GREEN & BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE depleted , and therefore new industries came to arise , bringing healthy economic growth .
Planting trees is a perfect example of a circular economy , as the tree provides multiple benefits during its life , and can be used to manufacture products when it is cut down . Removal of a plantation tree results in space left for new tree planting , bringing employment to often rural areas . But what about urban trees ?
Urban trees also form part of a circular economy – but to maximise the benefits , these need to be properly planted , and grow to maturity . This is the raison d ’ être of GreenBlue Urban – assisting trees in their struggle to survive in a hostile environment . Whether it is providing soil support by using RootSpace soil cells , guiding tree roots with products from the ReRoot root management range , bringing air and water to the rooting zone with RootRain irrigation and aeration solutions or physically protecting the tree from above ground damage with tree grilles and guards .
The GreenBlue Urban innovative solutions enable trees to grow to their species potential longevity . All the below-ground products are manufactured from 100 % recycled materials and are recyclable up to 5 times once they have finished their life . This is central to the GreenBlue Urban philosophy , as our vision is to bring environmental benefits to communities around the world , and the least possible carbon footprint .
In 2018 , a number of organisations including the Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy ( PACE ). This program seeks to scale up current initiatives to build a global circular economy by developing financial models allowing better public / private partnerships to get more involved and to encourage better policy frameworks to tackle barriers and challenges to the closed-loop cycle – minimising waste and pollution . Many companies globally have joined the coalition , and the results are encouraging .
The UK has been supportive of these initiatives , and a British Standard ( BS 8001:2017 -Framework for implementing the principles of the circular economy in organisations ) has been launched to align the vision of the Circular Economy with established business routines at the organisational level . Setting out the principles , and outlining management frameworks for implementation . It is considered to help write strategies that make way for a more sustainable global economy , although details of monitoring and governance are still being worked out .
The New London Plan , which came into law in March 2021 , is insisting that on all developments of more than 150 residential units , buildings over 30m in height or commercial premises over 2500m ², a Circular Economy Statement must be submitted , along with a Whole Life Carbon Assessment as part of the planning process . This aims to reduce waste and pollution , and in time , will help achieve the net-zero carbon commitments .
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