WRAP relaunches textiles recycling & re-use grant fund

"WRAP is looking to support projects that demonstrate a level of innovation beyond normal industry practice. This may include new technologies, equipment not tried and tested before, or interventions that help to address and overcome barriers to textile recycling or re-use," WRAP said on its website.

This time, the grant will fund 100 per cent capital costs, and will be released in advanced milestones payments. The grant can be used to fund any capital costs associated with a business reconfiguration in response to Government guidelines on COVID-19 safety measures, where this forms an integral part of an innovative proposal/project.

To be eligible, applicants must be a legal registered entity operating or planning to operate in England. They must be able to demonstrate that they can secure a regular supply of textiles waste materials (clothing & linens only) that can be recycled and/or re-used as part of their operation and demonstrate end-market arrangements for the output textile products. 

The scheme will be assessed on a rolling basis, and dates for subsequent rounds will be July 13 – August 3, and August 3 – August 24.

For eligibility, the project for which grant is sought must demonstrate how it addresses one or more of the current barriers to reprocessing and re-use of textiles. The following are considered barriers:

• Quality and quantity of feedstocks may not be cost effectively and efficiently processed using manual sorting alone;
• Chemical recycling processes may be commercially further off than mechanical processes, but they may offer higher economic potential in the long run;
• The development of technical processes and more supply chain integration to enable scale up to a commercial size; and
• Demand from brands and retailers is essential, as is positive consumer perceptions of the use of post-consumer textiles.

A finite budget of £1.5 million has been allocated to the grant. Grant awards will range in value from £20,000 to £170,000. The grant monies can be used to fund up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs. The funding will be available to any enterprise of any size, including not-for-profit organisations. Funds are restricted to capital expenditure only.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RKS)