Building the recycling infrastructure behind Britain’s circular economy

Katharos is developing new UK recycling and resource recovery capacity, driving better economic value from our waste and better environmental outcomes for our world

Member Of

What We Enable

Recover background

Recover

The Challenge: The UK generates large volumes of waste each year, approximately 70 million tonnes (UK Govt)*, yet we only have the domestic capacity to sort a tiny fraction, c.4 million tonnes (Monksleigh/Ceres)**. Consequently valuable materials are more often exported, incinerated or lost to landfill.

What Katharos Provides: We develop large-scale resource recovery infrastructure that helps capture valuable materials and return them to productive use.

Recycle background

Recycle

The Challenge: The UK does not have the infrastructure it needs to meet future recycling targets of 60% recycling by 2035 (Defra)*, and reduce reliance on exporting waste.

What Katharos Provides: We identify and prepare suitable sites for new recycling facilities, helping bring modern mechanical sorting and recovery capacity into operation faster.

Decarbonise background

Decarbonise

The Challenge: Many energy recovery facilities still burn materials that could otherwise be recycled, creating unnecessary carbon emissions and future cost exposure.

What Katharos Provides: By removing recyclable materials before waste reaches energy recovery facilities, Katharos helps recover more value from waste while reducing avoidable carbon emissions.

Sources & Industry Citations:

* UK Govt / Defra — Commercial & Industrial Waste Statistics & Statutory Recycling Targets (60% by 2035).

** Monksleigh / Ceres Industry Analysis — UK Domestic Sorting & Infrastructure Capacity Assessment.

The Future We See

The Future We See

Complex systems become more efficient when they are better connected. Our vision is a UK recovery network where resources, infrastructure and industry work together to maximise value, minimise waste and support long-term growth.

Built on experience

Our leadership team and board bring diverse institutional expertise from the energy, renewables, waste, finance and legal sectors.

Leadership

Francis Mann

Francis Mann

CEO & Founder

Francis has over 12 years of experience developing large-scale energy and infrastructure projects. Previously a Senior Project Development Manager for major renewables initiatives across Europe, South America, the Middle East, and Asia, he now co-leads Katharos after a career managing government affairs for onshore renewables.

Daniel Larkin

Daniel Larkin

CSO & Founder

Daniel brings extensive experience in capital raising, corporate structuring, and business operations. With a deep background in international trade and project finance, he previously served as European Director for a US trade finance house, structuring multi-million dollar credit facilities across waste management, solar, and infrastructure sectors.

Hamish Courtauld

Hamish Courtauld

COO & Co-Founder

Hamish specializes in renewable energy and infrastructure transactions. Since 2021, he has worked in investment banking and capital raising, structuring equity and debt for green energy developers across Europe. A Chartered Accountant, he began his career auditing the UK Energy Department.

Non-Executive Board of Directors

Kareen Boutonnat

Kareen Boutonnat

Chair of the board

Kareen spent over 12 years at Lightsource bp, where she served as CEO for the EMEA and APAC regions, leading large-scale solar and renewable operations internationally. She also sits on the boards of Powerverse and Theta Solar.

Sir Edward Greenwell

Sir Edward Greenwell

Non-Executive Director

Sir Edward is a landowner, entrepreneur, and co-owner of Greenwell Farms, alongside development and land-based portfolios. Former President of the CLA, Trustee of the National Trust, and High Sheriff of Suffolk.

Hugh Grootenhuis

Hugh Grootenhuis

Non-Executive Director

Hugh is an established investment and finance professional, formerly CEO of Waverton Investment Management. Currently Independent NED at Raymond James Wealth Management and Chairman of FundRock Management (Ireland) Ltd.

Alexandra Desouza

Alexandra Desouza

Non-Executive Director

General Counsel EMEA & Head of Transactions at Lightsource bp, with 20 years’ experience in solar law, project finance, and international energy transactions. Board member of Solar Energy UK.

Landowners

For Landowners

Secure long-term, index-linked lease rentals. We unlock value from large-format industrial and logistics acreage with zero upfront cost to the landowner, managing all engineering, planning permissions, and permits.

Local Authorities

For Local Authorities

Increase regional circular resource recovery and reduce landfill reliance. We deploy private capital portfolios to meet statutory net-zero goals, bringing advanced mechanical and chemical polymer sorting locally.

Let's partner together

Follow the journey

Stay updated with our most important announcements, financing rounds, and insights as we build modern resource recovery infrastructure.

Loading latest news...