Descycle
Descycle is a UK deep tech company commercialising proprietary Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) chemistry to recover precious and critical metals from e-waste and minerals at low temperature, replacing energy-intensive smelting. It serves e-waste recyclers, electronics OEMs, and mining partners via modular plant deployments and is pre-commercial with a Teesside demo plant under construction.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Descycle does
Descycle is a UK-based deep tech company commercialising proprietary Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) chemistry for low-temperature, low-energy recovery of precious and critical metals from electronic waste and minerals. The technology replaces conventional high-temperature smelting (>1,000°C) and toxic acid/cyanide leaching with ambient-pressure selective dissolution at 50-80°C, achieving over 99% recovery rates for gold, copper, silver, and palladium in pilot testing. The core offering is a modular, capital-light plant platform deployable alongside upstream e-waste recyclers and mining partners, with associated Digital Product Passport traceability through the EU Horizon RETURN project.
The company operates a pre-commercial demonstration plant under construction at Wilton International in Teesside (launch targeted H2 2026), with a planned 5,000 tonnes-per-year commercial facility in Gateshead via a 50/50 joint venture with GAP Group. Revenue is intended to be generated through toll-processing fees, metal sales (gold, copper, palladium, rare earths), technology licensing (e.g., Mitsubishi Corporation for Japan), and engineering/technical services. No revenue has been disclosed; pricing is negotiated on a per-contract basis.
Descycle has raised approximately £30m in total capital across equity, grants, and partner funding. Key investors include BGF (Series A lead), Vorwerk Ventures, Cisco Investments, Kadmos Capital, Nesta, TSP Ventures, and Mitsubishi Corporation, complemented by over €10m in non-dilutive grants from EU Horizon (€5m), SPRIND (€1.5m), EIC Accelerator (€2.5m), Innovate UK, and UKRI. The leadership team combines former executives from BHP, Anglo American, Gold Fields, and Rio Tinto, with CTO Dr Rob Harris as co-inventor of DES processes. Strategic customer/partnership engagements include Cisco (OEM trial), Mitsubishi (Japan market entry), and GAP Group (UK commercial JV), with technology positioned for expansion into battery metals, rare earths, and photovoltaic panel recycling.
Descycle firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Descycle
- Legal name
- DEScycle Ltd.
- Website
- https://descycle.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Descycle is a UK deep tech company commercialising proprietary Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) chemistry to recover precious and critical metals from e-waste and minerals at low temperature, replacing energy-intensive smelting. It serves e-waste recyclers, electronics OEMs, and mining partners via modular plant deployments and is pre-commercial with a Teesside demo plant under construction.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Descycle industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Critical Metals Recovery and Recycling
- NAICS
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (33141), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Chemical Manufacturing (325)
- SIC
- Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341), Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Precious & Specialty Metal Recovery (Smelting, Refining, Hydrometallurgy) (EUAIAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- E-Waste & Electronics Metal Recovery (ITAD, Circuit Boards, Precious Metal Recovery) (IMAKAMAG), Hazardous Waste Recycling & Recovery (Solvent Recovery, Oil Re-refining, Metals Recovery) (EUAIAFAI)
Keywords
Where Descycle is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Descycle business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Metal Recovery Processing Services: DEScycle generates revenue by processing e-waste and other secondary feedstocks for enterprise customers (e-waste recyclers, electronics manufacturers, data centres), recovering and selling precious and critical metals including gold, copper, silver, palladium, and rare earth elements. Revenue is derived from toll-processing fees and metal sales, with commercial-scale plant planned to process 5,000 tonnes of e-waste per year.
- Technology Licensing: Through strategic partnerships (e.g., Mitsubishi Corporation for Japan market), DEScycle may license its proprietary DES-based ionometallurgy platform to partners for deployment in new geographic markets, generating licensing and royalty revenue.
- Engineering and Technical Services: DEScycle provides technical services including process design, commissioning support, and operational expertise for partners deploying DES-based modular plants, contributing to revenue through professional services engagements.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Descycle product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DEScycle develops and deploys a proprietary Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) ionometallurgy platform that recovers critical and precious metals (gold, copper, silver, palladium, rare earths) from electronic waste and primary minerals at 50–80°C with >99% recovery rates. The company sells toll-processing services, modular plant deployments, and licensing of its DES chemistry as a low-temperature, non-toxic alternative to high-energy smelting and acid leaching.
Product overview
DEScycle is a deep tech company offering a portfolio of metal recovery and recycling solutions centered on its proprietary Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) technology and DES Ionometallurgy Platform. The core offering is a distributed, modular metals processing platform that replaces traditional high-energy, high-emission smelting with low-temperature, chemistry-driven metal recovery achieving over 99% recovery rates. The company serves two primary markets: e-waste recycling (recovering gold, copper, silver, palladium from printed circuit boards) and minerals processing (nickel, cobalt, rare earths for battery and energy transition metals). The technology is offered as a platform (DES Ionometallurgy Platform) with modular, scalable deployment options for co-location with recyclers and industrial partners. Additional features include Digital Product Passports for supply chain traceability. The company operates from a headquarters in London with its demonstration plant under construction in Teesside, UK.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DES Ionometallurgy Platform A proprietary, multi-feedstock ionometallurgical platform built on non-toxic Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) chemistry that enables selective dissolution of target metals at 50–80°C under ambient pressure, replacing high-temperature smelting and toxic acid leaching. For metals industry customers and partners seeking low-temperature, low-energy, environmentally benign metal recovery.
- E-waste Recycling Solutions Clean, cost-efficient e-waste recycling service recovering precious and critical metals (gold, copper, silver, palladium) from electronic waste including printed circuit boards, offered as a smelter-replacement solution. For e-waste recyclers and electronics manufacturers/OEMs seeking a sustainable alternative to high-impact, capital-intensive recycling methods.
- Minerals Processing Solutions Processing solutions for critical and battery metals including nickel, cobalt, gold (replacing cyanide and toxic solvents), copper and base metals (water-free processing), and rare earth elements. For metals and mining partners seeking to supply critical materials for the low-carbon economy transition.
Quantifiable outcome
- >99% metal recovery rates for precious metals (gold, silver, palladium) and critical metals (copper)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Descycle
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Descycle technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Descycle partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CiscocoreGlobal technology leader Cisco is trialling DEScycle's distributed metals recovery platform to process electronic scrap boards from Cisco hardware at DEScycle's demonstration plant in Wilton, UK. Trial evaluates recovery performance at large batch scale, generates techno-economic data, and assesses integration into existing reverse supply chains. Cisco previously invested in DEScycle's 2024 Series A funding round.
- Mitsubishi CorporationcoreStrategic partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation for e-scrap recycling in Japan market. MC leveraged its global trading platform and customer relationships to support marketing of recovered metals. Following initial investment in 2025, the partnership represents next phase of engagement with DEScycle selected as preferred partner for Japan market. Collaboration aims to expand into US and Europe.
- SeloxiumcorePart of DEScycle's SPRIND Tech Metal Challenge consortium, collaborating on development of scalable critical metals infrastructure. Also advancing critical minerals processing at Teesside's Wilton Centre.
- University of NottinghamcoreAcademic partner in SPRIND Tech Metal Challenge consortium, collaborating on industrial validation of DES-based circular metals recovery technology.
- Esy Labs (Germany)coreGerman consortium partner in SPRIND Tech Metal Challenge, collaborating on DES-based circular metals recovery technology development.
- EU Horizon (RETURN Project)core€5m EU Horizon grant funding the RETURN project (€7.5m total). Consortium includes Minespider, GAP Group, Cycleco, MoreThanDigital, Iconiq Innovation, PX Group, OSAI Automation Systems, and Jean Monnet University. Focuses on eco-friendly chemical recovery, automated sorting, digital product passports, and dynamic digital marketplace.
- CyclecominorEU Horizon RETURN project consortium partner for circular economy expertise in e-waste recycling.
- Iconiq InnovationminorEU Horizon RETURN project consortium partner for innovation and scaling expertise.
- PX GroupminorEU Horizon RETURN project consortium partner (Switzerland), contributing expertise in industrial process development.
- Jean Monnet UniversityminorEU Horizon RETURN project consortium partner (France), providing academic research expertise.
- GAP Groupcore50/50 joint venture partner for commercial e-waste recycling plant in Gateshead, UK. GAP Group, one of the UK's largest WEEE (e-waste) recyclers, is collaborating on facility capable of recycling 5,000 tonnes of e-waste per year. GAP Group also confirmed for customer trials in 2026. Partnership exemplifies integration of DEScycle's technology with established recycling operations.
