Impact Recycling receive funding from UK Research & Innovation’s Sustainable Innovation Fund (SIF).

Sustainable Innovation Fund will allow for the development and expansion of Impact Recycling’s project to adapt their existing recycling technology, BOSS, but for medical waste.

Totaling £200 million, the fund ensures that innovative ideas and projects led by companies recovering from the impact of coronavirus will not be lost. It helps power the UK’s economic recovery and develop new sustainable opportunities, while supporting the UK’s goals to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

Highlights include:

  • Glasgow-based Flex Marine Power Ltd has been awarded £1.9 million to develop its “SwimmerTurbine”, a 50kW tidal turbine. This aims to make the harnessing of the UK’s abundant tidal resource for power generation commercially feasible
  • eco-start-up, Naturbeads, based in Wiltshire has been awarded over £170,000 to develop a new process that turns cellulose from fibres into spherical form to replace microplastic beads. Microplastics, often used in personal care products, are polluting, whilst cellulose is natural, renewable and 100% biodegradable
  • with the pandemic resulting in an increase in NHS clinical waste, Tyneside-based Impact Recycling Limited will use its technology to recover high-value polymers from currently incinerated waste. The project will receive £3 million in funding. It will recycle a stream of sterilised clinical medical waste from NHS Scotland, directly saving up to 87,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually based on this NHS contract alone.

Harnessing innovation and creativity

Energy Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

Reaching our net zero goal will mean harnessing the innovation and creativity of entrepreneurs across the country, which is why I am thrilled to see Innovate UK backing these excellent projects across the UK.

It is precisely this kind of ingenuity which will help us to build back greener from the pandemic. I look forward to seeing how these projects make the most of this funding in the months and years ahead.

Simon Edmonds, Deputy Executive Chair and Chief Business Officer, Innovate UK said:

UK innovators have risen to the challenge of the pandemic to come up with big, bold ideas to help the economy roar back in a sustainable way. By supporting enterprise and academia all over the country, Innovate UK is backing not only business but our net-zero goals.

You can view the whole article on the UK Research & Innovation website here.

Please view the video below for more info on the Stainable Innovation Fund project.