Magazine

Resource Hot 100 2022: Full List Revealed

Trewin Restorick, Founder and CEO of Hubbub, has been voted winner of the 2022 Resource Hot 100, our annual poll of the recycling industry’s great and good, as decided by the sector itself. Thank you to everyone who took part.

This year we saw a record number of new entries to the Hot 100, which itself serves as a reflection of the energy flowing into and within the industry. With the Extended Producer Responsibility consultation response now in, Defra’s Resources and Waste Strategy is now officially up and running. Innovation is being seen across the sector, with an impressive array of novel solutions being delivered to meet the demands of our age and of new or incoming regulation.

We are pleased to celebrate the individuals behind such advances within the Resource Hot 100.

This year’s top ten features five names that are completely new to the Resource Hot 100, each representing a very different – and significant – contribution to the resource agenda. Entering the hallowed ranks of the top ten are Mikela Druckman, CEO of artificial intelligence company Greyparrot (#10); Hara Xirou, Head of South East Europe at Eunomia Research and Consulting (#8); Mike Jackson, Director of Supply Chain Management and Head of Charity at Roadchef (#7); Emma Beal, Managing Director of West London Waste Authority (#6), and Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity with the Scottish Government (#3).

There is just one familiar face in this year’s top ten - David Allen (Managing Director, Recycling Lives), who has continued to work his way up from #9 to #5.

Other individuals have jumped up a few places from last year’s placements to make the 2022 top ten, including Iain Gulland (Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland), who crept into the top ten at #9 from #14; Adam Read (External Affairs Director, Suez Recycling and Recovery UK and President of the CIWM), who moved from #19 to #4; Stuart Hayward-Higham (Technical Development Director, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK), who moved from #16 to #2, and - finally, this year’s winner of the Resource Hot 100, Trewin Restorick (Founder and CEO, Hubbub), who made the biggest leap from #34 to claim this year’s top spot.

Against the backdrop of the new chapter being heralded in by the Government’s overhauled waste legislation, improvements in household recycling rates have slowed, if not stalled, in many parts of the UK. Key to unlocking the promised new dawn will be changing the mind of the consumer, and Trewin Restorick has been leading the charge.

Before founding Hubbub in 2014 – a charity that works very much like a creative agency for environmental issues – Restorick set up Global Action Plan, an NGO delivering behavioural change programs with businesses, schools and communities to tackle the root causes of the climate and nature crises. Prior to that, Restorick served as Head of Fundraising at Greenpeace. With Hubbub, he sought to create a new social enterprise that would make sustainability relevant to people across the UK. With Restorick at the helm as CEO, Hubbub went on to carry out a growing portfolio of campaigns that have inspired the public to live in an environmentally friendly way.

Voters praised his ‘leadership, knowledge and passion’, describing him as ‘a visionary who is always looking to develop new creative and engaging campaigns that help to tackle environmental issues’, meeting consumers ‘where they are at without judgment’.

With an implementation date set for 2023, Extended Producer Responsibility is firmly on the horizon. The UK is also preparing for a Deposit Return Scheme and an overhaul of waste collection consistency, with consultation responses expected in the coming months. Standing as pillars of the UK’s new waste and resource strategy, these policies will require consumers to move away from throwaway culture.

Restorick has always been ahead of the curve, dedicating his career to changing minds. With behavioural change central to the future of the waste and resources industry and the success of government strategy, the effects of Restorick’s leadership will be felt for years to come, making him a deserving winner of this year’s Hot 100.

'A massive privilege'

Commenting on his win, Restorick said: “It is a massive privilege to be named winner of the Resource Hot 100 award as it is voted on by people for whom I have a huge amount of respect. Like me, you are all driven by the need to challenge our throwaway culture seeking to reduce waste and unnecessary use of resources.

“In these uncertain times, the need to succeed in our joint ambition has never been greater.  Redistributing food and electronic waste not only benefits the environment but can have significant social benefits. Building a more circular economy will create greater resilience for the UK economy and more efficient use of resources will cut carbon.

