It’s been a busy week. Let’s get stuck in!

Industry News

MPs say circular transition could boost UK economy by £25,000,000,000. The Environment APPG says a circular transition could add significant value to the UK economy by 2035, enhancing resiliency and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. The group is urging stronger government support to unlock this opportunity. Read more.

Scientists create artificial leaf that converts CO₂ into fuel. The solar-powered device uses CO₂ and sunlight to create ethane and ethylene, mimicking photosynthesis with high efficiency. The breakthrough could cleanly manufacture a wide range of chemicals beyond just fuel. Read more.

Mango partners with Circulose to boost textile circularity. The fashion brand is partnering with Circulose to integrate regenerated pulp fiber, made entirely from recycled cotton, into its production chain. This aligns with Circulose’s renewed strategy, post-bankruptcy and relaunch, to scale circular material use. Read more.

Basatne MENA and Likewize partner to launch circular phone subscription. The “Upgrade & Protect” programme lets users upgrade, swap, or repair devices through a monthly plan. The partnership is powered by Cartlow’s recommerce technology, Ardroid’s AI driven reverse logistics, and Likewize’s global operational expertise. Read more.

Composite Recycling partners with Owens Corning to scale glass‑fiber circularity. The Swiss recycler’s reclaimed glass fibers will be integrated into Owens Corning’s production lines across sectors like automotive, aerospace, and construction. The partnership aims to reduce composite waste and landfill contributions. Read more.

Tata Steel targets 10-15,000,000 tonnes of recycled steel output. As part of its sustainability push, Tata aims to shift steel production to recycling routes, set up new recycling plants in India, and shift UK and Netherlands operations from blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces. Read more.

Livium to expand into rare-earth recycling. The company is extending its core battery recycling business to capture rare-earth elements from end-of-life components like EV motors and turbine magnets, a move that positions Livium to strengthen critical material supply chains amid geopolitical tension. Read more.

US Senate bill slashes biofuel credits for foreign feedstocks. Senate Republicans propose extending the 45Z tax credit, but cutting its value by 20% for non-US biofuel inputs. The move has drawn criticism, with warnings it could lead to “dirtier fuel and higher food prices.” Read more.

£30,000,000 EV battery recycling plant planned in Plymouth, UK. Clean-tech firm Altilium is investing funds in a first-of-its-kind battery recycling facility, with commissioning due in late 2026. The plant will create over 50 high-skilled jobs in engineering, research, and operations. Read more.

Reuse centres turn resale revenue into bee conservation. WasteServ’s reuse centres in Malta have welcomed 30,000+ visitors and raised €110,000 by reselling donated household goods. Proceeds are funding environmental initiatives, including a new 6.5-hectare sanctuary for native honeybees. Read more.

Apkudo-powered Screentech debuts in the UK smartphone repair market. Mobio Distribution is launching glass replacement tech that separates damaged glass from original LCD/OLED panels. Leveraging precision equipment driven by Apkudo’s integrated software, the approach enables high-quality and low-cost repairs. Read more.

University of Warwick’s WMG launches £13,600,000 plastics research hub. The EPSRC‑funded centre will enable researchers to spend the next 7 years improving the way durable plastics, commonly used in cars, building, and electronics, are created, recycled, and reused. Read more.

Reverse Logistics Association to rebrand to NRF Rev in 2026. NRF Rev will launch its first event at Retail’s Big Show in January 2026. The rebrand reflects a broader focus on post‑purchase innovation in retail, encompassing returns, refurbishment, recommerce, and reverse logistics. Read more.

Investment News

Servify plans IPO at circa $2,300,000,000 valuation. The device lifecycle and aftersales platform is preparing for an IPO in 2026, valuing the company at up to $2,300,000,000. Servify supports OEMs like Apple and Samsung with repair, warranty, and refurbishment services. Read more.

Blue Yonder’s Doddle takes full ownership of Inmar Post-Purchase Solutions (IPPS). Doddle has acquired the remaining 51% of IPPS and rebranded it as Blue Yonder Reverse Retail Operations LLC. The Blue Yonder returns management solution will continue to power the business and support consumers with label-free returns. Read more.

Pelico raises $40,000,000 to fix fragmented supply chains. Paris-based Pelico has raised the funds to scale its AI-powered platform that helps manufacturers respond to parts shortages, delays, and disruptions in real time. The startup now plans rapid North American expansion. Read more.

Carbon Upcycling secures $18,000,000 to scale low carbon concrete tech. The cleantech startup closed a convertible note round led by Chicago’s Builders Vision to scale its production of high-performance cement alternatives, cutting traditional and carbon intensive cement use by up to 50%. Read more.

Recommerce Group acquires Switzerland’s Verkaufen. The refurbished electronics recommerce leader has acquired Verkaufen, certified repair partner of Apple and Samsung, and Switzerland’s top repair and trade-in specialist, to solidify its Swiss presence and expand high-tech refurbishment capacity. Read more.

Aerones raises $62,000,000 to transform wind‑turbine maintenance. The clean‑tech firm secured the funds in an oversubscribed round to scale its AI‑powered robotic inspection and maintenance tech globally. Its robots halve turbine blade servicing time versus manual work, reducing downtime and costs. Read more.

DMG Ventures backs Hirestreet’s rental fashion platform. The UK fashion rental platform offers a sleek app with access to over 100 brands and tiered subscriptions. DMG sees strong product-market fit among young, eco-conscious consumers driven by affordability and access over ownership. Read more.

EU backs Fiberwood’s push into sustainable insulation. Finnish deep‑tech startup Fiberwood has secured a €3,100,000 grant from the EU’s LIFE Programme to industrialise its carbon-storing insulation boards, made from recycled wood fibres. The funding will help bring its circular, wood-based solution to scale across Europe. Read more.

Renow raises €1,800,000 in seed funding. The AI-powered recommerce platform secured backing from Greencode Ventures, Superhero Capital, and Street Smart Capital to expand across Northern Europe, with new hubs in Sweden and Norway, and planned launches in Denmark and the Benelux region. Read more.

Waitrose allocates £500,000 to British farmers for environmental projects. The supermarket has allocated a funding pot to 9 projects to implement low‑carbon farming innovations, including water & fertiliser recycling, agroforestry, cover cropping, habitat creation, and emissions tracking. Read more.

CirculaCar raises €1,000,000 to scale electric vehicle retrofit and battery production. The Lyon-based startup secured backing from industry partners, family offices, and Crowdcube to industrialise its fully repairable and modular battery kits and accelerate R&D. CirculaCar hopes to quadruple its revenue by 2026. Read more.

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Have a great one and we’ll meet again on Monday!

Cheers to circularity,

#TeamCircularConnect #ConnectingTheCircularEconomy