Key Takeaway
The UK produces 24kg of e-waste per person annually, ranking second globally. To tackle this issue, Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub launched the Time After Time Fund in 2022, addressing electronic waste and digital exclusion. With £1m funding across 18 projects, the initiative aims to achieve 10 million circular actions by 2025 and connect one million digitally excluded individuals. So far, over 268,000 people have been reached, with nearly 10,000 participating in workshops. The fund has facilitated the repair, reuse, or recycling of nearly 8,000 devices, with over 60% of donated tech redistributed to those in need.
The UK produces an astonishing 24kg of e-waste per person each year, ranking second globally after Norway. To tackle this growing environmental and social issue, Virgin Media O2 and the environmental charity Hubbub have partnered to establish the Time After Time Fund. This initiative addresses the dual challenges of electronic waste and digital exclusion by supporting projects that repair, reuse, and redistribute technology.
Launched in 2022, the fund has now amassed £1m (US$1.3m) across 18 projects throughout the UK. It is a crucial component of Virgin Media O2’s Better Connections Plan, which aims to achieve 10 million circular actions by 2025 and connect one million digitally excluded individuals.
“Three years on, Virgin Media O2’s Time After Time Fund is demonstrating circular tech in action,” says Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Virgin Media O2.
“When we launched the Fund with Hubbub in 2022, our goal was to address two national challenges simultaneously: the UK’s escalating e-waste issue and the expanding digital divide.
“The evidence is clear:
- “Over 260,000 people reached
- “Nearly 10,000 individuals engaged through repair workshops, donating, repairing, and recycling devices
- “More than 8,000 devices repaired, reused, or recycled
- “Over 60% of donated tech redistributed directly to those in need.”
Circular economy in motion
Projects under the Time After Time Fund have now reached more than 268,000 people, with nearly 10,000 actively participating in workshops and repair initiatives. Outcomes include 6,649 items reused or redistributed, 438 individuals trained in repair skills leading to jobs or volunteering opportunities, and 92 million media impressions raising awareness nationwide.
To date, almost 8,000 electrical devices have been repaired, reused, or recycled. More than 60% of donated smartphones and tablets have been redistributed to those most in need, and 400 individuals have completed tech repair training.
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