Failure to transition to this system risks resource depletion, pollution, climate breakdown, and economic instability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meet the alumni whose work is driving the change.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Sam](\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/10\/Sam-Hodgson-sq.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSam Hodgson<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBA(Hons) Business Team Entrepreneurship, 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFounder of Enviro IT <\/a> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSam\u2019s passion for technology coupled with a frustration with waste started as a teenager. Now it\u2019s his business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While studying Team Entrepreneurship Sam developed his business with support from UWE\u2019s Student Ventures<\/a>. From their new base in the Sustainability Hub<\/a> on Frenchay Campus, Enviro IT offers affordable refurbished laptops and IT recycling services with secure data destruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn the tech sector, a circular economy means products, components and materials are reused, refurbished, remanufactured and recycled. This approach exemplified by Enviro IT minimises the depletion of natural resources and pollution through waste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201c1\/3 of the items we throw away aren\u2019t broken, half of it could be easily fixed.\u201d The Restart Project<\/sub><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Jenny](\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/10\/Jenny-Ford-sq.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nJenny Ford<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMSc Sustainable Development in Practice, 2018<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFounder of Materials in Mind<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nJenny\u2019s work drives circular transformation in construction – connecting materials, technology, and people. They founded Materials in Mind in 2018 – a consultancy specialising in skills and partnerships in the built environment sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jenny\u2019s work bridges industry, education, and community through multiple innovative initiatives, all making circular and low-carbon practice accessible, connected, and commercially viable. Find out more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Factory X<\/a> – A network for regenerative and circular practice in the construction industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nInsight Space Studio<\/a> – Using 3D mapping and 360 scanning technology to support councils, landlords, occupiers, agents and designers to better understand their buildings. <\/p>\n\n\n\nESJ Collaborations<\/a> (LinkedIn) – Environmental, Social, Joyful. Low carbon and positive impact projects that foster local and long-term resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Fred](\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/10\/image-edited.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFred Peck<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBA(Hons) Business (Entrepreneurship), 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFounder of Fred and Gilbert Twin Vintage<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSpecialising in second hand 90s and 2000s vintage sportswear, Fred and Gilbert Twin Vintage champions quality textile recycling, combatting huge waste created by the fashion industry each year (approximately one truckload every second). Fred and his brother are passionate about the reuse of robust well-made and styled garments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starting as a shop on Frenchay campus, they\u2019ve now relocated to Bristol\u2019s creative sustainability hub, Sparks<\/a>. Sparks is a sustainable and socially orientated city centre department store housed in an old Marks & Spencer\u2019s store, now supporting over 40 independent small businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\u201c<\/strong>Every year, the fashion industry churns out about 92 million tons of textile waste.\u201d The Earth.Org<\/sup><\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"Nina](\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/10\/Nina-Gizzie-sq.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nNina Gizzie<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBSc(Hons) Biomedical Sciences, 2014<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOperations and Development Manager<\/strong>, Share Bristol<\/a> \u2013 Library of Things<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nNina works for Share Bristol, who opened a Library of Things<\/a> on Frenchay Campus last year, where students, staff and the local community can borrow items for home, hobbies, study or practical tasks. From drills, tents and sewing machines to guitars, there\u2019s a treasure trove to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBorrowing instead of buying saves money and helps reduce the environmental impact of buying new. The Library of Things movement is growing across the globe, empowering people and communities, reducing waste and making good use of our resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nina is using a decade of Regional Operations and Management experience to scale the charity’s impact. Her role focuses on laying the foundation for growth and supporting the development of more sites to ensure that sharing is easy and accessible for everyone in Bristol, boosting the reach and awareness of the Library of Things movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cThe UK is the second biggest producer of electrical waste in the world, and still buys 1.7 million brand new electrical products each year.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Library of Things<\/a> <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"Samantha](\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/10\/Sam-Henry-sq.