The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) announced the Phase 2 winners of the Re-X Before Recycling Prize, a competition to identify, prepare, and develop innovative ways to extend the lifetimes of products or parts via reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, or repurposing (Re-X) before pursuing recycling. From home goods and headlights to furniture and food service items, these creative projects aim to reduce life cycle energy and emissions, strengthen circular supply chains, and decrease the demand for virgin materials.
During Phase 2, competitors leveraged national laboratory expert analysis, refined their plans to further their innovations toward supply chain implementation, and cultivated a network of mentors and partners to optimize the community impact potential of their projects.
“The Phase 2 winners now have the opportunity to put their plans into action to advance our nation’s circular economy,” said AMMTO director Chris Saldaña. “The impacts of these Re-X projects will strengthen regional manufacturing supply chains, increase U.S. security of supply, create jobs, and reduce environmental burdens.”
Each Phase 2 winner will receive $150,000 in cash and up to $100,000 in technical assistance from a DOE national laboratory. In total, the Re-X Before Recycling Prize has a cash pool of $4.5 million, plus up to $1.1 million in national laboratory analysis consultation and technical assistance.
Phase 3 Opens
The prize’s third and final phase is now open to returning competitors. During this phase, competitors will demonstrate substantial progress towards implementing their innovation in a viable Re-X supply chain, while building ecosystem partnerships through community engagement and developing an actionable plan to continue their project beyond the prize period. Phase 3 submissions are due December 8, 2025.
Description
In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that 10 teams from 7 states and Washington, D.C., won Phase 2: Prepare! of the Re-X Before Recycling Prize. Phase 3: Develop! is open to returning participants only.
This three-phase competition is designed to develop innovative ways to extend the lifetimes of products or parts via reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, or repurposing end-of-use products before recycling.
Published January 2025