From Waste to Resource Conference – Networks of Re-use Panel
Originally recorded 2 October 2025
This panel explores how local organisations, artists, designers and activists are building new relationships between communities, materials and systems through the re-use of waste material. Speakers reflect on the empowering nature of hands-on engagement with materials. They highlight how local projects can nurture skills, lower barriers to participation and generate both cultural and social value. The discussion reveals the complexities and frustrations of accessing industrial waste streams. They also describe the obscurities and absurdities embedded within existing supply chains.
Panel Chair: Sarah King
Sarah is a design researcher and creative practitioner who believes creativity can be the catalyst for positive change in response to current ecological challenges. Her practice incorporates circular design principles and bio-fabrication processes to create new material alternatives. She is the Textiles Course Leader at HCA, a Materials Researcher at STEAMhouse, Birmingham, and the founder of Materials Club and Earthli Projects.
Guest Speaker: Sara Howard
Sara Howard is an award-winning British designer dedicated to pioneering circular and regenerative systems in the ceramics industry and beyond. Sara will explore the challenges of today’s ceramic supply chains and propose the potential of creating bespoke waste-material ecologies for production. Focusing on the construction industry, she will examine both the opportunities it offers the ceramics sector and the obstacles that must be overcome. Sara is a co-founder of Golden Earth Studio, which connects artists with the construction industry.
Guest Speaker: Freya Bruce
Freya is a CoFounder of ReCollective, a network that reduces waste and empowers communities. ReCollective are creating a system to divert “waste” construction material from waste streams. They want to design and embed these materials into new community infrastructure. ReCollective’s presentation will be a brief overview of their past work and approach to waste materials and circularity. They also talk about the ‘Circular Economy Handbook’, which they led the research on.
Guest Speaker: Victor Pedrosa
Victor is a neuroscientist turned potter whose personal journey with clay mirrors Rescued Clay‘s mission of transformation and renewal. Victor discovered clay as a therapeutic outlet over twelve years ago, finding in it a creative sanctuary and means of healing. At Rescued Clay, they source clay excavated from construction sites in their neighbourhood and bring it back into use. By reclaiming this clay and mixing it with other waste from Park Royal industry partners, they explore both fired and unfired methods that keep materials in use rather than sending them to landfill.
Next in the conference schedule: Circularity in Practice: Design, Bahbak Hashemi-Nezhad, Rafael El Baz
Start from the beginning: Welcome, Clare Wood
Support
From Waste to Resource: Circular Economies for Construction Spoil Clay is part of a 19-month research initiative led by British Ceramics Biennial and undertaken by BCB Clay Researcher Claire Baily. The research was delivered in partnership with Louise Trodden (HS2 Arts & Culture Team).
Thank you to all the speakers, contributors, volunteers and attendees who generously supported and shared their knowledge, expertise and insights. The conference was recorded and edited by Copperbeach.