Nicola Roberts dazzles in 315 metres of old electrical wire

Star lights up Fashion Awards 2021 – and the campaign to get us all recycling our unwanted electricals.

Light skinned performer Nicola Roberts models dress made from recycled electrical wire

Find your recycling point

Nicola Roberts wears Alex Sipa gown created from household cables

The shoulder and decolletage detailing are woven from ethernet cables and household wires. Designer Alexandra Sipa personally salvaged hundreds of cables and wires from friends, neighbours and local businesses – and painstakingly fashioned the dress by hand.

Positive energy

Close up of light skinned Nicola Roberts - singer, actor, writer

Nicola Roberts

“It really does show what’s possible in terms of recycling, and just how beautiful it can be.” – Nicola Roberts, singer, actor, writer.

Read Nicola’s interview
Alexandra Sipa uses discarded electricals in her fashion design

Alex Sipa

“I realised these beautiful details could be achieved using waste we all have lying around.” –  Alexandra Sipa, designer.

Read Alex’s blog
Harold Tillman at a Buckingham Palace reception

Harold Tillman

“A brilliant idea. We need this campaign – and we need to know how to recycle.” – Fashion guru Harold Tillman.

Read Harold’s interview

Want to do something right now?

From fashion to jewellery – recycling is a beautiful fit

Inspired by the electro-dress? Try jewellery made from gold, silver or other precious metals from recycled electricals.

With the festive season just around the corner our guide to ethical jewellery comes to the rescue.

 

Read the article
two gold rings one on top of another on a plain blue background
a light skinned hand holding various electrical cables that have been up neatly wound up on a pink background

DID YOU KNOW?

700 tonnes

That’s how much copper is contained in unwanted electricals hoarded in UK homes.

Recycle yours now.

Find your electrical recycling point

The cable knit reinvented

How to get the Nicola Roberts sparkle

Raw materials of the gown

a top shot of an open drawer full of cables and old electricals

188 wires

Did you know – the average UK home has 5 unwanted cables tucked away in a drawer?

Find your nearest recycling point
cross-section of electrical cables containing value metals such as copper

315 metres of copper

Old wires contain copper which can be reused for its amazing conductivity, antibacterial properties – or even ethical fashion.

Find your nearest recycling point
a pale skinned woman in a pink hoodie holding a cloth bag full of electrical items

22 ethernet cables

There’s enough copper in unwanted electricals in just 41 homes to make another stunning Alex Sipa dress.

Find your nearest recycling point

Ethical fashion, old electricals and climate change

Why recycling copper is green

Lumps of molten silver, bronze, and gold melted together on a bright blue background.

Old electricals contain precious metals

Unwanted cables in UK homes contain nearly 700 tonnes of copper. Plus we’re hoarding or binning millions of old electrical gadgets.

A medium light skinned boy on a swing, mid-swing with feet in the air, against a bright blue background.

Recycling saves it all from going to waste

The materials in old electricals can be turned into anything from ethical fashion and jewellery to medical equipment, bicycles and children’s playgrounds.

Wind turbines against a bright blue background

Recycling is a win for the climate

Reusing or recycling electricals saves mining and drilling for new raw materials – and that means less carbon emissions.

Rewire. Recycle.

It’s getting easier all the time to recycle unwanted electricals. Pop your postcode in our locator and see for yourself.

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Recycling Locator