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSamantha Shaw<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBA(Hons) Sociology, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFounder Dolly Shop<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSamantha\u2019s Bristol-based Dolly Shop creates handmade soft toys and miniature clothing that challenge fast fashion and promote sustainability. Her passion is informed by her dissertation, which explored the social and environmental consequences of fast fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Supported by Student Ventures<\/a>, Sam\u2019s pop-up shop on Frenchay campus and clothes making workshops run at our Repair Caf\u00e9 have taught students and staff practical hands-on sewing, alteration and pattern cutting expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStaff and students can join Samantha for Make your own clothes: sustainable sewing workshop<\/a> on Glenside campus on Tuesday 4 November as part of UWE Bristol’s Green Week. Booking required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/10\/Alex-Montgomery-sq.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAlex Montgomery<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nMSc Sustainable Development in Practice, 2023<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFounder and Director, Generation Soil<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAlex founded Bristol based Generation Soil Community in 2021, with a mission of nurturing people and planet through food. They run food waste compost schemes, food education workshops, and urban food production sites. Alex also works as a Doctoral Researcher with UK Food Systems advancing circular food systems and food education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Green Week 2025 sees the launch of Frenchay campus\u2019 Wild Kitchen vegan outlet food waste composting scheme with Generation Soil. The resulting compost will be returned to campus and used on our grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cRegenerative practices can boost soil organic carbon by up to 159%<\/strong> and increase crop yields by as much as 29%<\/strong> \u2014 delivering both climate and food security benefits.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\nKumar, A., Antoniella, G., Blasi, E., & Chiti, T. (2025). Recent advances in regenerative sustainable agricultural strategies for managing soil carbon and mitigating climate change consequences<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFind out more and get involved<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAt UWE Bristol:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Circular economy at UWE Bristol<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- UWE Bristol Repair Caf\u00e9<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- UWE Bristol Sustainability Hub<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In Bristol:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Sparks Reuse department, including repairium<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bristol Repair Share and Reuse Map<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bristol Repair <\/a>Coalition<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- UWE <\/a>Bristol <\/a>MAKERS Project<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Share Bristol<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
More widely:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Ellen MacArthur Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- WRAP \u2013 The Global Environment Action NGO<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hubbub – award winning environmental charity<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Minimising waste and maximising the use of resources is what a circular economy is all about. A circular economy supports sustainable growth, environmental protection, and social equity. Unlike the traditional linear economy of ‘take, make, use, dispose’, it aims to keep materials in use for longer, reduce environmental impact, and decouple growth from resource consumption … Continue reading “Circular economy alumni heroes”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":2036,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":5,"footnotes":"[]"},"categories":[5,8,6],"tags":[74,75,77,78,79,76],"class_list":["post-2009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-bristol","category-profile","tag-circular-economy","tag-environment","tag-green-week","tag-student-venture","tag-student-ventures","tag-sustainabilty"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2009"}],"version-history":[{"count":45,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2096,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009\/revisions\/2096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSam Hodgson<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBA(Hons) Business Team Entrepreneurship, 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFounder of Enviro IT <\/a> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSam\u2019s passion for technology coupled with a frustration with waste started as a teenager. Now it\u2019s his business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While studying Team Entrepreneurship Sam developed his business with support from UWE\u2019s Student Ventures<\/a>. From their new base in the Sustainability Hub<\/a> on Frenchay Campus, Enviro IT offers affordable refurbished laptops and IT recycling services with secure data destruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn the tech sector, a circular economy means products, components and materials are reused, refurbished, remanufactured and recycled. This approach exemplified by Enviro IT minimises the depletion of natural resources and pollution through waste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201c1\/3 of the items we throw away aren\u2019t broken, half of it could be easily fixed.\u201d The Restart Project<\/sub><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nJenny Ford<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMSc Sustainable Development in Practice, 2018<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFounder of Materials in Mind<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nJenny\u2019s work drives circular transformation in construction – connecting materials, technology, and people. They founded Materials in Mind in 2018 – a consultancy specialising in skills and partnerships in the built environment sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jenny\u2019s work bridges industry, education, and community through multiple innovative initiatives, all making circular and low-carbon practice accessible, connected, and commercially viable. Find out more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Factory X<\/a> – A network for regenerative and circular practice in the construction industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nInsight Space Studio<\/a> – Using 3D mapping and 360 scanning technology to