Circular Electricals Fund

Support for new ideas and innovative approaches aimed at keeping electricals and their materials in use for longer, and reducing e-waste.

Material Focus has launched the Circular Electricals Fund, a £1 million fund searching for practical, scalable solutions that enhance resource efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and encourage collaboration across the industry.

E-waste is the world’s fastest-growing waste stream, with over 100,000 tonnes of electricals binned every year in the United Kingdom alone. Many electrical and electronic products and smart devices still aren’t designed to be easily reused or recycled. And we lack the systems to recover all the valuable materials inside them.

This competition seeks fresh ideas are that address key challenges in

• Materials – using and recovering materials more efficiently to conserve resources, reduce waste, and recover value (e.g. bioleaching, biodegradable circuit boards, low-carbon materials)
• Product design – making electricals more durable, repairable, upgradeable, and long lasting
• Business models – developing new services that promote reuse, sharing, and waste reduction, prioritising service over ownership (e.g. leasing, product-as-a-service, smart homes, libraries of things)

As well as £150,000 funding per project, successful applicants have the opportunity to engage in industry networking, receive communications support, and have access to industry data, research and trends.

Find out more about the Circular Electricals Fund and how to apply.

First published 20 May 2025