Philip Simpson, a veteran of the UK waste and recycling sector, has been appointed Non-Executive Chairman of Flybox® following his lead angel investment in the company. The appointment reflects his long-standing commitment to advancing scalable, circular solutions for organic waste.
Flybox®’s mission is to scale up Insect Waste Management (IWM) as a sustainable, low-carbon alternative to traditional food waste processing. By developing innovative IWM systems that harness Black Soldier Fly larvae to transform organic waste into sustainable proteins and soil enhancers, Flybox® delivers practical, localised solutions with global impact.
“Flybox® has a compelling vision for Insect Waste Management—one that fully aligns with my long-standing commitment to sustainable innovation and moving the dial on resource recovery,” said Simpson. “IWM represents a major step-change in how we process organic waste and produce valuable new proteins and fertiliser.”
This appointment marks Simpson’s return to the sector following his tenure as Executive Director at SARIA UK, where he was instrumental in shaping the UK’s food waste recycling landscape. Since stepping down, he has focused on identifying strategic opportunities to foster innovation and environmental impact.
A recognised industry leader, Simpson played a key role in:
- Launching the UK’s first nationwide food waste processing network (2004)
- Leading the introduction of ReFood UK to the market (2008)
- Driving the ReFood “Vision 2020” campaign (2013) to eliminate food waste to landfill
“The ban on landfilling food waste in England and Wales gives added urgency to scalable solutions like IWM. I firmly believe this technology can take the organic waste sector to a new level—delivering low-carbon, decentralised systems with meaningful environmental and economic benefits.”
Flybox® is scaling quickly, with its technology positioned to play a pivotal role in building circular food systems, reducing landfill dependency, and cutting emissions from waste at both national and international levels.
“We’re delighted to welcome Philip as Non-Executive Chairman,” said Larry Kotch, Flybox® CEO and co-founder. “His leadership and deep sector experience come at a crucial moment, as we scale Flybox®’s impact and reach.”