Circular Economy grants — page 10
658 listings tracked right now · page 10 of 14
Circular economy funding has moved from a niche industrial-decarbonization sub-theme to a top-line priority in the EU (Circular Economy Action Plan, Horizon Cluster 6), the UK (DEFRA Resources & Waste Strategy), and a growing list of MDB programmes. The 2024–2026 wave concentrates on textiles, electronics, plastics, and battery materials. Listed below are the open circular economy grant calls in that landscape, taken from each funder's own notice and re-checked on every refresh.
Industrial grants are capital-heavy and correspondingly slow. The recurring large pots are the EU Innovation Fund, the US Industrial Demonstrations Program, and the UK Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, all of which expect a named site, a credible counterfactual for emissions saved, and matched investment already committed. Smaller circular-economy and waste calls come through EU LIFE, national environment agencies and local authorities, where the eligibility is broader and the cheques are far smaller.
This page lists open circular economy grants currently tracked by Raise Lens — 658 of them right now, sorted with the soonest deadline first. Every listing has been classified against the sustainability taxonomy rather than matched on keywords, so what appears here is circular economy work rather than anything whose description happens to mention it.
The funders publishing circular economy grants here include New European Bauhaus, UNLEASH, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, among 2 others. Who is funding matters as much as what: eligibility, reporting burden and the realistic timeline to a decision vary far more between funders than between individual calls.
Geographic coverage on this page spans EUROPE, GLOBAL, EAST-AFRICA, MENA, AFRICA. Eligibility is usually tied to where the work happens or where the applying organisation is registered, and the two are not always the same — worth checking before investing time in an application.
EU Design Prizes for Sustainability
••••• organisation
Annual prizes recognizing outstanding projects and individuals that exemplify the funder values of beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive design. Open to applicants across the built environment and design sectors who demonstrate excellence in sustainability and social inclusion.
EU Design and Urban Sustainability Initiative
••••• organisation
The funder Facility funds projects that integrate sustainability, inclusivity, and aesthetic design in built environments across Europe. It supports communities and organizations implementing these values through tailored funding mechanisms.
UNLEASH Europe
••••• organisation
The funder Europe is a regional innovation lab bringing together 200 young changemakers to develop solutions for urgent sustainability challenges including circular construction, equitable housing, civic engagement, and Arctic resilience. The programme is a competitive selection event (planned for Copenhagen, June 2026) that funds or supports early-stage projects addressing these thematic areas.
A Global Sustainability Incubation Programme
••••• organisation
The funder Plus is an incubation programme that supports alumni of the funder initiative in developing and scaling their SDG-focused solutions. The programme has already incubated over 320 tangible ideas and provides funding and support to advance sustainability-focused ventures.
Compost Hub Workshops
••••• organisation
This grant funds community-led workshops on composting and zero-waste practices, advancing circular economy and waste reduction. It targets community groups and environmental justice organizations seeking to build local capacity in sustainable waste management.
Regenerative Economy
••••• Foundation
This grant supports entrepreneurs and community collectives implementing landscape restoration, regenerative agriculture, resource efficiency, and natural material substitution projects. Eligible applicants operate in the Netherlands and East Africa.
WomenForGreen Initiative
••••• Foundation
The WomenForGreen Initiative supports innovative women entrepreneurs in Lebanon developing green and sustainable solutions. It honors and funds female-led ventures working on environmental and sustainability challenges.
Waste Diversion Management Consortium
••••• Foundation
This grant funds a consortium of 10+ waste-management start-ups addressing Lebanon's waste crisis through coordinated waste diversion and circular-economy initiatives, including a pilot project in Hazmieh. It targets early-stage companies working on waste reduction and resource recovery in the MENA region.
FAST Program (Funding and Acceleration for Sustainable Transformation)
••••• Foundation
The FAST Program provides funding and acceleration support for green entrepreneurs and sustainable ventures operating in Lebanon. It targets early-stage cleantech and sustainability-focused businesses seeking capital and business development services.
Viridis (We Support)
••••• Foundation
Viridis is an investment platform providing financial and operational support to green start-ups and SMEs developing eco-sustainable solutions aligned with the 17 SDGs. The fund targets early-stage and growth-stage cleantech and green-entrepreneurship ventures across multiple sustainability sectors.
Inclusive Circular Economy
••••• Foundation
This grant programme funds inclusive and circular economic models that reduce waste while improving livelihoods for disadvantaged communities. It targets organizations implementing circular-economy and waste-reduction interventions with a social-inclusion lens.
a Multinational Innovation Fund
••••• organisation
A funding programme supporting young entrepreneurs across Africa, Asia and the Middle East to start and scale businesses with innovative solutions to local challenges aligned with the UN SDGs. The fund targets early-stage and growth-stage ventures addressing sustainability and development priorities in underserved regions.
Energy & Environment Accelerator 2025 for Swiss Startups
••••• Foundation
An accelerator programme supporting Swiss startups developing innovative solutions for energy transition and environmental sustainability, running October 2025 to March 2026 in partnership with leading incubators and universities. Eligible startups will receive mentorship, resources, and support to scale cleantech and energy solutions.
Plastic Brand Audits
••••• organisation
This grant funds corporate accountability initiatives that audit major brands for plastic pollution and drive advocacy to reduce plastic waste. It targets nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and research groups working on ocean health and corporate responsibility.
A European sustainable packaging venture capital fund
••••• organisation
ESPIF is a venture capital fund investing in sustainable packaging and materials innovations, targeting companies developing low-carbon and circular-economy solutions in the packaging sector. The fund is subject to SFDR disclosure requirements, indicating institutional-grade sustainability governance.
Climate Technology Fund II
••••• organisation
The funder is deploying Fund II to invest in seed-stage climate technology companies that demonstrate capital efficiency and solve environmental challenges with immediate customer ROI. The fund targets companies across clean energy, transportation, carbon solutions, food and water, and circular economy sectors.
Early-Stage Climate Tech Seed Fund
••••• organisation
Early-stage climate tech seed fund investing in capital-efficient, market-ready companies across clean energy, transportation, infrastructure, carbon solutions, sustainable food & water, and circular economy sectors. Eligible for startups and early-stage companies with proven market traction in climate and sustainability verticals.
A Mexican infrastructure conglomerate's corporate venture fund
••••• organisation
The funder is a corporate venture capital fund investing in early-to-growth stage startups developing climate tech, decarbonization, circular economy, food security, water infrastructure, and energy storage solutions. Portfolio companies receive capital alongside business development and operational support aligned with Orbia's five business groups.
Early Stage Venture Fund for Critical Minerals Technology
••••• organisation
Early-stage venture capital fund investing in technology innovations across the critical mineral value chain, including responsible development, operational excellence, and recycled materials. Targets pre-seed, seed, and Series A companies in the US and Canada.
Climate Resilience Fund
••••• Foundation
The Climate Resilience Fund supports nature-based solutions, circular economy initiatives, and conservation projects that address climate crises across Asia. It targets organizations working on environmental resilience and sustainable resource management in the region.
Sustainability
••••• Foundation
Grants supporting sustainability programs in Taos County, New Mexico and four Colorado counties, directed toward smaller organizations and projects that lack access to larger grantors. The fund prioritizes grassroots and community-scale sustainability initiatives.
Award in Environmental Engineering and Sustainability from a Swiss research partnership
••••• Foundation
This award recognizes outstanding research in environmental engineering and sustainability, offered in partnership with EPFL Lausanne. It targets researchers and institutions advancing solutions in environmental protection and sustainable development.
Awards for outstanding contributions to environmental protection and sustainability
••••• Foundation
The funder presents awards recognizing outstanding contributions to environmental protection and sustainability. Organizations and individuals with demonstrated impact in these areas can apply for recognition and associated funding.
Environment Fund: Backs pioneers at the intersection of science and sustainability, driving decarbonization, circular…
••••• organisation
The funder backs early-stage companies at the intersection of science and sustainability, focusing on decarbonization, circular economy, and emerging planetary solutions. The fund targets technology pioneers developing solutions across climate mitigation and environmental innovation.
Solid Waste
••••• organisation
This grant provides technical assistance to rural communities to improve solid waste management systems and practices. It targets nonprofit and community organizations serving underserved rural areas seeking to build capacity in waste infrastructure and sustainability.
Latin America Strategy
••••• organisation
This is a capital mobilisation partnership between the funder, the International Finance Corporation, and Itaú Unibanco targeting institutional investment across energy, industrial decarbonisation, circular economy, and food systems in Latin America. The grant funds projects and initiatives that attract private capital to climate and sustainability solutions in these four sectors.
Climate Solutions Growth Equity Strategy
••••• organisation
Growth equity investments in climate solutions targeting radical emissions reduction or removal in hard-to-abate sectors including energy, industry, food systems, and nature-based solutions. Targets transformational climate technology and business model companies rather than incremental improvements.
Grassroots Grants Program
••••• organisation
This grant program funds grassroots organizations working to challenge throwaway culture and build circular, regenerative economic systems that benefit communities and ecosystems. Eligible applicants are community-based groups aligned with the funder's mission on consumption, waste, and systems change.
New Climate Technology in Building and Construction Sectors
••••• organisation
The funder's programme funds demonstration projects deploying new climate and energy technologies in building and construction sectors, including emission-free construction sites, material reuse at scale, and low-carbon building material recycling. Eligible applicants can receive support for piloting or investment in new technologies, with pre-project development support available in some cases.
Biogass
••••• organisation
This programme supports enterprises in establishing new or expanding existing industrial-scale biogas production facilities to recover energy and materials from low-value biomass. Eligible applicants are businesses seeking to invest in biogas infrastructure, with support aimed at improving sector profitability through best-practice solutions.
Zero Waste Academy (ZWA)
••••• organisation
Zero Waste Academy is a movement-led training program that builds capacity among citizens, policymakers, and organizations to implement zero waste solutions through practical tools, scientific knowledge, and political frameworks. It targets regionally grounded implementation of waste reduction and circular economy practices.