“To deliver these benefits the waste sector needs to act even more collaboratively, be bold, take risks and massively improve the way we communicate. I created Hubbub with the intention of doing these things and am truly delighted that our efforts have been recognised through this award – thank you.”

We have been inspired by the great work being done and we trust you will be too.

 

Resource Hot 100 2022 Top Ten

 

1. Trewin Restorick (34)

Founder and CEO, Hubbub

"On the cutting edge of sustainability communications"

As Hubbub CEO, Trewin has overseen a range of trial behaviour change campaigns, tackling issues like litter, food waste and coffee cup recycling.

https://www.hubbub.org.uk


Stuart Hayward-Higham

2. Stuart Hayward-Higham (16)

Technical Development Director, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK

"Leading the debate on circularity, supporting Defra with excellent analysis"

Hayward-Higham has extensive knowledge of emerging technologies and has overseen SUEZ's move to self-sufficiency in electricity.

https://www.suez.co.uk/en-gb


Lorna Slater

3. Lorna Slater (NEW)

Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Scottish Government

"Leading Scotland’s drive towards a circular economy"

Lorna Slater has served in the Scottish Government as Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity since 2021. Co-leader of the Scottish Greens alongside Patrick Harvie since 2019, Lorna Slater is one of the first Green politicians in the UK to serve as a government minister.

https://www.gov.scot


 
Adam Read

4. Adam Read (19) 

External Affairs Director, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, and President of the CIWM

"A force of nature. Inspires those around him"

Dr Adam Read joined SUEZ recycling and recovery UK as Director of External Affairs in September 2017 and was appointed President of the Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM) in 2021. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the waste sector as an academic, researcher, local authority officer and consultant.

http://www.suez.co.uk/


 
David Allen

5. David Allen (9)

Managing Director, Recycling Lives

"Finding innovative, equitable solutions and driving the waste agenda forward"

David is Managing Director of Recycling Lives Compliance Services, a unique Producer Compliance Scheme. The business is part of the national Recycling Lives Group, which comprises national waste management, recycling, car salvage, compliance and recruitment businesses.

http://www.recyclinglives.com


 
Emma Beal

6. Emma Beal (NEW)

Managing Director, West London Waste Authority

"Actively shaping a greener London"

Emma leads West London Waste Authority where she is responsible for the day to day management and for developing WLWA’s waste management strategy with its constituent boroughs Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames.

https://westlondonwaste.gov.uk/


Mike Jackson

7. Mike Jackson (NEW)

Director of Supply Chain Management & Head of Charity, Roadchef

"Leading Roadchef towards net-zero"

In addition to his roles as Director of Supply Chain Management and Head of Charity, Mike is motorway service operator Roadchef’s sustainability champion, leading the company’s effort to net-zero. Under Mike’s leadership, Roadchef has undertaken a number of significant sustainability initiatives in the last few years. 

https://roadchef.com


Hara Xirou

8. Hara Xirou (NEW)

Head of South East Europe, Eunomia Research & Consulting

"An expert researcher and policy developer"

Hara delivers EU, national and regional projects on resource efficiency and sustainability, regularly engaging with EU key decision makers in the European Commission, members of the European Parliament, industry associations, consultancies and NGOs.

https://www.eunomia.co.uk/

This article was taken from Issue 102


Iain Gulland

9. Iain Gulland (14)

Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland

"Making a real difference in Scotland and beyond"

Iain has helped deliver Scotland's zero waste and circular economy plans, ensuring that resources are valued and not wasted.

http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk


Mikela Druckman

10. Mikela Druckman (NEW)

CEO, Greyparrot

"Passionate leader with a vision for the future of recycling"

Mikela founded Greyparrot in January 2019. The company uses AI to create robotics and smart systems for the waste management industry.

https://www.greyparrot.ai/

 


View the Resource Hot 100 2022, places 40-11 >>

View the Resource Hot 100 2022, places 70-41 >>

View the Resource Hot 100 2022, places 100-71 >>