According to the Welsh Government, the fund will be used to offer grants to businesses of any size “seeking capital investment funding to increase their use of recycled materials in manufactured products, components or packaging”.
Eligible businesses may either apply for a ‘small scale’ grant from approximately £25,000 up to £200,000, or a ‘large scale’ grant up to £750,000.
WRAP Cymru will administer the fund on behalf of the Welsh Government. It is hoped it will help Wales reach the milestone of 70% recycling by 2025, as set out in the Welsh Government’s waste strategy Towards Zero Waste.
Funding
Funding can be used for infrastructure and equipment resulting in additional use of recycled materials in products, components or packaging produced in Wales, or investment in infrastructure and equipment for products, components or packaging new to market and containing recycled materials.
“Creating a circular economy for plastic waste is a huge opportunity for the economy of Wales as well as benefiting the environment. It will help create and protect jobs in Wales, by making our manufacturing companies more resource efficient and resilient,” a statement from the Welsh Government said.
Wales’ deputy minister for housing and local government, Hannah Blythyn, will launch the ‘Circular Economy Fund’ later today (29 April).
The Welsh Assembly member for Delyn will mark the launch with a visit to Newport-based packaging manufacturer Klӧckner Pentaplast which specialises in packaging in the food and drink industries.
Commenting on the launch of the fund, Ms Blythn said: “Our fund will help to cover some of the costs of investing in new equipment and infrastructure, increasing the use of recycled materials in Welsh manufacturing.”
‘Savings’
She added: “We know this has the potential to bring significant cost savings as well as helping businesses to reduce their carbon footprint. Increased use of recycled material provides economic opportunities. It also helps create and protect jobs by making Welsh manufacturing companies more resource efficient and resilient in terms of the security of supply of raw materials.”
Klӧckner Pentaplast was chosen to launch the fund as a signatory to the UK Plastics Pact, and claims to use up to 90% recycled content in products at its south Wales site, some of which is sourced from Roydon Bottle Recycling in Pontllanffraith.
Neil Hancock from Klӧckner Pentaplast added: “As a sustainably driven manufacturer of plastic packaging for fresh food we encourage collaboration at every opportunity. As outlined in our Positive Plastics Pledge, we committed to help increase recycling and use more recycled materials in our packaging to achieve a circular economy, while protecting food, keeping it safe and fresher for longer.”
Related Links
WRAP Cymru – Circular Economy Fund
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