A scheme helping businesses improve their use of raw and waste materials is being extended across the Black Country and Coventry and Warwickshire LEPs.

The Alternative Raw Materials with Low Impact programme (ARLI), run by the School of Engineering at the University of Birmingham, was initially rolled out in Birmingham and Solihull, and has now secured £3.5m of ERDF funding to run for a further three years across an even wider area.

This collaborative research and development scheme aims to help SMEs get added value from their raw and waste materials through sourcing sustainable alternative raw materials and developing more energy-efficient and cost-effective products and processes. The ARLI programme has supported over 90 businesses since its launch in 2017 and estimates that these businesses will generate an extra £15.5m per year over the next two years as a result.

To take part in the programme, and to benefit from the free advice and technical support of ARLI’s expert team, businesses must have fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of less than 50m Euros. For more information about the expertise on offer, or to get in touch and get involved, visit the website.

To find out about other schemes to help your company reduce its carbon footprint, visit our Energy Saving for Businesses page.