ARCS - Applied Research for Circular Solutions

27/08/2025

NEW COLLABORATION! 🎉

We had a fantastic time on site with Clwb Compostio, seeing their Ridan Composter in action and learning more about their plans for food waste collection across Carmarthenshire. 🪱🪱🪱

Find out more about their collection and compost: https://www.seedandroot.co.uk/clwb-compostio

---- 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 ----

CYDWEITHREDIAD NEWYDD! 🎉
Cawson ni amser gwych ar y safle gyda'r Clwb Compostio, gan weld eu compostiwr Ridan ar waith a dysgu mwy am eu cynlluniau ar gyfer casglu gwastraff bwyd ledled Sir Gâr. 🪱🪱🪱

Am ragor o wybodaeth am eu gwaith casglu a chompostio: https://www.seedandroot.co.uk/clwb-compostio

Cyngor Sir Gâr - Carmarthenshire County Council
Seed + Root Nature School CIC

09/08/2025

Do you have waste coffee grounds?️☕☕☕️️️

Grounds for Good is ready to build on its successful Cardiff coffee ground collection service and expand to Newport and Swansea.
The coffee grounds are then used to create all sorts of products – from flavoured vodka to skincare, and even coffee cups!

If you’re interested in coffee collection, or you think your favourite local café might be – reach out to Dr Rosie Oretti for more info or visit the new pop-up shop at Goodsheds in Barry.

www.groundsforgood.co.uk
[email protected]

06/08/2025

New Collaboration! 🎉

We're thrilled to announce a collaboration with Blue Marble Refill in Carmarthen. The team is very excited to be working with founder Harriet Baggley, who is really driving community action in Carmarthen.

For project insights or partnership inquiries, contact [email protected]

Check out the store online >> https://bluemarblerefill.wales/ or visit 45 King St, Carmarthen

Thanks to Carmarthenshire County Council and the UK government for providing funding for ARCS through the Shared Prosperity Fund!

29/07/2025

What's better than pink high-vis? 💗

All the Circular projects at Cwm Environmental! Along with the build of their new state-of-the-art resource recovery plant, we were particularly impressed with the recycled paint available in the Eto reuse village.

It was great to get an insight into the future ambitions to create the UK's largest Circular Economy Park! It promises to be a great opportunity for Welsh manufacturing and local businesses.

Find out more about the park: https://www.cwmenvironmental.co.uk/cwm-gwyrdd/

28/07/2025

⏰ Funding Alert! ⏰ CRISP25 SMART FIS Support for Circular Economy

The Welsh Government have launched a new, streamlined fund for organisations looking to start their circular innovation journey.

The New to Circular Economy fund offers organisations up to £10,000 in grant funding to scope or test the feasibility of new innovation projects.

Interested businesses attend one of the online Q&A support meetings – https://wales.business-events.org.uk/en/events/crisp25-smart-fis-support-for-circular-economy-on-line-innovation-support-meeting/ – or email [email protected]

Search our Events Finder for business related training, workshops, networking, seminars and more from a variety of organisations

26/07/2025

Litter costs Wales around £70 million each year – so how much impact could the Deposit Return Scheme have?

Following a recent statement from the Deputy First Minister, this article by Keep Wales Tidy explores the history and potential positive impacts of a DRS.

https://www.iwa.wales/agenda/2025/07/from-recycling-to-reuse-seizing-the-circular-opportunity-for-wales/

What this means for SMEs in Wales hasn't been defined yet – but we're keen to hear your thoughts in the comments 👇

Owen Derbyshire sets out why a reuse-ready Deposit Return Scheme is essential for delivering Wales’ circular economy ambitions.

25/07/2025

“A fo ben, bid bont – If you want to be a leader, be a bridge”

Last week, the team attended a really thought-provoking event from UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES.

Often the narrative focuses on technical solutions, and ignores the importance of indigenous knowledge, community building and the power of storytelling.

Instead, the event spotlighted the human side of sustainability. Highlighting global collaborations that are building bridges and driving systems change for the well-being of future generations.

