A Dorset company that has developed technology to recycle and reuse low-quality plastics has secured £2.4 million to scale its operations. Christchurch-based Circular11, founded in 2020 by friends Benjamin Gibbons and Connor Winter, originated from their involvement in a waste management project in Nepal. The company aims to transform plastic into a “force for good” for communities affected by plastic waste.
The business utilizes waste that would otherwise be incinerated to manufacture recycled plastic lumber and related products for fencing, furniture, and infrastructure. The funding round was led by European early-stage tech investor Vectr7 and The FSE Group, which contributed £630,000 from the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund. Additional support came from The FSE Investor Network, Oxford Innovation Network, other private investors, and an InnovateUK grant.
Circular11 plans to use the equity funding to bring its state-of-the-art manufacturing technology to market and ramp up production of waste-based materials. The company aims to recycle an estimated 10,000 tonnes of low-quality plastic over the next two years.
Mr Gibbons, the company's chief executive, said: “We believe that every tonne of plastic that gets incinerated is a missed opportunity to deliver low-carbon materials to a construction sector that desperately needs affordable and long-lasting assets. The backing of Vectr7, the South West Investment Fund, FSE and other investors is an important step; it gives us the resources to scale manufacturing, whilst continuing to develop the systems behind our materials and respond to growing pressure on industry to find better uses for plastic waste.”
Dominic Wilson, founder and managing partner at Vectr7, said Circular11 was addressing a “critical need head on” with its technology. “We are excited about the next stage of their growth. The supply side constraints within the timber markets means the construction and manufacturing industries need sustainable alternatives,” he added.
Matt Browning, investment manager at The FSE Group, commented: “Circular 11 is addressing a clear challenge in the construction and materials market. The team has developed a compelling approach to turning difficult-to-recycle plastic into useful, long-life products, and this investment will help the business scale its operations and build on early commercial traction.”
Circular11 was previously supported by the British Business Bank's Start Up Loans programme in 2024.
