LabCycle secures funding to scale laboratory plastics recycling
Laboratory plastics recycling specialist LabCycle has secured £180,000 from the British Design Fund to support development of its AutoDecon system, which is designed to recycle contaminated laboratory plastics without using high temperatures or pressure.
The investment forms part of a wider funding package that also includes a £250,000 Innovate UK Investment Partnership grant.
LabCycle says AutoDecon is intended to enable contaminated laboratory plastics to be safely processed into high-grade recycled materials, supporting efforts to create a circular economy for laboratory consumables.
Globally, laboratories generate more than 5.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, much of which is incinerated. According to the company, this produces carbon emissions equivalent to those from 23 million cars annually while destroying plastics manufactured for scientific applications.
Founded by Dr Helen Liang following research undertaken during her PhD at the University of Bath, LabCycle aims to recycle single-use laboratory plastics into new laboratory products.
Colin Francis, co-founder and chief executive of LabCycle, said laboratories are increasingly looking for alternatives to disposal through incineration.
“For too long, laboratory plastic waste has been treated as an unavoidable environmental cost, rather than a recoverable resource,” he said.
“Our mission at LabCycle is to build a truly circular economy, and AutoDecon is designed to make that possible, with the potential to reduce carbon emissions significantly compared to current incineration practices.”
The funding will support further development of the technology and expansion of the company's operations.
LabCycle already works with NHS organisations, universities and commercial laboratories to help reduce laboratory waste sent for incineration.The company has also received industry recognition, including awards for its recycled Petri dishes and recycling initiatives within the NHS.
British Design Fund chief executive Damon Bonser said the company was addressing an important sustainability challenge facing research and healthcare laboratories.
“Their approach to creating a circular system for laboratory plastics has the potential to deliver meaningful environmental impact at scale,” he said.
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