Thank you to Dr Luci Attala, Deputy Executive Director, UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES and UTWSD lecturer, for extending the invitation.

23/07/2025

Max and Hannah had a great time at the Innovate UK Business Connect event, "Wales - A destination for a sustainable collaboration across sectors".

There were lots of great examples of innovation happening across Wales and across sectors, and a workshop introducing the Net Zero Innovation Adoption User Journey Framework.

Make sure to follow the Zero Living Programme for events, inspiration and funding opportunities!

21/05/2025

Would you like support to develop a sustainable product, design a new service or optimise your operations? ARCS can help!

ARCS is currently offering free support to organisations in Carmarthenshire in 2025, thanks to Cyngor Sir Gâr - Carmarthenshire County Council and funding through the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund.

Arrange a call with Hannah and Max to discuss how they can help you to overcome sustainability challenges, accelerate R&D, and implement scalable, circular economy solutions. – bit.ly/callARCS

--🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿--
Hoffech chi gael cymorth i ddatblygu cynnyrch cynaliadwy, dylunio gwasanaeth newydd neu optimeiddio eich gweithrediadau? Gall ARCS helpu!

Ar hyn o bryd mae ARCS yn cynnig cymorth am ddim i sefydliadau yn Sir Gaerfyrddin yn 2025, diolch i Cyngor Sir Gâr - Carmarthenshire County Council a chyllid drwy Gronfa Ffyniant Gyffredin Llywodraeth y DU.

Trefnwch alwad gyda Hannah a Max i drafod sut y gallan nhw eich helpu i oresgyn heriau cynaliadwyedd, cyflymu ymchwil a datblygu, a gweithredu atebion economi gylchol ar raddfa ehangach. - bit.ly/callARCS

02/04/2025

How can building rubble be used to replace concrete?

Art of Eco produces low-impact, ‘cold cured’ tiles from recycled waste materials, mimicking ceramic and stone finishes. Their process reduces environmental impact and allows for custom designs, like the replica marble slab at Cardiff Train Station. With support from ARCS, they are exploring scalable, decentralized models and protecting their intellectual property to license their process. The project is helping Art of Eco as it develops new products that will reduce the need for new concrete and ceramic materials.

Check out our other case studies on the ARCS website: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/science-and-engineering/research/climate-action/research/social-political-change-circular-economy/arcs/news/new-case-study-videos-highlight-circular-collaborations.php

Carmarthenshire Council
Swansea University



Swansea Council
Neath Port Talbot Council
Pembrokeshire Council

31/03/2025

Using waste to treat pollution 🍰 🔬🚰

Lux Biotech, creates bacteria-based products and La Crème Patisserie is a family-run dessert manufacturer — so what do they have in common? Through ARCS, the two companies formed a partnership where nutrient-rich effluent from La Crème’s cake-cutting process is repurposed by Lux Biotech to grow bacteria.

Christopher Charles was introduced to ARCS by the team at NPT Business, as he was looking for local sources of waste that he could use as inputs for his biotech products. By connecting with the university, Chris has been able to source materials and access equipment to conduct product testing, helping his start-up move through the technology readiness levels and get ready for launch this year.

Check out our other case studies on the ARCS website: https://lnkd.in/eHHrNZZA

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
Swansea University



City & County of Swansea
Pembrokeshire County Council
Carmarthenshire County Council

28/03/2025

How do you balance social value and making money? 👫 💰 🌊

Community interest companies provide an important model to demonstrate what is possible when you embed building social value at the core of your business.

As Zombie Plastics CIC began to scale, we worked with Chris to explore how a portfolio approach to the business model could help to balance the community values of the company with the need to be financially sustainable.

The result? A multilayered approach that combines direct sales, educational workshops and corporate packages to create physically and emotionally durable products that remove waste from our beaches.

and County of Swansea
Swansea University

Check out our other case studies on the ARCS website: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/science-and-engineering/research/climate-action/research/social-political-change-circular-economy/arcs/news/new-case-study-videos-highlight-circular-collaborations.php




Carmarthenshire Council
Neath Port Talbot Council
Pembrokeshire Council
ARCS is funded through the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund.