Circular economy grantees
Helping local businesses to adapt to circular working practices
The council’s recent circular economy grant scheme really shone a light on the innovation and originality of our local businesses when it comes to reducing waste and helping the environment.
The grant scheme – delivered in partnership with ReLondon – was made available through central government Covid recovery funding.
After much deliberation, a number of businesses – across a range of services from textiles to food and beverage, tech and design to dry-cleaning and phone repair – were awarded grants to help their circular economy journey.
2Busy2Clean - 204 Caledonian Rd, N1 0SQ
This popular local drycleaners on the Caledonian Road is on a mission to replace all their polythene bags and garment covers with reusable ones.
They offer their more circular-minded customers a discount, as an incentive to reduce single-use plastic and encourage reusing more sustainable options.
BarHairInk - 161 Whitecross St, EC1Y 8JL
BarHairInk on Whitecross St. already applied circular principles by way of their vintage furnishings and décor.
So when they heard about Islington’s grant scheme, they jumped at the chance to expand their circularity.
The grant is enabling them to join the Green Salon Collective who will find new uses for their old foils, colours, and even hair!
ReLondon is also working with them to introduce a refill initiative to cut down on single-use plastic waste.
Cartridge World - 370 Caledonian Rd, N1 1DY
This franchise of Cartridge World is introducing a printer repair service as well as training their employees in printer repair.
It is estimated that UK households and businesses produce 1.45 million tonnes of electrical waste each year.
Working towards a repairing system rather than replacing can save some of this waste from going to landfill.
Charrli Ltd (online)
Charrli began a waste-free grocery delivery service for Islington residents and the surrounding areas.
Charli deliver groceries by bike, in returnable and recyclable packaging straight to your door and collect empty packaging for reuse.
The circular economy grant will be used to focus on building their local network – making their service more accessible to Islington households and businesses and getting more local people to adopt a refill and reuse approach to their grocery shopping.
CM Upholstery Ltd - 173 Stroud Green Rd, N4 3PZ
A staple of Stroud Green Road, and touted London’s best upholsterer by Because Magazine, CM Upholstery specialise in upcycling and finding new life in the most unloved couches and chairs.
CM Upholstery are using the grant to buy new equipment and machinery to expand their circular activities and looking at new ways of reuse offcuts and waste materials.
E-scooter Ltd - 346 Caledonian Rd, N1 1DU
The E-scooter clinic/coffee shop on Caledonian Road serves all of Islington’s scooter needs.
Already offering a scooter repair service, E-scooter Ltd are using the grant to move into E-bike repairs too.
With an increase in more eco-friendly modes of transport across the capital, the E-scooter clinic provides a great service for the community.
Fair-Well (Jerilee & Claire Ltd.) - 16 Dartmouth Park Hill, NW5 1HL
Fair-Well delivers responsible and sustainable vegetarian-friendly food products, using circular economy business practices.
Focusing on food and plastic waste, Fair-Well are making plastic-free options accessible and convenient for the community. It's a unique and sustainable project, which has repurposed an old electric milk float into a home delivery refill shop.
The grant will be used to strengthen and improve the system with a membership scheme implemented through the website, whereby customers can earn points for the frequency of their purchases or a reward scheme whereby customers earn free refills after a certain number of purchases.
Fone Us London - 42 Junction Road, N19 5RD
This phone repair shop in Junction is using the grant money to buy the equipment to expand and improve their repair and refurbish service.
With electronics and tech being one of the main contributors to unnecessary waste, the team at Fone Us are doing a great job in keeping things circular and saving their customers money.
Fonthill R&K Ltd. - 134 Fonthill Road
In the heart of Finsbury Park’s fashion district, you will find R&K Fashion selling top quality men’s and boys’ suits and smart clothing.
The circular economy grant is being used to introduce repair and rental services.
Gala Creations Ltd. - Goldsmiths Centre, EC1M 5AD
Gala Creations builds on Clerkenwell’s long-standing tradition of metalworks and jewellery-making.
The grant is being used to buy equipment that can capture metal particles that are released into the air during the engraving process.
The metal dust is collected and then recycled and made into something new.
This innovative niche project makes sure even the tiniest bit of waste is put to good use!
