Edinburgh Remakery has been awarded a King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development 2026.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise are the UK’s most prestigious business awards, recognising outstanding achievement in areas including innovation, international trade, and sustainable development. This year, only 185 organisations across the UK and only 8 organisations in Scotland have been recognised. We are the only social enterprise in Scotland who has received an award this year.
For us, this award carries special meaning.
In 2022, we were honoured to receive a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development. To now receive a King’s Award feels like a powerful continuation of that journey. It reflects more than a single action . It recognises more than a decade of building a model that proves environmental action and social impact can go hand in hand.
Sustainability has always been at our core
Edinburgh Remakery was founded in 2012 with a simple but ambitious belief: valuable resources should stay in use for longer, not end up as waste.
Every year, millions of electronic devices are discarded while e-waste continues to grow as the world’s fastest-growing waste stream. At the same time, millions of people across the UK still lack access to suitable digital devices, limiting opportunities in education, employment, healthcare, and daily life.
Our work exists at the meeting point of those two challenges.
Through our ethical IT asset disposal and refurbishment services, businesses, organisations, and members of the public donate unwanted/old tech. Devices are securely data-wiped, professionally refurbished, and then sold at affordable prices. A portion of the refurbished devices are distributed through our Tech Gifting Programme to people experiencing digital exclusion.
The impact behind the award
In 2024, we:
- Diverted 47 tonnes of e-waste from landfill
- Prevented over 1.1 million kilograms of carbon emissions
- Provided 295 refurbished devices to individuals facing digital exclusion
- Reached more than 600 people through our Repair Cafés and Community Clubs
- Delivered over 30 educational events, many supporting underserved communities
Since submitting our King’s Award application, that momentum has continued. In 2025, we increased our impact further, diverting 52 tonnes of e-waste from landfill, a 10% increase in one year.
These numbers matter, but they only tell part of the story. Behind every figure is a person.
A family receiving a computer so children can complete schoolwork at home. A job seeker able to apply for employment online. A young carer receiving a games console that offers a moment of escape. Someone attending our Repair Café and realising for the first time that something broken does not always need to be thrown away.
That is the real meaning of this award.
More than environmental impact
Our mission has never been only about waste.
At Edinburgh Remakery, sustainability means creating systems that work for people as well as the planet. Our Repair Cafés and Community Clubs are not simply about fixing things. They create space for connection, confidence-building, creativity, and improved wellbeing. Our work placements, and volunteering opportunities help people build practical skills and open pathways into green employment. Our partnerships with charities and community organisations help us make sure tech reaches those who need it most.
This is what circular economy looks like in practice. Not just keeping materials in use but making sure value stays in communities too.
A growing role for businesses
This award also recognises the growing role businesses can play in creating a more sustainable economy. Every organisation has tech which eventually gets replaced.
When businesses choose to work with Edinburgh Remakery, those devices do more than avoid landfill. They are transformed into environmental and social value. Secure disposal protects data. Refurbishment extends the life of equipment. Redistribution supports people experiencing digital exclusion. Together, those actions strengthen environmental, social, and governance commitments in a practical and measurable way. As more organisations look for meaningful ways to improve their sustainability performance, this award shines a light on the power of repair, reuse, and responsible disposal.
Thank you
This recognition belongs to many people.
To our staff, past and present, thank you for the care, expertise, hard work, and commitment you bring every day. To our Trustees, thank you for your leadership and belief in our mission. To our partners, funders, businesses, schools, libraries, charities, and community organisations, thank you for trusting us, collaborating with us, and helping us grow our impact.
To every person who has donated a device, attended a Community Club, visited a Repair Café, volunteered, or shared our work with others, thank you. You have all played a part in this journey.
Looking ahead
Winning a King’s Award for Enterprise is a huge honour.
But more than anything, it is a reminder that repair, reuse, and people-first sustainability matter more than ever.
There is still much to do. E-waste continues to rise. Digital exclusion remains a daily reality for many people. Communities still need spaces where they can build skills, creativity, resilience, and connection. This award strengthens our determination to keep going.
One device at a time. One person at a time. One community at a time.
And with your support, we will keep building a future where repair and reuse are simply the norm.