{"id":2320,"date":"2026-01-18T22:45:05","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T22:45:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/labcycle.org\/?p=2320"},"modified":"2026-01-18T23:35:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T23:35:24","slug":"labcycle-secures-1m-seed-funding-to-scale-circular-solution-for-laboratory-plastic-waste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/labcycle.org\/index.php\/2026\/01\/18\/labcycle-secures-1m-seed-funding-to-scale-circular-solution-for-laboratory-plastic-waste\/","title":{"rendered":"LabCycle secures \u00a31M+ seed funding to scale circular solution for laboratory plastic waste"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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LabCycle secures \u00a31M+ seed funding to scale circular solution for laboratory plastic waste<\/font><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Each year, more than 5.5 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated by research and healthcare laboratories globally, with the majority incinerated. This practice produces carbon emissions equivalent to 23 million cars annually and permanently destroys high-grade plastics designed for precision science.<\/p>

As regulatory and institutional pressure mounts to meet net-zero targets, laboratories are being asked to reduce their environmental impact without compromising safety, performance or cost \u2014 a challenge existing waste systems were never designed to meet.<\/p>

LabCycle was founded to change this.<\/strong><\/p>

In January 2026, the company announces it has raised \u00a31 million+ in an oversubscribed Seed round, accelerating the transition from a linear \u201cuse and burn\u201d model to a circular economy for laboratory plastics.<\/p>

The round is led by QantX<\/a>, with participation from\u00a0Angel Investors Bristol<\/a>,\u00a0Angel Academe<\/a>, and individual angel investors. The funding supports LabCycle\u2019s move from innovation into scaled commercial deployment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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LabCycle's Founding Team (Left to Right: Colin Francis - CEO, Dr Helen Liang - CTO, Dr Gareth Barnaby - Senior Engineer) <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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A Breakthrough in Lab Sustainability<\/strong><\/p>

Based in Bath, UK, LabCycle has developed AutoDecon<\/strong>, the world\u2019s first system capable of safely recycling contaminated laboratory plastics into high-grade resources without high heat or pressure. Materials previously sent for incineration can now be returned to the supply chain through a closed-loop process.<\/p>

AutoDecon reduces carbon emissions by up to 90%<\/strong> compared to incineration, enabling organisations to cut Scope 3 emissions while maintaining existing laboratory workflows.<\/p>

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From Innovation to Adoption<\/strong><\/p>

LabCycle now operates under commercial contracts with the NHS, private companies and universities, supporting organisations to transition away from incineration.<\/p>

The company\u2019s work has been recognised across industry and healthcare, including:<\/p>