Innovation

Internal shot of empty industrial facility that is the basis for the battery plant in Plymouth, now under construction,
Altilium begins construction of UK's first at-scale EV battery recycling and refining plant

Altilium has begun construction on the UK’s first at‑scale electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling and refining plant in Plymouth, Devon, improving domestic capacity for recovering critical minerals.

Matoha FabriTell technology
AI-powered technology for identifying textile waste secures further investment

WRAP-backed Circular Plastics Accelerator among investors in infrared scanner using machine learning algorithms to improve sorting of different fabrics

Fabric fibres
Textiles industry urged to support fibre pollution mitigation

A report from Fashion for Good and The Microfibre Consortium calls for improved filtration technologies during production and in homes, as well as integration of other techniques.

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
Ferrybridge mixed energy facility, with CCS
Seventh Carbon Budget proposes UK target of 68 per cent recycling rate by 2035
By Resource |
26 February 2025 |
Committee for Climate Change also says EfW must be included in Emissions Trading Scheme and face mandatory carbon capture requirements
Novelis team in front of aluminium ingot made using hydrogen fuelled power
Novelis achieves 90 per cent emissions reduction using hydrogen in aluminium recycling
By
Charles Newman
| 21 February 2025 |
UK government-backed trial demonstrates potential for hydrogen to decarbonise energy-intensive reprocessing
AI system to tackle construction waste through real-time monitoring
By
Charles Newman
| 21 February 2025 |
European Commission awards Northumbria University funding to develop artificial intelligence tool for improving construction waste management
Lithium Salvage
Lithium-ion battery waste refinery receives £1.7 million investment
By
Beth Jones
| 4 February 2025 |
Lithium Salvage has received further investment to expand battery recycling facility, capable of recovering 98 per cent of shredded battery material
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
Pact Network Connect delegates at Mexico event in front of food waste
Food and plastics networks unite in global effort to cut waste
By
Charles Newman
| 24 January 2025 |
Representatives from 15 countries gather in Mexico to accelerate action on food and plastic waste reduction
Biodegradable cup
Industry network secures £474k to boost bio-based materials regulation
By Resource |
2 December 2024 |
BB-REG-NET to develop new standards and frameworks for sustainable chemical alternatives to fossil-based materials
Algae
Unlocking the Potential of Algae for a Thriving Circular Economy
By
Massimiliano Saltori
| 13 November 2024 |
Consortium across the Baltic and North Sea are pooling their resources to develop algae-based products using industrial waste nutrients
Mineral mine
UK-India partnership to develop mineral supply chain observatory
By
Beth Jones
| 29 October 2024 |
CPI partners in initiative to identify recycling opportunities, test artificial intelligence technologies, and share knowledge on extraction and refinement rare-earth resources
CO2BioClean plant opening ceremony
German plant to convert carbon emissions into bioplastics
By
Beth Jones
| 17 October 2024 |
CO2BioClean technology uses a fermentation process to transform CO2 into biodegradable biopolymers
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
Illustrative image of propane molecules
Oxford startup unveils 'Atomic Scissors' to reprocess waste plastics
By Resource |
2 October 2024 |
Repolywise's innovative technology aims to efficiently recycle hard-to-process polyolefins
2024 Resource Hot 100 Innovator of the Year
2024 Resource Hot 100: Innovator of the Year
By Resource |
19 September 2024 |
Sophie Walker, CEO of Dsposal, recognised for her contributions to technical innovation in the circular economy
Emissions stacks and a portacabin at enfinium's carbon capture pilot at an energy from waste site
Enfinium begins UK's first carbon capture pilot
By Resource |
16 September 2024 |
Ferrybridge facility now capturing one tonne of CO2 daily in 12-month trial
3d modelling of Carbios' PET biorecycling plant
FCC Environment and Carbios to explore UK PET biorecycling plant
By
Charles Newman
| 6 August 2024 |
Companies sign agreement to potentially licence technology that will process range of hard-to-recycle plastics including polyester textiles
Residual waste sorting line
Renewi and Freepoint partner to extract plastics from residual waste
By
Charles Newman
| 19 July 2024 |
New Ghent facility to process 80,000 tonnes annually for advanced recycling
Computer sorting of plastic
Eunomia study identifies limited need for advanced plastic sorting
By
Charles Newman
| 18 July 2024 |
Research suggests technologies, such as AI-driven object recognition, might play key role for sorting HDPE and PP containers for contact-sensitive applications. 
Hand holding up a mocked up EU passport that says 'Digital Product Passport' with an icon for clothing and the word 'Textiles' underneath
European Parliament research puts forward requirements of a digital product passport for textiles
By
Charles Newman
| 4 July 2024 |
Report suggests mechanism for tracking garments should start by 2027, laddering up to a full circular DPP by 2033
Worker pushing Royal Mail warehouse trolley incorporating new reusable sleeves
Royal Mail reduces waste by 2,000 tonnes a year with reusable trolley sleeves
By Resource |
20 June 2024 |
The company exceeded its waste reduction target by replacing single-use cardboard trolley sleeves with durable, recyclable versions designed and manufactured in-house.