Richard Clarke

Programme Manager (Engineering Innovation), United Utilities

Richard Clarke is United Utilities' Programme Manager (Engineering Innovation). Richard has led the delivery of Europe-wide innovation projects and successful Ofwat innovation funded schemes.

He has successfully delivered multi-million-pound EU funded innovation programmes involving multiple contributing organisations from several countries.

Session | Collaborative Innovation: Biopolymers in the Circular Economy

The "Biopolymers in the Circular Economy" project, led by United Utilities and funded by Ofwat’s Innovation Fund, aims to revolutionise wastewater treatment by extracting valuable biopolymers from sewage sludge. This landmark UK initiative involves multiple partners, including Severn Trent Water, South West Water, Royal HaskoningDHV and Cellvation amongst others.

The project will implement the UK's first Kaumera and Recell pilot plants, focusing on sustainable resource recovery and circular economy principles. By converting waste into high-value products like fertilisers and concrete curing agents, the project seeks to reduce operational costs, generate new revenue streams, and minimise environmental impact. The collaboration emphasises innovative approaches, stakeholder engagement, and market potential, aiming to tap into the $125 billion global polymer market. The project is expected to run until October 2027, offering significant economic and environmental benefits, and setting a precedent for future circular economy initiatives in the water sector.

This presentation will effectively showcase the creativity, innovation, and collaboration driving the Biopolymers project, highlighting its potential to transform wastewater treatment and contribute to a sustainable future. It will cover how the project delivery has been designed to manage the uncertainty inherent with innovation projects and the gated-delivery process whereby progress is reviewed and assessed. We will share how the project has attracted a large partnership and the complexities of delivering across national borders, with complex stakeholder groups including regulators and end users. And with a strong focus on learning and knowledge management how the project looks to be a catalyst for future circular economy schemes in the water sector.