14 May 2020
WRAP is pleased to announce that it has widened the scope of the £6.5million Wales Circular Economy Fund. The fund was introduced in April 2019 to support the use of recycled materials by manufacturers in Wales. It can now also support preparation for re-use, refurbishment and re-manufacturing activities in Wales. This includes the production of sustainable goods to aid the global fight against coronavirus, such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
A revised and more agile application process will enable grants to be awarded more quickly. These changes have been made to help the Welsh economy respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marcus Gover, WRAP CEO said:
“The purpose of the Wales Circular Economy Fund is to help build a strong, sustainable manufacturing and remanufacturing sector in Wales. It will support locally manufactured and remanufactured goods made from recycled Welsh raw materials. It will support the growth of local repair and refurbishment services to help Welsh people get the maximum value from the products they buy. It will create jobs, help to tackle climate change and make the Welsh economy more resilient.
“Grants awarded to date will result in over £2million of capital investment. Now we have extended the scope, we are looking forward to applications from more organisations operating in Wales.”
Over a three-year period, the grants already awarded are expected to result in:
- the use of an extra 10,000 tonnes of recycled materials;
- prevention of more than 6,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions;
- turnover growth in excess of £7.3million;
- creation of at least 14 new jobs.
Small Scale grants from £6,000 to €200,000 and Large Scale grants from €200,000 to £750,000 are now available. Organisations of any size may apply, as long as they intend to operate in Wales.
Eligible projects must:
- increase the use of recycled plastic, paper/card or textiles in existing or new products (projects seeking to use other recycled materials will be considered on a case-by-case basis); or
- extend the life of products/materials through preparation for re-use, refurbishment or re-manufacturing activities.
More information can be found here www.wrapcymru.org.uk/grants
Notes to Editor
- WRAP is a not for profit organisation founded in 2000 which works with governments, businesses and citizens to create a world in which we source and use resources sustainably. Our impact spans the entire lifecycle of the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the products we buy, from production to consumption and beyond. www.wrap.org.uk
- WRAP Cymru provides Wales-specific support on behalf of the Welsh Government, including the delivery of the Circular Economy Fund, sustainable procurement assistance for the public sector, the Collaborative Change Programme for local authorities and the Wales Recycles campaign. Our work also includes UK-wide programmes such as The UK Plastics Pact.