Inspire Circular Programme

Introducing the Inspire Circular Programme

The Inspire Circular Programme is a curated series of events created by Tarkett, in collaboration with leading voices across architecture, design, academia and the wider building industry. It's designed to empower architects, designers and building professionals to bring circularity to life in their projects and businesses.

Our first event - The Economic Case for Circularity in the Built Environment - took place in London in April 2025, with more sessions planned across Europe.

Why the Inspire Circular Programme?

As climate challenges intensify, the need to rethink how we design, build and reuse materials has never been more urgent.

We know that circular transformation requires collaboration. That is why we launched the Inspire Circular Programme, to create a space where professionals can connect, learn, and lead the shift toward a more sustainable and regenerative built environment. 

Whether you are just beginning your circular journey or looking to deepen your expertise, the programme offers:
    Expert insights from across the industry
    Real-world examples with practical tools
•    Opportunities to collaborate and share knowledge with peers

Together, we can design spaces that are not only beautiful—but built for a better future.

Sarah Dodge, Caroline Till, Jonny Buckland, and Anette Timmer discussing circular fit-out refurbishment at Inspire Circular

"I think the biggest opportunities right now are to really connect with each other across the whole value chain, especially pulling in more of the investment and insurance and all of these influencers and enablers within the process, just to reach the financial viability of a lot of the circular design solutions we're looking at." - Sarah Dodge, Ellen MacArthur Foundation

2025 Events Agenda

For more than a decade, Tarkett has been embedding circular economy principles into our business—shifting from the traditional take-make-waste model toward closed-loop systems. We call this approach "The Beauty of Circularity".

Each Inspire Circular event explores a theme that aligns with our three beauty of circularity pillars: Design, Materials, and Circular Systems.

In collaboration with long-standing partner FranklinTill, the 2025 agenda highlights emerging trends and practical strategies in circular design—covering the economic case for circularity and new approaches to rethinking resources for a closed-loop built environment, with more to follow.

1. The Economic Case for Circularity in Architecture and Design

April 2025 - London

Circularity in the built environment is no longer just an environmental necessity—it’s a powerful economic opportunity. With rising material costs, stricter regulations and growing demand for sustainable solutions, circularity offers a smarter, more resilient path for architecture, design, and the built environment.

This event explored how a circular economy can be applied in practice, highlighting the economic case for circularity across projects and business models.

Guest Speakers:

  • Ioannis Ioannou - Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, London Business School
  • Sarah Dodge - Strategic Design Manager, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
  • Jonny Buckland - Co-founder and Creative Director, Studio Saar
  • Amy Frearson - Journalist and Editor specialising in Architecture and Design
  • Marianne Lowgren - Business Development Manager, Atelier Ten
  • Ciaran Malik - Structural Engineer and Lecturer in Technical Studies for the Architectural Association
  • Kai Liebetanz - Head of Nature and Resource Use, UK Green Building Council
  • Anette Timmer - Marketing Director of Commercial Flooring, Tarkett EMEA
  • Caroline Till - Executive Director, Franklin Till

2. Reimagining Materials for a Circular Future

October 2025 - London

Could we be on the brink of a materials revolution?

Embracing Tarkett’s spirit of collaboration over competition, our next Inspire Circular event will bring together some of the world’s biggest brands, bravest agencies and most disruptive innovators to explore how circular principles are helping to push us towards a materials revolution.

From radical breakthroughs and nature-based solutions, to the urgent pressures reshaping business right now, we’ll cut through the hype for an open exploration of what’s working, what’s failing, and what’s about to upend the future of materials.

Guest Speakers: 

  • Christopher Raeburn, Founder & Creative Director, RÆBURN Design 
  • Michael Pecirno, Sustainable Futures Lead, Hassell Studio
  • David Johnston, Founder & Executive Creative Director, Accept & Proceed
  • Lucy Hughes, Founder & COO, MarinaTex
  • Thomas Leneveu, Vice President, Tarkett EMEA
  • Adib Dada, Lead Architect and Forestmaker, theOtherDada
  • Jo Barnard, Founder and Director, Morrama
  • Ruby Smith, Senior Strategist, FranklinTill
  • Sophie Thomas, Senior Director, Useful Simple Trust
  • Elizabeth Lee, CEO, Carbon Cell
  • Conor Taylor, Co-founder, Low Carbon Industrial
  • Caroline Till, Co-Founder and Executive Director, FranklinTill

The Beauty of Circularity

For us, the Beauty of Circularity is about the beauty of the reused materials that go into our products, the innovative manufacturing processes we implement, and the knowledge that we’re actively reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

Our approach to circularity focuses on three key areas: Design, Materials, and Circular Journey.

Event Gallery