Get a fully funded
plastic recycling
workspace.
Sustainable Design Studio has partnered with ChangeX to fund plastic recycling projects worldwide. The Ireland (regional) and Sweden setup grants are still accepting applications on a rolling basis. The UK, Ireland, and Costa Rica country grants closed on 19 June 2026, and the London and Wales regional grants closed on 30 June 2026. Schools, social enterprises, community groups, and entrepreneurs, this grant could kickstart your recycling journey.
Ireland (regional) and Sweden accepting applications now · London and Wales closed 30 June 2026 · UK, Ireland, and Costa Rica country grants closed 19 June 2026
Ireland (regional)
Meath area only
€4,500
Sweden
Dalarna County only
SEK 260,000
Wales
Closed 30 June 2026
£3,800
London (West)
Closed 30 June 2026
£3,800
United Kingdom
Closed 19 June 2026
£20,000
Ireland
Closed 19 June 2026
€18,000
Costa Rica
Closed 19 June 2026
₡7.5M
Who this is for
A grant designed for the people closing the loop.
Whether you are a school, social enterprise, community group, or entrepreneur, this fixed-amount grant funds the machines, moulds, and training you need to start recycling plastic locally.
Educators
Bring recycling, product design, and sustainability into your classroom or after-school club. Build a hands-on learning experience around circular economy principles.
Schools · Universities
Makers & hobbyists
Got a garage full of creativity and 3D printer scraps? Turn your passion into purpose by setting up your own recycling workspace and transforming waste into new products.
Workshops · Studios
Community organisers
Whether you run a local hub, charity, or volunteer group, this setup helps you run workshops, reduce local waste, and engage your community in a practical, powerful way.
Charities · Volunteer groups
Entrepreneurs
Launching a circular product business? Use the grant to set up production, prototype with recycled feedstock, and ship your first products.
Startups · Small business
Pick your grant
Regional grants still open for 2026
Two regional setup grants are still accepting applications: Ireland (regional) and Sweden. The country grants (UK, Ireland, Costa Rica) closed on 19 June 2026, and the London and Wales regional grants closed on 30 June 2026.
Regional setup grants
Rolling applications, funded on a first-come, first-served basis
Ireland (regional)
€4,500
Meath, NW Dublin, NE Kildare
Based in County Meath, north-west County Dublin, or north-east County Kildare? A €4,500 starter allocation to launch a recycling workspace in your community. First come, first served once eligibility is confirmed.
- Open to non-profits and schools
- Eligibility limited to Meath, NW Dublin, and NE Kildare
- Funded on a first come, first served basis
- Sustainable Design Studio ships from the UK
Sweden
SEK 260,000
Dalarna County, Sweden
Based in Dalarna County? A SEK 260,000 starter allocation to launch a recycling workspace in your community. First come, first served once eligibility is confirmed.
- Open to non-profits and schools
- Eligibility limited to Dalarna County
- Funded on a first come, first served basis
- Sustainable Design Studio ships from the UK
UK regional grants
Newport (Wales) and West London setup grants, 2026 cycle
Wales
Up to £3,800
Newport, Wales only
The Newport, Wales setup grant closed on 30 June 2026. Successful applicants receive up to £3,800 towards a recycling workspace, funded on a first come, first served basis.
- Open to individuals, schools, and non-profits
- Eligibility limited to Newport, Wales
- Funded on a first come, first served basis
London (West)
Up to £3,800
Ealing, Brent, Hammersmith & Fulham
The West London setup grant closed on 30 June 2026. Successful applicants received up to £3,800 for a recycling workspace in Ealing, Brent, or Hammersmith & Fulham.
- Open to individuals, schools, and non-profits
- Ealing, Brent, or Hammersmith & Fulham only
- Funded on a first come, first served basis
Country grants
National-scale setup grants, 2026 cycle
United Kingdom
£20,000
Fixed-amount ChangeX grant
From the UK and looking to start or grow your existing project? Apply for the £20,000 grant and get started making.
- Comprehensive recycling workspace setup
- Choice of shredder, injection, and extruder machines
- Off-the-shelf and custom moulds
- Onboarding consultancy and training included
Ireland
€18,000
Fixed-amount ChangeX grant
With ChangeX in Ireland, apply for an €18,000 grant. Perfect for setting up a comprehensive recycling workspace.
- Full kit equivalent to UK workspace
- Ships from the UK with carbon neutral delivery
- Eligible for schools, charities, and start-ups
- Local case study support from past Irish recipients
Costa Rica
₡7,500,000
Fixed-amount ChangeX grant
Bring your project to life in Costa Rica with the ₡7,500,000 grant. Everything from moulds to machines, we are here to support you end to end.
- Full workspace setup, shipped to Costa Rica
- Carbon neutral international delivery
- Spanish-language onboarding support
- Connects you to the regional ChangeX community
How it works
Five steps from application to first injection.
The application is user friendly and support is available at every stage. Pick your kit first, then write up your impact, then apply. We strongly encourage talking to us before you click submit on ChangeX, the Sustainable Design Studio team has shaped dozens of winning applications and can sanity-check your scope and budget. Every funded project comes with a set amount of free consultancy and training too.
Pick your workspace setup
Start here. Use our Workspace Setups & Budgets resource to identify the machines, moulds and accessories you will buy with your grant. Picking the kit first makes the rest of the application much easier to write.
Outline your impact
Tell us what you want to achieve: students educated, plastic recycled, products made. Highlight the unique impact you want to make. Specific numbers and a clear local story make applications stand out.
Apply on ChangeX
Before you click submit, we strongly encourage getting in touch so the Sustainable Design Studio team can review your scope, sanity-check your budget and suggest small wording tweaks. We have helped shape dozens of winning applications and the call is free.
Get confirmed and funded
Successful applicants are confirmed by late summer, with grants paid shortly after so you can place your order with us.
Build, recycle, report back
Set up your workspace and report progress to ChangeX within six months. The Sustainable Design Studio team supports you the whole way.
What you can buy with the grant
A full workspace, ready to recycle.
Mix and match machines, moulds, and tooling. Every grant comfortably covers a comprehensive setup, turning waste plastic into a valuable feedstock is now more accessible than ever.
SMV2
Shredder Mini V2
Hand-powered. Produces flakes for the injection stage.
DSV2
Desktop Shredder V2
Motorised workhorse. Consistent flakes, high throughput.
IMMV2
Injection Mini V2
Compact, safe injection moulder for small parts.
AIMV2
Arbour Injection Machine V2
Higher-volume injection for production runs.
EMV2
Extruder Mini V2
Continuous extrusion for beams, sheets, and filament stock.
FEV2
Fume Extractor V2
Workshop air quality. Mandatory for safe plastic processing.
Setup grant, not an operational grant.
The grant is fixed and goes towards machines, moulds, tooling, training and consumables to set up your workspace. It does not fund staff salaries, rent, utility bills or general operating costs. With the right mix of equipment you can comfortably reach the grant value and build a proper recycling space.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Still unsure if you should apply? The Sustainable Design Studio team replies within one to two working days. Get in touch
Regional grants still open
Close the loop in your community.
Two regional setup grants remain open on a rolling basis: Ireland (regional) and Sweden. The UK, Ireland, and Costa Rica country grants closed on 19 June 2026, and the London and Wales regional grants closed on 30 June 2026. Apply on ChangeX, outline your impact, and Sustainable Design Studio will help you build a workspace that closes the loop. Good luck.