Scotland putting more emphasis on circular economy

Europe – Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has approved a grant of £70 million (US$ 97 million) for a programme to develop and build Scotland’€™s circular economy as part of a package of measures to boost the country’€™s manufacturing sector.

According to an article in the global edition of Remanufacturing Today, the Circular Economy Investment Fund and Service will be delivered by Zero Waste Scotland and Scottish Enterprise. It will be designed to help small to medium-sized businesses as well as other organisations to develop innovative technologies, business models and infrastructure, from proof-of-concept stage through to implementation.

It will also offer development support to businesses seeking to redesign their processes/products and implement resource efficiency measures. The investment includes £30 million (US$ 42 million) from the European Regional Development Fund, which will enable companies to capture new opportunities presented by a move to a more circular economy.

According to deputy first minister John Swinney, a circular economy ‘provides an opportunity to support the competitiveness of our manufacturing base and attract investment – through eradicating waste, and becoming more efficient in our design and manufacturing processes to extend product lifecycles’.

The Scottish government will shortly publish its circular economy strategy which will set out in more detail the priorities for delivering the economic, environmental and social benefits of a more circular economy. The fund will be on line by April 1 and is reaching out to small and medium-sized businesses in manufacturing, food and drink, energy infrastructure, construction, reuse, remanufacturing, repair and reprocessing.