John Lewis £1m fund to battle throw-away tradition
IMAGE SOURCE – Andrew Fosker / Rex
The owner of John Lewis and Waitrose will raise a $ 1 million fund.
The John Lewis Partnership invites academics, charities, and startups who have ideas that have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of the food, clothing, and appliances we buy to apply for some of the money.
John Lewis said this fund aims to identify “innovators” who are challenging the industry’s outdated “make, use, throw” model. Promoting sustainability and discouraging disposable products is the future.
Marija Rompani, director of ethics and sustainability for the group, said that tackling the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, waste and pollution requires “different thinking”.
“We live in a world of finite materials and we need to protect it before it’s too late,” she said. “That is why we are particularly looking for projects that are regenerative and can avoid waste or environmental pollution as early as the planning phase,” said Rompani.
The Circular Future Fund focuses on food, textiles and household products. Winning ideas could be the answer to food waste in the supply chain or at consumers’ homes, or, since the fashion industry is a big polluter, a more sustainable production method or material.
John Lewis, who won the 1 million
Retailers have already started adapting their traditional models. Ikea, the UK’s largest furniture retailer, now has a program to buy back unwanted items for resale as part of its efforts to move to a circular model.
Marks & Spencer announced last week that a small selection of their clothing is now available for rent through Hirestreet’s rental website.
Many other big brands and companies are heading in the same direction and showing more respect not only for consumers but also for the world we all live in. By simply helping to promote companies that do something related to sustainability, the environment and helping to reduce disposable products and giving them help through this fund, a ripple effect of change could be created in the high street.
Applications for the John Lewis Fund, which will be split into grants ranging from £ 150,000 to £ 300,000, will close on January 9, 2022.
Offers from universities, charities, social enterprises and companies that are less than five years old are invited. An independent committee will review them in March and award the scholarships the following month.