support councils, landlords, occupiers, agents and designers to better understand their buildings. <\/p>\n\n\n\nESJ Collaborations<\/a> (LinkedIn) – Environmental, Social, Joyful. Low carbon and positive impact projects that foster local and long-term resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFred Peck<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBA(Hons) Business (Entrepreneurship), 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFounder of Fred and Gilbert Twin Vintage<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSpecialising in second hand 90s and 2000s vintage sportswear, Fred and Gilbert Twin Vintage champions quality textile recycling, combatting huge waste created by the fashion industry each year (approximately one truckload every second). Fred and his brother are passionate about the reuse of robust well-made and styled garments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starting as a shop on Frenchay campus, they\u2019ve now relocated to Bristol\u2019s creative sustainability hub, Sparks<\/a>. Sparks is a sustainable and socially orientated city centre department store housed in an old Marks & Spencer\u2019s store, now supporting over 40 independent small businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\u201c<\/strong>Every year, the fashion industry churns out about 92 million tons of textile waste.\u201d The Earth.Org<\/sup><\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nNina Gizzie<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBSc(Hons) Biomedical Sciences, 2014<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOperations and Development Manager<\/strong>, Share Bristol<\/a> \u2013 Library of Things<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nNina works for Share Bristol, who opened a Library of Things<\/a> on Frenchay Campus last year, where students, staff and the local community can borrow items for home, hobbies, study or practical tasks. From drills, tents and sewing machines to guitars, there\u2019s a treasure trove to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBorrowing instead of buying saves money and helps reduce the environmental impact of buying new. The Library of Things movement is growing across the globe, empowering people and communities, reducing waste and making good use of our resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nina is using a decade of Regional Operations and Management experience to scale the charity’s impact. Her role focuses on laying the foundation for growth and supporting the development of more sites to ensure that sharing is easy and accessible for everyone in Bristol, boosting the reach and awareness of the Library of Things movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cThe UK is the second biggest producer of electrical waste in the world, and still buys 1.7 million brand new electrical products each year.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Library of Things<\/a> <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSamantha Shaw<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBA(Hons) Sociology, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFounder Dolly Shop<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSamantha\u2019s Bristol-based Dolly Shop creates handmade soft toys and miniature clothing that challenge fast fashion and promote sustainability. Her passion is informed by her dissertation, which explored the social and environmental consequences of fast fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Supported by Student Ventures<\/a>, Sam\u2019s pop-up shop on Frenchay campus and clothes making workshops run at our Repair Caf\u00e9 have taught students and staff practical hands-on sewing, alteration and pattern cutting expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStaff and students can join Samantha for Make your own clothes: sustainable sewing workshop<\/a> on Glenside campus on Tuesday 4 November as part of UWE Bristol’s Green Week. Booking required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAlex Montgomery<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nMSc Sustainable Development in Practice, 2023<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFounder and Director, Generation Soil<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAlex founded Bristol based Generation Soil Community in 2021, with a mission of nurturing people and planet through food. They run food waste compost schemes, food education workshops, and urban food production sites. Alex also works as a Doctoral Researcher with UK Food Systems advancing circular food systems and food education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Green Week 2025 sees the launch of Frenchay campus\u2019 Wild Kitchen vegan outlet food waste composting scheme with Generation Soil. The resulting compost will be returned to campus and used on our grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cRegenerative practices can boost soil organic carbon by up to 159%<\/strong> and increase crop yields by as much as 29%<\/strong> \u2014 delivering both climate and food security benefits.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\nKumar, A., Antoniella, G., Blasi, E., & Chiti, T. (2025). Recent advances in regenerative sustainable agricultural strategies for managing soil carbon and mitigating climate change consequences<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFind out more and get involved<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAt UWE Bristol:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Circular economy at UWE Bristol<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- UWE Bristol Repair Caf\u00e9<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- UWE Bristol Sustainability Hub<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In Bristol:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Sparks Reuse department, including repairium<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bristol Repair Share and Reuse Map<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bristol Repair <\/a>Coalition<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- UWE <\/a>Bristol <\/a>MAKERS Project<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Share Bristol<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
More widely:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Ellen MacArthur Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- WRAP \u2013 The Global Environment Action NGO<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hubbub – award winning environmental charity<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Minimising waste and maximising the use of resources is what a circular economy is all about. A circular economy supports sustainable growth, environmental protection, and social equity. Unlike the traditional linear economy of ‘take, make, use, dispose’, it aims to keep materials in use for longer, reduce environmental impact, and decouple growth from resource consumption … Continue reading “Circular economy alumni heroes”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":2036,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":5,"footnotes":"[]"},"categories":[5,8,6],"tags":[74,75,77,78,79,76],"class_list":["post-2009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-bristol","category-profile","tag-circular-economy","tag-environment","tag-green-week","tag-student-venture","tag-student-ventures","tag-sustainabilty"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2009"}],"version-history":[{"count":45,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2096,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009\/revisions\/2096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Founder of Enviro IT <\/a> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSam\u2019s passion for technology coupled with a frustration with waste started as a teenager. Now it\u2019s his business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While studying Team Entrepreneurship Sam developed his business with support from UWE\u2019s Student Ventures<\/a>. From their new base in the Sustainability Hub<\/a> on Frenchay Campus, Enviro IT offers affordable refurbished laptops and IT recycling services with secure data destruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn the tech sector, a circular economy means products, components and materials are reused, refurbished, remanufactured and recycled. This approach exemplified by Enviro IT minimises the depletion of natural resources and pollution through waste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201c1\/3 of the items we throw away aren\u2019t broken, half of it could be easily fixed.\u201d The Restart Project<\/sub><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nJenny Ford<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMSc Sustainable Development in Practice, 2018<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFounder of Materials in Mind<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nJenny\u2019s work drives circular transformation in construction – connecting materials, technology, and people. They founded Materials in Mind in 2018 – a consultancy specialising in skills and partnerships in the built environment sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jenny\u2019s work bridges industry, education, and community through multiple innovative initiatives, all making circular and low-carbon practice accessible, connected, and commercially viable. Find out more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Factory X<\/a> – A network for regenerative and circular practice in the construction industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nInsight Space Studio<\/a> – Using 3D mapping and 360 scanning technology to support councils, landlords, occupiers, agents and designers to better understand their buildings. <\/p>\n\n\n\nESJ Collaborations<\/a> (LinkedIn) – Environmental, Social, Joyful. Low carbon and positive impact projects that foster local and long-term resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFred Peck<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBA(Hons) Business (Entrepreneurship), 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFounder of Fred and Gilbert Twin Vintage<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSpecialising in second hand 90s and 2000s vintage sportswear, Fred and Gilbert Twin Vintage champions quality textile recycling, combatting huge waste created by the fashion industry each year (approximately one truckload every second). Fred and his brother are passionate about the reuse of robust well-made and styled garments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starting as a shop on Frenchay campus, they\u2019ve now relocated to Bristol\u2019s creative sustainability hub, Sparks<\/a>. Sparks is a sustainable and socially orientated city centre department store housed in an old Marks & Spencer\u2019s store, now supporting over 40 independent small businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\u201c<\/strong>Every year, the fashion industry churns out about 92 million tons of textile waste.\u201d The Earth.Org<\/sup><\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nNina Gizzie<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBSc(Hons) Biomedical Sciences, 2014<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOperations and Development Manager<\/strong>, Share Bristol<\/a> \u2013 Library of Things<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nNina works for Share Bristol, who opened a Library of Things<\/a> on Frenchay Campus last year, where students, staff and the local community can borrow items for home, hobbies, study or practical tasks. From drills, tents and sewing machines to guitars, there\u2019s a treasure trove to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBorrowing instead of buying saves money and helps reduce the environmental impact of buying new. The Library of Things movement is growing across the globe, empowering people and communities, reducing waste and making good use of our resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nina is using a decade of Regional Operations and Management experience to scale the charity’s impact. Her role focuses on laying the foundation for growth and supporting the development of more sites to ensure that sharing is easy and accessible for everyone in Bristol, boosting the reach and awareness of the Library of Things movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cThe UK is the second biggest producer of electrical waste in the world, and still buys 1.7 million brand new electrical products each year.