Networking is key to waste reduction

A DTI-led network aims to stimulate innovation in the UK's key technology sectors by promoting collaboration, best practice and knowledge sharing on waste reduction.

Current concerns over rising energy costs and environmental issues, have forced many companies, particularly manufacturing and construction firms, to look for ways of reducing their resource bills, either by making better overall use of materials and energy or by harnessing new technologies that help reduce these rising resource costs.

Resource inefficiency reduces competitiveness, eats up primary resources and creates waste management challenges.

The statistics could be a lot better.

Across the supply chain, 10 tonnes of resource are consumed for each tonne of product in the UK economy.

This ratio rises to 20:1 for imports.

Industry and commerce accounts for 93% of the UK's annual arising of 430 million tonnes of solid waste.

Of the 600 million tonnes of construction materials consumed in the UK each year, 85% is primary resource and only 15% is recycled or recovered.

But not all companies know where to look for the answers to their resource efficiency problems.

New technologies may already exist that can help solve a particular energy efficiency or resource issue, but if that company isn't aware of the new technology, the problems continue.

Other companies may already be using the technology in a different industrial sector, unaware that other sectors could also benefit from this technology.

Even if the technology hasn't yet reached the market at all, and is in the development stage, companies, academic institutions and governmental bodies should be networking with each other to further develop these concepts into commercially-viable products.

Help is at hand though.

The Resource Efficiency Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), launched in March 2006, is a DTI Business Support Solution delivered through the Technology Programme, which aims to stimulate innovation in the UK's key technology sectors by promoting collaboration, best practice and knowledge sharing.

The Network is managed by C-Tech Innovation , a private technology development consultancy based in Capenhurst near Chester.

The idea is to help UK firms, of all sizes and from any industrial sector, reduce their waste - in three main ways.

First, by demonstrating to businesses how they can make better use of materials and energy.

Second, by using industrial wastes as a source of new products which other companies can make use of.

And third, by companies processing recovered material into value-added resource.

The key to all these objectives is networking and transferring knowledge between different industries, companies and individuals within these companies.

By utilising knowledge transfer mechanisms, companies can implement innovative technologies to minimise waste and gain a competitive advantage.

"We are a matchmaking organisation really", comments Andrew Rowley, Director of the Resource Efficiency KTN.

"We've already attracted more than 600 members to the Resource Efficiency Network, but our objective is to have 25,000 members in five years' time".

"Members have to register with us through our new website portal, where they have access to the latest news feeds, events, search and sign-posting features, case studies and forum discussion rooms".

"We simply provide the medium for these people to knowledge share, collaborate and basically help solve each other's resource efficiency-related problems".

To gain access to the web portal, individuals have to register as a member first.

Membership costs nothing and carries no obligation.

By registering their details, individuals receive a customised portal, with information presented to them that is relevant or of specific interest to them.

This information could be presented by region, industrial sector etc.

More importantly, registered members have complete visibility of one another, enabling further networks to be created and exploited.

"The objective is to encourage participation and contribution, rather than just passive viewing", explains Rowley.

The discussion forums are a key benefit for members.

Individuals can participate in these forums and post content to the site themselves.

Problems can be raised, reports can be disseminated, solutions presented and personal networks built up.

Special interest groups, covering specific topics of interest (either 'open' to general members or 'closed' with membership by invitation-only) can also be set up.

Online meetings can also take place using voice-over-Internet teleconferencing (provided by Interwise software).

The software is free to download, enabling conferences of between two and 100 members to take place.

The benefits of membership are vast.

As Rowley concludes: "The Resource Efficiency KTN is at the heart of waste and resource-related knowledge, ingenuity and influence in the UK.

Our team of knowledge and technology managers are the eyes and ears in the hunt for members' answers and questions".

"Members can get one-to-one help and advice when developing business plans, technology roadmaps, new products and ventures".

"Funding opportunities exist too, from grants for R and D and to competitions for funding, with members being amongst the first to be notified of new funding opportunities".

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