Material Focus announces £1m Circular Electricals Fund

The not-for-profit is looking for projects that will provide “innovation with impact” that improve resource efficiency, reduce environmental impact and encourage collaboration across industry.

Funding is available for up to £150,000 per successful project.

UK organisations, including industry bodies, non-profits, private companies, compliance schemes, universities and research institutions can apply, with the closing date for applications being the 14 August 2025.

Scott Butler, executive director, Material Focus, said: “We have already funded over 60 projects that make it easier to fix, donate, and recycle existing electricals for over 10 million people across the UK. However, we are designing and making too many products without full consideration of the materials they are made from, the repairability of them, and how easy it is to recover useful parts and materials.

“We are looking for ambitious projects that can bring fresh new ideas to reduce the environmental impact of electricals by improving product design, improving resource efficiency, and encouraging collaboration.”

What does it take?

Project applications will need to demonstrate practical, scalable solutions that enhance resource efficiency, reduce environmental impact and encourage collaboration that address the following key challenges:

• Materials – developing new methods for more efficiently recovering materials such as technology metals and other valuable materials from e-waste such as advanced recycling technologies ensuring that their value is recovered.
• Product design – making electricals more durable, repairable, upgradeable, and long lasting. For example, designing consumer and household electricals with easily replaceable components to extend their lifespan.
• Business models – developing new services that promote reuse, sharing, and waste reduction (e.g. leasing, product-as-a-service, smart homes, libraries of things).

The Circular Electricals Fund will need to provide a range of opportunities including: contribute to the creation of a circular electricals system; network and collaborate with key industry figures, and other changemakers who are making it easier to fix, donate and recycle electricals in the UK.

Want to hear more about Material Focus’s work? Hear them speak at our upcoming London Conference on 5 June 2025. Learn more here.