Girasole - 150 Seven Sisters Rd, N7 7PL
Girasole is already well-known in Finsbury Park for its Italian fare.
Already incorporating ethical values by using local independent suppliers, and offering homemade sauces and ragu, Girasole will now also add the circular economy to their profile by introducing a refill station for everyday Italian goods.
Goodmine (online)
Goodmine are creating an online platform that maps reuse and recycling pathways for household goods.
The grant will be used to create a map of all reuse and recycling pathways in Islington for household goods so consumers can compare donating, selling, sharing, giving, all in one place.
Housmans Bookshop Ltd. - 5 Caledonian Rd, N1 9DX
A long-established bookshop for radical thinkers, Housmans has been a fixture of Caledonian Road since 1958.
With a substantial number of donations always coming through, the grant money will be used to create a hub to receive, process, and organise donations more efficiently and effectively.
The second-hand books will be sold in-store, online, with some included in their free giveaway outside of the shop.
A great circular initiative that also promotes reading.
Junee
The Junee team are on a mission to make lunch times waste-free.
Working with local restaurants and offices, Junee organise a borrow and return lunchbox scheme for local employees.
The grant is being used to expand their operations even wider, by installing pick-up stations in more workplaces across Islington. Junee is also working with Islington markets to reduce single-use takeaway box usage.
KIND2 Ltd. (Online)
KIND2 is a range of multi-award-winning solid shampoo and conditioners made in the UK from natural and upcycled ingredients.
The grant is being used to help launch a new range of solid face wash to displace more plastic packaging and introduce more customers to packaging-free personal care products. This falls into the ‘designing out waste’ category of the circular economy.
They already partner with Planet Minimal – another Islington business – and will be selling their products in Islington shops to promote the benefits of package-free products.
Look Mum No Hands - 49 Old St, EC1V 9HX
An Old Street staple, Look Mum No Hands has been destination ‘cycle café’ for over a decade.
As well as a café and bar, it is also a bicycle repair shop.
The grant will be used to expand this service and increasing their repair capacity.
If you live locally and need to repair or update your bike, pop in and see the team, who will be more than happy to help.
Mer-IT Digital
Mer-IT Digital works to tackle the digital divide, by extending the life of electronics that would otherwise become e-waste. The team refurbish and recondition computers and electronics, which have been donated from a number of organisation, and redistributing to communities that need them.
The grant will used to run a project to increase circular economy in the community.
Nourishing Communities
Farm Dudes is run by born-and-bred Islington resident, Rollo, who has a passion for sustainable living.
The firm specialise in seasonal plastic-free fruit and veg boxes, delivered to Islington and wider east London households, as well as 18 food banks across London.
The grant will be used to install refill stations at the shop and expand home deliveries to include returnable and reusable packaging.
Shop Cuvee
A bottle shop and wine bar in Highbury East, Shop Cuvee applied to the grant scheme to help launch their refill service in local shops and restaurants .
Shop Cuvee is also introduce a pickup/drop-off service for empty bottles, to be refilled, reused and recycled.
The Home of Sustainable Things
The Home of Sustainable Things specialises in products with zero or low carbon output and is the first of its kind store and a design platform to curate exclusively, circular and sustainable design.
Its unique take on design and product development addresses waste in the economy and demonstrates craft processes that tackle the issue.
The grant is being used to buy a new furnace and cooler. Working with the Islington waste team to collect scrap metal locally, which it will process and remanufacture into new products to sell in their shop in Barnsbury.
The Toy Project
This local charity recycles old and new toys to provide to children across Islington.
The shop in Archway provides space for children to learn through play, with the team regularly running art workshops and storytelling sessions.
The grant wil be used to partly fund a ‘Shop Sustainably’ campaign, this summer.
The funds will also help with the purchase of a cargo bike, meaning the team can increase engagement and visibility as well building on their existing circular activities by providing a toy collection and delivery service to local households.
Yeena Yoon Studio
This design and manufacturer of handcrafted fine jewellery, based in the Goldsmiths Centre in Clerkenwell – make timeless jewellery pieces using innovative techniques.
The grant scheme will help launch a bespoke range of jewellery, made from upcycled materials. The jewellery will be offered for rental rather than sale, working in partnership with the Covetts platform.