- Centre for Process Innovation (CPI)coreStrategic partnership with CPI (UK Technology Innovation Centre) to support scaling of DEScycle's e-waste recycling process from laboratory to commercial scale. CPI hosted bench-scale pilot at its Darlington facility achieving TRL 6 in October 2023. CPI also participated in Pre-Series A funding round as investor.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Descycle competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Li-Cycle: Canadian-listed hydrometallurgical battery and e-waste materials recovery company. Closely comparable to DEScycle in using low-emission, chemistry-driven metal recovery as an alternative to high-temperature smelting, though focused primarily on lithium-ion batteries rather than mixed e-waste PCBs.
- Redwood Materials: US battery and e-scrap recycling startup founded by JB Straubel. Directly comparable in pursuit of closed-loop, domestic critical-materials recovery using chemistry-driven processes and in serving large OEM customers; however Redwood is more battery-centric and significantly larger by capital raised.
Emerging players
- Cyclic Materials: Canadian startup using hydrometallurgy (specifically its REEPure and MAGPure processes) to recover rare earth elements and other critical materials from end-of-life products. Comparable in being a chemistry-based, lower-temperature alternative to pyrometallurgy and in targeting multiple secondary-feedstock streams.
- HyProMag: UK-based rare-earth magnet recycling company (a Mkango Resources subsidiary) using a hydrogen-based 'reprocessing' route. Comparable as a UK-based, smaller-scale critical-materials recycler targeting the same OEM and circular-economy customers DEScycle serves.
- Mkango Resources: AIM-listed critical minerals company developing rare earth projects in Africa and the UK, with its HyProMag recycling arm. Comparable in targeting downstream rare earth and critical metal recovery from secondary sources and in overlapping with DEScycle's stated battery and REE feedstock roadmap.
Broad incumbents
- Umicore: Belgian materials technology group with a major precious-metals refining and recycling business, including e-scrap and complex feedstocks. Comparable as the established incumbent whose pyrometallurgical/hydrometallurgical stack DEScycle aims to displace at smaller, distributed scale.
- Aurubis: European integrated copper smelter and recycler with significant multimetal recovery from complex secondary feedstocks. Directly comparable in producing recovered copper and precious metals from scrap, and in competing for the same end-customer demand for circular, traceable metals.
- Boliden: Swedish metals and mining company with large-scale non-ferrous smelting and an electronic materials recycling business (Rönnskär). Comparable as a Northern European incumbent competing for the same e-waste and complex secondary-feedstock volumes DEScycle targets.
- Glencore: Global commodities trader and major secondary-metals processor through its copper and zinc smelting footprint. Comparable as a large incumbent with integrated scrap supply, offtake relationships, and capital scale that any new entrant must compete against for volumes and pricing.
Regional players
- Dowa Holdings: Japanese non-ferrous metals and e-waste recycler operating Eco-System Recycling. Highly comparable on technology overlap (e-scrap smelting/refining for precious and base metals) and is the most likely in-region competitor to the DEScycle-Mitsubishi Japan partnership.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Descycle social profiles
Digital presenceDescycle compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Descycle financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Descycle leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Descycle funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors17 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Descycle M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Descycle
What does Descycle do?
DEScycle develops and deploys a proprietary Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) ionometallurgy platform that recovers critical and precious metals (gold, copper, silver, palladium, rare earths) from electronic waste and primary minerals at 50–80°C with >99% recovery rates. The company sells toll-processing services, modular plant deployments, and licensing of its DES chemistry as a low-temperature, non-toxic alternative to high-energy smelting and acid leaching.
Is Descycle a public or private company?
Descycle is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Descycle founded?
Descycle was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Descycle based?
Descycle is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Descycle make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Metal Recovery Processing Services are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing and engineering and Technical Services.
Who are Descycle's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Li-Cycle and Redwood Materials. Emerging players are Cyclic Materials, HyProMag and Mkango Resources. Broad incumbents are Umicore, Aurubis, Boliden and Glencore. Dowa Holdings is listed as a regional player.
Does Descycle have an API?
No public API is recorded for Descycle.
What industry is Descycle in?
Descycle's product category is Critical Metals Recovery and Recycling. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAIAD, Precious & Specialty Metal Recovery (Smelting, Refining, Hydrometallurgy), with a secondary code of IMAKAMAG, E-Waste & Electronics Metal Recovery (ITAD, Circuit Boards, Precious Metal Recovery). Its NAICS code is 33141 and its SIC code is 3341.