UK circular economy needs 'coordinated action' to attract investment, report finds
Investors see UK waste and recycling infrastructure as too risky without clearer government policy, a new industry-commissioned report warns.
Investors view circular economy infrastructure in the United Kingdom (UK) — covering electrical waste, plastics, packaging and textiles — as high-risk, held back by weak market signals, uncertain demand and a lack of long-term policy direction, according to a report commissioned by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and published Tuesday.
The report calls for coordinated action among government, industry and investors to unlock capital that is otherwise available but waiting for the right conditions. CIWM is urging the UK government to publish its promised Circular Economy Growth Plan along with sector-specific roadmaps to give investors more confidence.
Dan Cooke, CIWM's director of policy, warned that competitors including China and the European Union (EU) are "potentially stealing a march on the UK" in recognizing circular infrastructure as a priority for investment.
The report recommends strengthening demand for recycled materials, using public funding to reduce the risk of early-stage projects, supporting the shift from innovation to full deployment, and steering revenue from the UK Emissions Trading Scheme toward circular economy projects. It also argues the sector should be treated as critical national infrastructure to bolster resource security.
This brief is based on reporting by Peter Dennis, published Sept. 22, 2026, on Circular Online. Read the original: https://www.circularonline.co.uk/news/coordinated-action-needed-to-unlock-investment-in-uk-circular-economy-infrastructure/
This article was produced with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by an editor before publication.
