2024 Resource Hot 100: Innovator of the Year

Innovation is the lifeblood of the sector, constantly pushing boundaries to transform materials from waste to valuable resources. Recognising this crucial role, we are delighted to introduce the new category of Resource Hot 100 Innovator of the Year, sponsored by Recolight, to celebrate those at the forefront of implementing transformative ideas.

Sophie Walker, CEO of Dsposal, is our inaugural winner, leading the votes in this category in this year’s Resource Hot 100 for her pivotal role in developing open-source standards for packaging producers and compliance technology. Walker's work exemplifies the sector's drive towards more efficient, transparent, and sustainable practices.

"Innovation to me is about solving problems," Walker explains, "and moving to a circular economy poses a lot of interesting problems that need solving." This ethos is evident in her approach to tackling the industry's challenges, particularly through the use of digital technologies.

Walker points to Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and digital waste tracking as potentially revolutionary innovations in the waste management sector. These technologies promise to streamline data sharing, enabling better understanding and informed decision-making at every level of the resource management process.

However, Walker emphasises that innovation should extend beyond recycling: "Whilst recycling is absolutely important to the circular economy, let's not get stuck there. Let's lift our eyes to the horizon, roll up our sleeves and agree we need to be aiming for much more than incremental change."

This broader vision aligns with the industry's current trajectory. From AI-powered sorting systems to carbon capture technology and innovative packaging designs, each link in the circular economy chain is benefiting from new ideas and technologies. These advancements are driving the sector towards more sustainable practices and greater resource efficiency.

Sophie Walker: Waste Management Innovator

Walker's journey to becoming a waste management innovator wasn't a straight path. Co-founding Dsposal with Tom Passmore in 2016, she brought expertise from her background in supply chains and the food sector to develop clean-tech solutions for waste managers and producers.

"There are lots of things that can be frustrating about this sector," Walker admits, "but what I love about working in the world of waste and resources is the chunkiness of the challenges and the potential for impact."

This passion for tackling complex problems is evident in Dsposal's work on digital tools for accountability and compliance in waste management. Walker sees these innovations as critical steps towards fundamentally changing how we handle, value, and share resources throughout their lifecycle.

Reflecting on winning the Innovator of the Year award, Walker said: "Genuinely gobsmacked. Innovation is a team effort and I am only here because I get to work with an immensely talented and committed team. We've been so lucky to find wonderful collaborators too -- clients, suppliers, funders and project partners -- and this really helps us to amplify and extend the impact we can have as a small team."

The introduction of the Innovator of the Year category to the Resource Hot 100 underscores the industry's recognition of the vital role that innovation plays in shaping a more sustainable future. As the sector continues to evolve, innovators like Sophie Walker will be at the forefront, driving the changes necessary to realise a truly circular economy.

Congratulating Walker on the award, Suzanne Castine, MarComms Manager at Recolight, said: "Innovation is crucial to the future of the UK waste and recycling industry, to help improve recycling efficiency and participation, and - ultimately - resource recovery. Recolight has always been dedicated to supporting innovation in the sustainable lighting industry, and we are thrilled to sponsor the Resource Hot 100 Innovator of the Year, to recognise those working at the frontier of what's possible more broadly. Sophie Walker from Dsposal is a very worthy winner, and we offer her our heartfelt congratulations!"