Circular economy

Circular economy prioritises resource efficiency and minimising waste to support economic growth.

The Circular and Digital Economy Research Group (CiDER) at Cardiff University is part of the Digital Transformation Innovation Institute. Our expertise can help you explore pathways to a more equitable and accountable circular economy business model.

Led by Professor Peter Wells and Professor Yingli Wang, CiDER collaborates with private, public, and third-sector organizations. We work through various initiatives, from joint research projects to knowledge transfer and feasibility studies, all involving our postgraduate students under faculty supervision.

Minimising waste

The traditional “take-make-dispose” model of production and consumption is reaching its limits. The circular economy (CE) offers a compelling alternative: a closed-loop system that decouples economic growth from resource depletion and environmental degradation.

The circular economy prioritises “the value of products, materials and resources in the economy for as long as possible, while minimizing waste generation”.

Digital technologies play a crucial role in this transition. They empower businesses to redesign linear supply chains into circular networks that prioritize resource efficiency, waste reduction, and environmental responsibility.

Environmental, social and governance goals

We can help you to align with existing and emerging public policies as well as your own environmental, social, and governance goals.

Complying with the emerging legal environment focused on driving CE transitions and the increasing societal pressures on business actors to develop circular business models requires significant innovation.

Digital transformation can extend product lifecycles, support repair and re-use, track materials and components throughout their lifecycle, capturing value from end-of-life stages, re-skilling to enable circularity activities, and much more.

Contact us to explore how we can help you.