Circular11 Receives €2.7 Million Funding to Transform Low-Grade Plastic Waste into Sustainable Building Materials

Circular11, a startup based in Dorset, is revolutionizing the recycling industry by transforming low-grade plastic waste into innovative building materials and home products. Recently, the company successfully secured €2.7 million (£2.4 million) in equity funding to launch its manufacturing technology and scale up production of waste-based materials.

The primary goal of Circular11 is to recycle approximately 10,000 tonnes of low-quality plastic within the next two years. This significant investment was led by Vectr7 Investment Partners, a specialized climate impact investor, with The FSE Group also contributing €728.1k (£630k) from the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund. Other key investors in this funding round include The FSE Investor Network, Oxford Innovation Network, and various private investors, in addition to receiving an InnovateUK grant.

Benjamin Gibbons, the CEO of Circular11, expressed his enthusiasm for the support received, stating, “We believe that every tonne of plastic incinerated represents a missed opportunity to provide low-carbon materials to the construction industry. The backing from Vectr7, the South West Investment Fund, FSE, and other investors is crucial for us to expand our manufacturing capabilities, enhance our material development, and meet the increasing industry demand for sustainable solutions to plastic waste.”

Founded in 2021 by Gibbons and Connor Winter, Circular11 originated from their experience working on a waste management project in Nepal. Witnessing the harmful effects of waste burning on local communities, they aimed to make a positive impact by converting waste-bound plastic into environmentally friendly fencing, furniture, and landscaping products for construction and estate applications.

One of the key challenges in recycling plastics is the inability to separate them back to their original purity levels, rendering them unsuitable for conventional manufacturing processes. Circular11 has developed proprietary technology that allows its manufacturing lines to adapt to this variability, enabling the production of composite lumber as a sustainable alternative to traditional timber.

The demand for sustainable outdoor materials is rapidly increasing due to the growth of timber demand, which is predicted to outstrip supply by threefold in the coming decades. Additionally, the ban on traditional timber preservatives has further emphasized the need for alternative materials with longer lifespans and lower maintenance costs.

Circular11’s innovative recycling process involves three essential steps. Initially, they collect problem plastics directly from companies and communities or partner with sorting facilities to handle large volumes of unsortable plastic. The material is then shredded and analyzed to determine the optimal formulation for each waste stream using machine learning algorithms. Finally, the plastic undergoes in-house strength testing before being extruded into plastic lumber for the production of finished goods.

In 2023, the company raised €578k (£500k) to establish a full-scale recycling and manufacturing facility in Dorset, England, and implemented a machine learning-driven manufacturing approach for processing low-grade waste streams.

Dominic Wilson, founder and Managing Partner at Vectr7 Investment Partners, commended Circular11 for addressing the critical need for sustainable alternatives in the construction and manufacturing industries. He expressed excitement for the company’s future growth prospects.

Circular11’s overarching mission is to develop scalable recycling technology that can be deployed globally to repurpose millions of tonnes of plastic currently being incinerated or discarded, transforming them into valuable materials with a positive impact on the environment.

In conclusion, Circular11’s innovative approach to recycling waste plastics not only addresses the pressing environmental issue of plastic waste but also offers a sustainable solution for the construction industry. By utilizing advanced technology and a commitment to sustainability, the company is paving the way for a more environmentally conscious future.