Altilium and Structural Battery Company partner on UK drone supply chain. Altilium and The Structural Battery Company have announced a collaboration to develop a UK-based battery supply chain for heavy-lift drones, integrating cathode and anode materials recovered from end-of-life EV batteries into a structural battery system embedded in the drone airframe.
The two companies will explore the technical feasibility of producing battery cells using recycled cathode and anode active materials for integration into the Structural Battery Company's Drone Spine technology, a structural battery backbone that embeds energy storage within the airframe. According to the companies, the approach can deliver up to 50 per cent weight savings compared with a conventional airframe and battery combination.
Altilium, which secured £18.5 million in UK Government grant funding this month for its ACT3 battery recycling facility in Plymouth, has already produced automotive-grade pouch cells using cathode active materials recovered from end-of-life EV batteries. The Structural Battery Company, founded by John Moffat and based at Cranfield University, is targeting applications in defence, aerospace, space and robotics.
Packaging firm Pact Group has invested in Plan B Circular, the UK textile-to-textile polyester recycler behind Project Re:claim, its joint venture with the Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL). The deal aims to scale polyester recycling ahead of EU legislation expected in 2028.
Sixteen international partners led by Danish Technological Institute have launched InFACT, a project to turn household flexible plastic waste such as crisp packets, coffee bags and meat films into new packaging, including food packaging. Less than 15 per cent of this material is currently recycled.