<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><ns2:project xmlns:ns1="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api" xmlns:ns2="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project" xmlns:ns3="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/fund" xmlns:ns4="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/person" xmlns:ns5="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project/outcome" xmlns:ns6="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/organisation" ns1:created="2026-07-08T08:44:08Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/projects/FF342A7A-14C9-43D9-A4D7-6347A78D70FA" ns1:id="FF342A7A-14C9-43D9-A4D7-6347A78D70FA"><ns1:links><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/F95495F9-35DD-4F6D-88D8-15104074B729" ns1:rel="LEAD_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/F34211FD-103C-49D4-98BE-ED7C87034907" ns1:rel="PARTICIPANT_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/1D9BF01E-BC19-4080-9A62-2B552E89DFB6" ns1:rel="PARTICIPANT_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/F95495F9-35DD-4F6D-88D8-15104074B729" ns1:rel="PARTICIPANT_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:end="2016-02-29T00:00:00Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/funds/8DFDBA1C-520C-4D61-B029-CE3003968993" ns1:rel="FUND" ns1:start="2015-08-31T23:00:00Z"/></ns1:links><ns2:identifiers><ns2:identifier ns2:type="RCUK">132068</ns2:identifier></ns2:identifiers><ns2:title>Making protective equipment circular</ns2:title><ns2:status>Closed</ns2:status><ns2:grantCategory>Feasibility Studies</ns2:grantCategory><ns2:leadFunder>Innovate UK</ns2:leadFunder><ns2:abstractText>Over &amp;pound;2 billion of personal protective equipment (PPE) like safety helmets and high-visibility clothing is sold every year in the UK, most of which ends up in landfill or incinerated. This project will explore whether there is a way to change a business model that is followed across the world so that PPE becomes circular. Fundamental in this will be a shift in the perception of PPE from a disposable commodity to one that retains value throughout the cycle. To achieve this requires cooperation across the supply chain. This project, a collaboration between a companies that understand PPE from all ends of the supply chain, is a prototype of this model and will help demonstrate how the circular economy is good for business, the economy and the environment.</ns2:abstractText></ns2:project>