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Library of Things<\/a> <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSamantha Shaw<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBA(Hons) Sociology, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFounder Dolly Shop<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSamantha\u2019s Bristol-based Dolly Shop creates handmade soft toys and miniature clothing that challenge fast fashion and promote sustainability. Her passion is informed by her dissertation, which explored the social and environmental consequences of fast fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Supported by Student Ventures<\/a>, Sam\u2019s pop-up shop on Frenchay campus and clothes making workshops run at our Repair Caf\u00e9 have taught students and staff practical hands-on sewing, alteration and pattern cutting expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStaff and students can join Samantha for Make your own clothes: sustainable sewing workshop<\/a> on Glenside campus on Tuesday 4 November as part of UWE Bristol’s Green Week. Booking required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAlex Montgomery<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nMSc Sustainable Development in Practice, 2023<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFounder and Director, Generation Soil<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAlex founded Bristol based Generation Soil Community in 2021, with a mission of nurturing people and planet through food. They run food waste compost schemes, food education workshops, and urban food production sites. Alex also works as a Doctoral Researcher with UK Food Systems advancing circular food systems and food education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Green Week 2025 sees the launch of Frenchay campus\u2019 Wild Kitchen vegan outlet food waste composting scheme with Generation Soil. The resulting compost will be returned to campus and used on our grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cRegenerative practices can boost soil organic carbon by up to 159%<\/strong> and increase crop yields by as much as 29%<\/strong> \u2014 delivering both climate and food security benefits.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\nKumar, A., Antoniella, G., Blasi, E., & Chiti, T. (2025). Recent advances in regenerative sustainable agricultural strategies for managing soil carbon and mitigating climate change consequences<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFind out more and get involved<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAt UWE Bristol:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Circular economy at UWE Bristol<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- UWE Bristol Repair Caf\u00e9<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- UWE Bristol Sustainability Hub<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In Bristol:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Sparks Reuse department, including repairium<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bristol Repair Share and Reuse Map<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bristol Repair <\/a>Coalition<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- UWE <\/a>Bristol <\/a>MAKERS Project<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Share Bristol<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
More widely:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Ellen MacArthur Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- WRAP \u2013 The Global Environment Action NGO<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hubbub – award winning environmental charity<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Minimising waste and maximising the use of resources is what a circular economy is all about. A circular economy supports sustainable growth, environmental protection, and social equity. Unlike the traditional linear economy of ‘take, make, use, dispose’, it aims to keep materials in use for longer, reduce environmental impact, and decouple growth from resource consumption … Continue reading “Circular economy alumni heroes”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":2036,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":5,"footnotes":"[]"},"categories":[5,8,6],"tags":[74,75,77,78,79,76],"class_list":["post-2009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-bristol","category-profile","tag-circular-economy","tag-environment","tag-green-week","tag-student-venture","tag-student-ventures","tag-sustainabilty"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2009"}],"version-history":[{"count":45,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2096,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009\/revisions\/2096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Sam\u2019s passion for technology coupled with a frustration with waste started as a teenager. Now it\u2019s his business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While studying Team Entrepreneurship Sam developed his business with support from UWE\u2019s Student Ventures<\/a>. From their new base in the Sustainability Hub<\/a> on Frenchay Campus, Enviro IT offers affordable refurbished laptops and IT recycling services with secure data destruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the tech sector, a circular economy means products, components and materials are reused, refurbished, remanufactured and recycled. This approach exemplified by Enviro IT minimises the depletion of natural resources and pollution through waste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c1\/3 of the items we throw away aren\u2019t broken, half of it could be easily fixed.\u201d The Restart Project<\/sub><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Jenny\u2019s work drives circular transformation in construction – connecting materials, technology, and people. They founded Materials in Mind in 2018 – a consultancy specialising in skills and partnerships in the built environment sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jenny\u2019s work bridges industry, education, and community through multiple innovative initiatives, all making circular and low-carbon practice accessible, connected, and commercially viable. Find out more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Factory X<\/a> – A network for regenerative and circular practice in the construction industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insight Space Studio<\/a> – Using 3D mapping and 360 scanning technology to support councils, landlords, occupiers, agents and designers to better understand their buildings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ESJ Collaborations<\/a> (LinkedIn) – Environmental, Social, Joyful. Low carbon and positive impact projects that foster local and long-term resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specialising in second hand 90s and 2000s vintage sportswear, Fred and Gilbert Twin Vintage champions quality textile recycling, combatting huge waste created by the fashion industry each year (approximately one truckload every second). Fred and his brother are passionate about the reuse of robust well-made and styled garments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Starting as a shop on Frenchay campus, they\u2019ve now relocated to Bristol\u2019s creative sustainability hub, Sparks<\/a>. Sparks is a sustainable and socially orientated city centre department store housed in an old Marks & Spencer\u2019s store, now supporting over 40 independent small businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c<\/strong>Every year, the fashion industry churns out about 92 million tons of textile waste.