Morphy Richards (MR) will work with Sentec and IDC to create a more sustainable, energy efficient, longer life iron, where new design, manufacturing, in-use and business aspects are all strategized, with the aim of transference of aspects to other small appliances by MR. This project aims to reduce carbon footprint, metal, plastics & water use four-fold by reducing energy consumption by 50-80% and water consumption by 50%, making it lighter, modular, with less thermal duty & thus no lime scale & longer product life. The objectives are to reduce lifelong product energy consumption and increase product life by challenging design and lowering thermal duty. The proposed new iron will consider relocating manufacture to the UK, & use: standard/modular components, design to last and for disassembly, energy efficient ways of heating the soleplate, recycled materials, alternative manufacturing technologies, and new business models and reverse logistics & cascades. All changes result in a move to a circular economy for the iron, and thus other appliances. The project will last 18 months and cost £300k

The objective of this project is to create a new generation of energy efficient, intelligent and easy-to-use domestic cooking appliances. The market need for this project is driven by consumers becoming increasingly aware of domestic energy consumption and developing a desire to reduce their carbon footprint. It is also driven by government targets for new-build carbon neutral homes by 2016. The project will research new cooking technologies such as pre-atomised steam generation, high pressure steam, halogen and induction heating with a view to producing combination appliances that optimise energy consumption without compromising food quality. In addition to this the project will also study consumer behaviour to allow the development of in-built intelligence to provide an easy and convenient experience that influences user interaction to again reduce overall energy consumption. This project, therefore, will develop and exploit new technologies and will continue the development of Morphy Richards' centre of excellence for consumer-focussed sustainable design. Funding is essential to the project in order to attract the best-in-class collaborators, help spread the financial and technical risk, and accelerate the project and its commercial exploitation. It will also protect existing jobs and attract further high value-adding professionals.

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