The Prince of Wales is looking into installing a new eco gadget in his home, made by the UK’s only Earthshot Prize finalist for 2025.
Bristol-based Matter Industries has developed a new washing machine filter, designed to catch harmful microplastics that come from our laundered clothes – before they end up polluting rivers and oceans.
Prince William is understood to be considering installing the Regen® filters in his household to set an example to those wanting to do their bit to protect the environment.
The Grade II-listed Georgian mansion Forest Lodge, located close to Windsor Castle, is expected to become the “forever home” of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children later this month.
The news comes as the Prince prepares to travel thousands of miles to Brazil for his fifth annual Earthshot Prize awards, and the fourth United for Wildlife Summit, taking place in Rio de Janeiro.
He will visit iconic landmarks like the Christ the Redeemer statue, the Maracanã Stadium, beaches and other tourist hotspots.
Separately, Prince William will represent King Charles at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém, attending bilateral meetings and delivering a landmark speech in his role as a “global statesman”.
The Prince of Wales is expected to be joined by Sir Keir Starmer in both Rio and Belém – the first time a British Prime Minister has attended the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony.
William will spend time with local communities in the city, and celebrate “young climate leaders to drive forward restoration and protection of the planet”, according to Kensington Palace.
His office has told GB News the Prince will see “the precious ecosystems of Brazil in order to learn more about the innovation, optimism, and creativity which is being harnessed across the country to protect nature and tackle climate change.”
Prince William eyes eco gadget from Britain’s only Earthshot finalist
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The high-profile visit is expected to see Prince William wield his convening powers to connect small businesses with big investors.
He aims to scale up environmental solutions at speed, to have a measurable, positive impact on the planet.
High-profile celebrities, including Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes, will support the Prince on awards night, entertaining guests invited to the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio, as well as a global audience of millions.
Meanwhile, more than 100 people, including four police officers, have been killed in raids in Rio’s favela – targeting violent gangs – ahead of the future King’s visit.
Ninety-three rifles and half a ton of drugs were seized in an operation conducted by 2,500 police officers.
Security is expected to be extremely tight; two big events are being held in Rio de Janeiro next week, with several VIPs expected in the city.
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Prince William has opted to fly commercially to Brazil, instead of using private jets favoured by politicians and other world leaders.
A one-way commercial flight from London to Rio de Janeiro is estimated to produce one tonne of CO2 emissions per economy passenger.
His spokesperson insists, however, that the future King is not interested in banning people from flying around the world for business or pleasure.
“The Prince of Wales is not looking back to the ice age,” his spokesman told GB News, adding that “he’s looking forward to the green age.”
Prince William launched his Earthshot Prize in 2020 with the ethos of “urgent optimism”, instead of the doom and gloom scaremongering that some have accused climate activists of pursuing.
Each year, five out of 15 finalists win £1 million to scale up their environmental solutions to help repair the planet.
The five Earthshot categories are: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean our Air, Revive our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World and Fix Our Climate.
British company Matter is competing in the Revive our Oceans category, with its microplastic-catching filter, which can attach to existing washing machines, as well as new ones.
The company has also developed larger filters to be installed in textile factories around the world.
Matter’s CEO, Adam Root, is in talks to meet the Prime Minister when he’s in Brazil, and hinted that legislation is needed for environmental solutions to make a real difference.
He told GB News: “We’re targeting between 10 and 15 per cent reduction of global microplastic emissions in the textiles industry and through washing machines. That allows us to make the kind of measurable change that we want to see in our homes and in industry. We hope to steer the guide for legislation to come.”
There is currently no UK legislation mandating washing machine filters, but a Microplastic Filters (Washing Machines) Private Member’s Bill was introduced in October 2024.
Matter’s filters are now available in more than 30 European countries, and claim to capture up to 97% of microplastics without the need for replacement cartridges.
By 2030, the British firm’s ambition is to capture 15,000 tons of microfibre from textile factories and washing machines.