\u201d The Earth.Org<\/sup><\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Nina works for Share Bristol, who opened a Library of Things<\/a> on Frenchay Campus last year, where students, staff and the local community can borrow items for home, hobbies, study or practical tasks. From drills, tents and sewing machines to guitars, there\u2019s a treasure trove to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Borrowing instead of buying saves money and helps reduce the environmental impact of buying new. The Library of Things movement is growing across the globe, empowering people and communities, reducing waste and making good use of our resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nina is using a decade of Regional Operations and Management experience to scale the charity’s impact. Her role focuses on laying the foundation for growth and supporting the development of more sites to ensure that sharing is easy and accessible for everyone in Bristol, boosting the reach and awareness of the Library of Things movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe UK is the second biggest producer of electrical waste in the world, and still buys 1.7 million brand new electrical products each year.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Library of Things<\/a> <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Samantha\u2019s Bristol-based Dolly Shop creates handmade soft toys and miniature clothing that challenge fast fashion and promote sustainability. Her passion is informed by her dissertation, which explored the social and environmental consequences of fast fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Supported by Student Ventures<\/a>, Sam\u2019s pop-up shop on Frenchay campus and clothes making workshops run at our Repair Caf\u00e9 have taught students and staff practical hands-on sewing, alteration and pattern cutting expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Staff and students can join Samantha for Make your own clothes: sustainable sewing workshop<\/a> on Glenside campus on Tuesday 4 November as part of UWE Bristol’s Green Week. Booking required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alex founded Bristol based Generation Soil Community in 2021, with a mission of nurturing people and planet through food. They run food waste compost schemes, food education workshops, and urban food production sites. Alex also works as a Doctoral Researcher with UK Food Systems advancing circular food systems and food education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Green Week 2025 sees the launch of Frenchay campus\u2019 Wild Kitchen vegan outlet food waste composting scheme with Generation Soil. The resulting compost will be returned to campus and used on our grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRegenerative practices can boost soil organic carbon by up to 159%<\/strong> and increase crop yields by as much as 29%<\/strong> \u2014 delivering both climate and food security benefits.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kumar, A., Antoniella, G., Blasi, E., & Chiti, T. (2025). Recent advances in regenerative sustainable agricultural strategies for managing soil carbon and mitigating climate change consequences<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n At UWE Bristol:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In Bristol:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n More widely:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Minimising waste and maximising the use of resources is what a circular economy is all about. A circular economy supports sustainable growth, environmental protection, and social equity. Unlike the traditional linear economy of ‘take, make, use, dispose’, it aims to keep materials in use for longer, reduce environmental impact, and decouple growth from resource consumption … Continue reading “Circular economy alumni heroes”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":2036,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":5,"footnotes":"[]"},"categories":[5,8,6],"tags":[74,75,77,78,79,76],"class_list":["post-2009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-bristol","category-profile","tag-circular-economy","tag-environment","tag-green-week","tag-student-venture","tag-student-ventures","tag-sustainabilty"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2009"}],"version-history":[{"count":45,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2096,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009\/revisions\/2096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nJenny Ford<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
MSc Sustainable Development in Practice, 2018<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Founder of Materials in Mind<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFred Peck<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
BA(Hons) Business (Entrepreneurship), 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Founder of Fred and Gilbert Twin Vintage<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNina Gizzie<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
BSc(Hons) Biomedical Sciences, 2014<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Operations and Development Manager<\/strong>, Share Bristol<\/a> \u2013 Library of Things<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSamantha Shaw<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BA(Hons) Sociology, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Founder Dolly Shop<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlex Montgomery<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
MSc Sustainable Development in Practice, 2023<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Founder and Director, Generation Soil<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\nFind out more and get involved<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n