Rethinking waste
In partnership with Hubbub, the John Lewis Partnership launched a £1 million fund in 2021, to support trailblazing ideas and innovations that can accelerate the transition towards a more circular economy.
The Circular Future Fund: The Million Pound Challenge identified four winning projects from 245 applications, in 2022. They completed in 2023. Read more about the winners and their impact.
Why did the John Lewis Partnership launch a grant fund?
At John Lewis and Waitrose we're known and loved for offering our customers fantastic products and services. However, we recognise that the current demand for ecological resources vastly outstrips what the planet can regenerate in a given year.
We have several existing commitments to ensure we are making the most efficient use of our resources, restoring our delicate ecosystems and ultimately avoiding biodiversity loss. In our Partnership Plan we committed to sourcing more sustainable and recycled raw materials, exploring new circular business models and supporting our customers reduce their food waste at home.
However, we knew there was much more to do and we knew we could play a role in empowering pioneers to drive industry-wide change. This is where The Circular Future Fund came in.
Over the past few years we've donated over £2 million to support organisations that tackle plastic pollution through innovation and conservation. We're now planning to broaden our impact.
Find out more here about Ethics & Sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership.
What is a circular economy?
Waste is simply a resource in the wrong hands. Rather than taking, making and disposing, the idea of a circular economy is to design out waste and get the most value from every stage of a product's life. Not only will the circular economy help to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, it also provides opportunities to generate new economic value, jobs and more resilient supply chains.
About the fund
The Circular Future Fund opened in November 2021 and called for pioneering new approaches to challenge the outdated 'take, make, dispose' model. Whether rethinking waste with new products or materials, finding creative ways to shift consumer mindsets or developing new business models and services. Focus areas included food, textiles and household products, services, and technology.
Open to businesses (under 5 years old), charities, social enterprises, academic bodies, and Community Interest Companies, the fund closed in January 2022.
Applicants had to demonstrate innovation, a measurable impact (now or in the future), and a clear legacy. By openly sharing learnings and results from the funded projects we hope to enable others to build on and amplify the impact.
The fund offered grants of between £150,000-£300,000 and winning projects were selected by a Grant Panel consisting of independent experts on the circular economy, grant making and innovation authorities, as well as senior representatives from the John Lewis Partnership.
Four high quality, innovative projects were selected and supported over one year, from May 2022. Read more about the difference the winners made.
We worked in partnership with environmental charity Hubbub to administer the grant.
Keen for more on the circular economy?
If you interested in rethinking waste and want to find out more, then explore Hubbub’s ideas and campaigns to get inspired.
You can also find out what the John Lewis Partnership is doing in our Partnership Plan.
Or read more about the impact of Circular Future Fund winners.