Member Organization Grants
••••• organisation
GAIA distributes approximately $2.6 million annually to member organizations worldwide to support local environmental justice efforts, zero waste implementation, and anti-incineration campaigns. This grant is for member organizations working on waste reduction, climate justice, and environmental justice initiatives globally.
A European Sustainability-Focused Private Equity Fund
••••• organisation
The funder is an SFDR Article 9 private equity fund investing in minority and majority stakes in high-growth companies addressing global sustainability challenges across energy, decarbonization, circular economy, sustainable food, and process digitalization. The fund targets growth-stage companies with meaningful environmental and social impact.
PR3: The Global Alliance to Advance Reuse
••••• organisation
This grant accelerates the scaling of reuse systems globally through standardization efforts, targeting circular economy and waste reduction. It funds organizations working to advance reuse infrastructure and standardized practices across supply chains.
Regeneration: Producing responsibly sourced minerals while transforming abandoned mines into ecological assets
••••• organisation
This grant funds projects that responsibly source minerals while simultaneously restoring ecological value at abandoned mine sites. It targets organizations working at the intersection of sustainable mining, land restoration, and biodiversity conservation.
The Peace Diamonds Restoration Initiative
••••• organisation
This grant funds community-led restoration and reclamation of abandoned diamond mining sites in Sierra Leone, reconciling ecological recovery with sustainable human land use. It targets nonprofits, social enterprises, and community groups working on land restoration and environmental justice in post-mining landscapes.
A Climate Technology Investment Fund
••••• organisation
The funder Capital Climate Fund is a specialist investment fund backing climate technology and infrastructure businesses across the full decarbonisation spectrum, from early-stage startups to mature projects. It provides equity, equity-like, and debt financing to companies and projects in renewable energy, circular economy, agriculture, carbon markets, and hard-to-abate industrial sectors.
Partners for Places
••••• organisation
A matching-grant programme that pairs local government sustainability offices with philanthropic funders to support community sustainability and livability projects. Eligible applicants are local governments with sustainability mandates seeking co-funding for environmental and urban resilience initiatives.
Climate Tech Venture Capital Fund II
••••• organisation
The funder Fund II is a venture capital fund backing founders and companies pursuing zero-emissions solutions across clean energy, mobility, smart cities, food/agriculture, and circular economy. The fund invests from pre-seed through late-stage growth, targeting companies in the clean energy transition space.
Clean Energy Innovation Fund
••••• organisation
This fund invests in Australian climate tech companies across clean energy, mobility, food and agriculture, circular economy, and industrial decarbonization, from pre-seed through late-stage growth. It targets deep tech, software, and hardware innovations managed by the funder on behalf of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
Growth Equity Fund for Sustainable Tech
••••• organisation
A growth equity fund investing in tech-enabled, growth-stage companies advancing the transition to a sustainable economy with proven products generating profitable returns alongside social and environmental impact. Targets businesses demonstrating both commercial viability and measurable sustainability outcomes.
Environmental Sustainability
••••• organisation
NSF Environmental Sustainability program funds engineering research advancing sustainable systems across five areas: circular bioeconomy, industrial ecology, green engineering, ecological engineering, and earth systems engineering. Eligible applicants are universities and research institutions with graduate and undergraduate student involvement.
A Major Global Environmental Prize 2026
••••• Foundation
The Volvo Environment Prize 2026 is a global award offering up to €1.0M to recognize and support environmental innovation and sustainability solutions. The prize targets organizations and individuals advancing environmental protection and climate action worldwide.
Eco-Innovation Challenge
••••• organisation
The Eco-Innovation Challenge funds innovative sustainability and environmental projects in Georgia, Moldova, and Turkey, with grants up to €1.0M available. It targets entrepreneurs, SMEs, and organizations developing eco-friendly solutions across these three countries.
Plastic Pollution
••••• Foundation
This grant funds organisations and coalitions working to reduce single-use plastic pollution through consumer awareness campaigns and business engagement to eliminate single-use plastics from supply chains. Eligible applicants take a dual approach combining environmental advocacy with practical, business-friendly alternatives.
Sustainable Communities
••••• Foundation
This grant funds projects that advance climate justice, environmental resilience, circular economy, conservation, and community wellbeing, with a focus on vulnerable populations. Eligible projects span renewable energy, biodiversity protection, waste reduction, sustainable agriculture, and climate adaptation.
A Mining Company's Venture Capital Fund
••••• organisation
The funder is a corporate venture capital fund investing in Series A and B startups developing solutions aligned with Vale's strategy, particularly in decarbonization, mining innovation, and sustainable value-chain practices. The fund acts as a strategic catalyst for disruptive technologies addressing global sustainability challenges.
Tech for Good
••••• organisation
The funder funds technology startups and disruptive innovation projects that deliver measurable environmental or social impact. The programme targets early-stage tech ventures in cleantech and social technology sectors.