Ecosurety launches £1-million environmental impact fund

Environmental compliance scheme Ecosurety has launched a £1-million fund to invest in projects that seek to reduce the environmental impacts of packaging, batteries or waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Supporting research and innovation across the waste and recycling sector, the Ecosurety Exploration Fund will be open to companies, charities, not-for-profits and academic institutions.

Ecosurety hopes to support projects that tackle waste across the full lifecycle of the product, including innovative technologies, awareness campaigns, processes, materials, collaborations or research into improving existing behaviours or systems.

Ecosurety will accept individual grant applications of up to £150,000, with the funding spread across three years. Grant applications will be judged by a panel of independent experts from industry, non-governmental organisations and businesses, including Mike Barry, Sustainable Change Maker and former Director of Sustainability at Marks and Spencer, Peter Maddox, Director of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), and Libby Peake, Senior Policy Advisor at Green Alliance.

Successful grant recipients will be required to report back on the impact of their project after a 12-month period.

Commenting on the launch of the fund, James Piper, CEO of Ecosurety, said: “The launch of the Ecosurety Exploration Fund is a hugely exciting step for our company. We hope it will provide a vital springboard for projects that offer innovative solutions to the challenges that packaging, batteries and e-waste currently pose to the environment. Ecosurety remains committed to boosting recycling rates in the UK as well as playing its part in the transition to a circular waste economy.

“We encourage all organisations with eligible projects to apply to the Ecosurety Exploration Fund and look forward to reviewing the entries.”

Peter Maddox added: “The move to a circular economy for packaging, e-waste and batteries requires innovative and bold new thinking. Harnessing new designs, technologies and ideas will ensure that our own recycling infrastructure continues to develop whilst solutions to minimise the wider environmental impacts of these products are also found.

“The Ecosurety Exploration Fund will provide a much-needed springboard for pioneering ideas in this sector, and I’m excited to be a part of the panel.”

Libby Peake said: “We are just waking up to the problems caused by our throwaway society in the UK and the inadequacy of our recycling systems. It’s the start of a journey that will hopefully see considerable changes in how we think about and use resources. Finding new solutions to the old problems associated with waste packaging, batteries and electricals will prove absolutely vital – and I look forward to seeing what ideas are out there.”

Applications to the Ecosurety Exploration Fund can be made via the Ecosurety website from today (28 November) until 10 March 2020. Shortlisting will take place during March and April and the winners will be announced in at a special event in May.

You can find more information on the Ecosurety website.