design.

• Real-world case studies focused on transparency, trade-offs, and progress over perfection.

Roundtable Contributors:

• Alan Wheeler – CEO, Textile Recycling Association

• Christiane Lorent – Advocate, Carbon Literacy Project

• John Pearce – CEO, Made in Britain

• Megan Muller-Girard – Circular Bioresources Analyst, Renewable Energy Association (REA)

• Sonia Sanchez – Senior Managing Consultant, Oakdene Hollins

• Andrew Bryers – Head of Sustainability, Lyreco

• Neil Stephen – Co-Founder & Sales Director, Hemp Block

• Hussain Hilli – Co-Founder, Skrap

Read the full Insights Article here

What’s Next?

The insights shared during these roundtables reinforced just how vital it is to involve all stakeholders in shaping the future of the circular economy, from manufacturers and waste operators to policymakers, sustainability leads, and SMEs.

Building a truly sustainable future means bringing these voices together regularly, not just at the point of policy change or commercial challenge. That’s why 44Group is committed to creating more than just two events. We’re building a platform for ongoing collaboration, a space where ideas are shared, gaps are addressed, and new solutions emerge year after year.

We look forward to continuing this work with you, not just in October, but far beyond, as we tackle the complex, evolving issues shaping our industries.

Full speaker agendas launch on 14 July 2025
Join us 7–8 October at ExCeL London for The Recycling Expo and The Sustainable Trade & Production Expo

Thank you again to all contributors for your time, openness, and leadership.