Marketplace launches to scale regenerative materials in UK construction. ROOT to Market Dynamic Marketplace, created by Woodknowledge Wales and supported by Reconomy Connect, has gone live as a cross-sector network seeking to make regenerative materials such as timber, hemp and straw the default choice in UK and European construction.
The marketplace aggregates demand and offers a curated supply chain, procurement support and training, widening use of materials such as timber, hemp, straw and reclaimed steel. Defra data shows that 94.3 per cent of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste is recovered, but much is downcycled into low-value aggregates. It was created by Woodknowledge Wales, a for-public-good Community Benefit Society, with procurement specialist Value Match and backing from firms including Morgan Sindall Construction, HLM Architects and Cundall.
Jamie Roberts, Divisional Director for Construction, Housebuilding and Infrastructure at Reconomy Connect, said the sector "continuing to face fragmented supply chains and complex waste streams" meant ROOT to Market "provides a vehicle to scale regenerative materials, delivering significant environmental and economic benefits."
The UK processed 4.013 million tonnes of waste wood in 2025, 89 per cent of the total generated, according to annual statistics from the Wood Recyclers' Association. The figure is down 7.3 per cent on 2024 after unplanned outages at end-use plants created oversupply and squeezed storage.
recell.store, the Altilium-owned marketplace for used EV batteries, has partnered with testing firm ClearWatt to offer battery health assessments to salvage yards and dismantlers. A pilot will use ClearWatt's EV Flash Test to generate independent health data supporting marketplace transactions.
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.