Impact Recycling received funding from UK Research & Innovation’s Sustainable Innovation Fund (SIF) to develop and expand its project to adapt the BOSS recycling technology 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.
The project
With the pandemic resulting in a significant increase in NHS clinical waste, Impact Recycling was awarded £3 million to recover high-value polymers from currently incinerated sterilised medical waste. The project targets a stream of clinical waste from NHS Scotland, and is projected to directly save up to 87,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually from this contract alone.
The award recognises both the technical capability of the BOSS platform — which can be adapted across polymer types and stream presentations — and the strategic value of diverting polymer-rich clinical waste from incineration into the circular economy.
“Reaching our net zero goal will mean harnessing innovation and creativity of entrepreneurs across the country.” — Anne-Marie Trevelyon, Energy Minister
“UK innovators have come up with big, bold ideas to help the economy recover sustainably.” — Simon Edmonds, Deputy Executive Chair and Chief Business Officer, Innovate UK