John Lewis Partnership and Hubbub launch £1 million Circular Future Fund
The fund seeks to support trail-blazing solutions to rethink waste and develop a new business model.
The Circular Future Fund will provide grants of between £150,000 to £300,000 for projects that re-think waste, shift consumer mindsets or develop new business models.
Hoping to accelerate the transition towards a more circular economy, the fund seeks new thinking in textiles, food and household products, technology and services.
The fund is open to charities, Community Interest Companies, social enterprises, academic bodies and start-ups under 5 years old.
Successful projects will be innovative and truly circular delivering significant impact that creates a long-term legacy.
Collaborative applications are encouraged from organisations willing to openly share their approach and findings.
Marija Rompani, director of ethics and sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership, said: “By creating this fund, we’re hoping to unearth some of the world’s leading innovators, who have built their business models, products and services around the concept of circularity.”
“We live in a world of finite materials and we need to start protecting them before it’s too late. This is why we’re particularly looking for projects that are regenerative and can eliminate waste or pollution from the design stage, and ultimately protect nature.”
The fund builds on a range of commitments made by the John Lewis Partnership in October 2020. Such commitments include ensuring the ‘buy back’ or ‘take back’ solution for all product categories by 2025 and halving food waste both operationally and for customers’ by 2030.
As part of this commitment, John Lewis launched a new range of mattresses, containing wool provided after shearing by UK sheep farmers supplying Waitrose. The new mattress range ensures this natural fibre will be put to good use ensuring quality wool is not wasted.
Hubbub and John Lewis Partnership are hoping that this new grant fund will generate a spectrum of creative ideas to support the transition to a circular economy, with applications needed to be completed by 9th January 2022.
23 November 2021
Climate Action
