Design

CIWM CEO Sarah Poulter
Pilot programme to enable designer access to recycling facilities

The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and the Circular Economy Institute have announced a pilot programme to enable practical skills exchange between the design and waste management sectors. The Design Skills for Circularity Programme, beginning in January 2026, will connect designers with waste facilities whilst enabling waste professionals to visit design studios and manufacturing sites.  

Recycled Glass
Recycled glass identified as cement substitute in compressed earth blocks

The University of Portsmouth has found that an optimal mixture of reprocessed glass and lime stabalises compressed earth blocks

TOMRA reuse collection point
TOMRA unveils reverse vending machines for reusable food packaging

Reuse Collection Point (RCPs) will accept QR-coded containers and provide instant deposit refunds, with rollout planned for Q1 2026

Futamura teriyaki sauce sachet
Compostable packaging solution developed for condiment sachets
By
Beth Jones
| 7 May 2025 |
Collaboration creates bio-degradable alternative for hard-to-recycle liquid pouches used for food, sauces, and personal care creams
Wind turbine refurbishment
Circular wind farms offer a path to meeting UK clean energy targets
By
Beth Jones
| 1 May 2025 |
Metal recycler EMR is investing in specialist recycling of wind turbines, as the first wave built to earn Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) start to reach end-of-life
Cable markers
Cable Markers: Types and Their Applications in Different Installations
By Resource |
27 February 2025 |
Different types of markers serve specific environments from data centers to industrial settings
Device prototype with thermal camera
Chipless sensors cut electronic waste in temperature monitoring systems
By Resource |
4 February 2025 |
Glasgow researchers develop recyclable temperature sensors from carbon-loaded polymers, eliminating need for semiconductors in wireless monitoring applications
Electronic Circuit Board
University of Glasgow to set up UK's first sustainable electronics centre
By
Charles Newman
| 7 October 2024 |
£5.5 million REACT initiative aims to drive transition to net-zero electronics
Illustration of Turning off the Tap of consumption
CIWM Presidential Report: sector must influence product design to tackle overconsumption
By Resource |
21 June 2024 |
New CIWM President Tim Walker launches ‘Turning off the tap’, calling for waste and resource managers to become guardians of raw materials
UK Circular Economy continues to attract significant investment
UK circular economy investments rose to over £1.3Bn in 2023
By
Charles Newman
| 16 May 2024 |
Despite a challenging economic climate, the sector has defied the downturn, attracting record levels of investment last year
Apple iPhone being repaired
Apple to enable repairs with used parts
By
Bella Zanin
| 16 April 2024 |
Tech company plans to simplify repair process and tighten restrictions on use of lost or stolen parts
Seaweed-based packaging alternative to paper
First seaweed-based packaging approved as ‘recyclable’ by OPRL
By
Bella Zanin
| 27 March 2024 |
New material, developed by Wales-based start-up PlantSea, can be recycled through a standard paper mill.
bioplastic spoon fork and disposable lunch box
£50k initiative to assess barriers to bio-based materials
By
Bella Zanin
| 13 March 2024 |
Bioeconomy experts will investigate how to speed up the development and adoption of bio-based plastics and chemicals, in bid to reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil resources.
Amazon invests in Glacier AI recycling technology
Amazon invests in AI-powered recycling technology for MRFs
By
Becky Goodall
| 7 March 2024 |
MRF robotics company Glacier has raised $7.7m in funding from Amazon and other investors to refine AI-enabled sorting technology able to identify ‘novel packaging materials’.
Plans unveiled to develop first biodegradable PCB
By
Bella Zanin
| 16 January 2024 |
University of Portsmouth and Jiva Materials announce partnership to make low-impact printed circuit boards.
Remanufactured
Light at the end of the tunnel: Remanufactured lighting equipment
By
Josh Templeman
| 4 January 2024 |
Over 29 million pieces of LED, solar and decorative lighting end up in UK landfill sites each year. Is remanufactured lighting ready to provide the solution?
Sustainable packaging
Consumers call on beauty brands for more sustainable packaging
By
Josh Templeman
| 19 December 2023 |
A new survey from CleanHub has revealed that consumers believe that the beauty industry needs to actively reduce the amount of plastic packaging it uses.
Paper cup
Startup eliminates plastic through sustainable paper cup
By
Josh Templeman
| 23 October 2023 |
The Good Cup paper cup, pioneered by Hong Kong-based startup Choose Planet A, eliminates plastic lids through a one-piece fold-over design
Lego recycled plastic
Lego backtracks: Is recycled plastic more sustainable than virgin materials?
By
Josh Templeman
| 27 September 2023 |
Toy-making firm Lego had originally planned to produce all of its bricks using recycled PET by the end of the decade
Reusable packaging
Report raises concerns of bias in single-use vs reusable packaging research
By
Josh Templeman
| 10 August 2023 |
The report unveils potential transparency issues in heavily cited studies favouring single-use options over reusable packaging
Recyclable packaging
DS Smith partners with Eat Happy to develop fully recyclable packaging for sushi
By
Josh Templeman
| 9 August 2023 |
The recyclable packaging is anticipated to prevent 1,250 tonnes of plastic waste each year
Single-use vapes
ZWS: Single-use vapes could be recharged up to 500 times if redesigned
By
Savannah Coombe
| 5 July 2023 |
The finding comes from a Zero Waste Scotland review commissioned by the Scottish Government into policy options to curb the environmental impact of single-use vapes and other e-cigarettes 
Extension of Open Standard will help packaging innovation, such as cataloguing materials in drinks cartons
Packaging innovation: Open Data Standard expanded to cover more materials
By
Charles Newman
| 23 June 2023 |
Open 3P initiative to improve packaging sustainability, by developing consistent methodology for classifying, reporting and sharing data extended to glass, metals, paper, fibre-based composites and wood.