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Building a Circular Economy for ScotlandEvidence from Zero Waste Scotlandactivities 2012–2016

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Contents

FOREWORD 4

1 Executive Summary 52 Introduction 6

3 Review of activities 2012 to 2016 8 3.1 DevelopmentoftheCircularEconomyProgramme 8 3.2 Businessmodelsupport 10 3.3 Citiesandregions 11 3.4 Bioeconomy 12 3.5 Energysector 14 3.6 Textilesmanufacturing 15 3.7 Remanufacturing 17 3.8 Re-useandrepair 18 3.9 Procurement 19 3.10 Influencingthecirculareconomyagenda 21

4 Lessons learned and future considerations 25 4.1 Whatworksbest(anddoesn’twork)fordirectlysupportedbusinesses? 26 4.2 Whatwidermarketfactorscanhelporhindercirculareconomyideas? 27 4.3 Howcansupportagenciesbemosteffective? 28

5 Our current support offering 32

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Zero Waste Scotland is the Scottish

Government’s lead agency for the

circular economy.

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Foreword

Scotlandisaworldleaderindeliveringacirculareconomy.

Scotland’sprogressintransitioningtoacirculareconomyhasbeenrecognisedatTheCircularEconomyAwards2017,presentedattheWorldEconomicForumAnnualMeetinginDavos,Switzerland.AsthewinneroftheAwardforCircularEconomyGovernments,CitiesandRegions,Scotlandisnowseenacrosstheglobeasabeacontofollow.

ThisprestigiousinternationalawardcamejustoneyearaftertheScottishGovernmentlauncheditsfirstcirculareconomystrategyin2016.MakingThingsLasthighlightsthosepriorityareasinwhichwehavethegreatestopportunitytoeliminatewasteasfaraspossibletodelivermeaningfulandlong-lastingeconomic,environmentalandsocialbenefits.ThecirculareconomyisalsocentraltoScotland’sManufacturingActionPlan–and,inturn,aconcertedfocusonremanufacturingcouldrevitaliseScotland’smanufacturingtradition.

ZeroWasteScotlandfirstbegantodelivertheResourceEfficientCircularEconomyAcceleratorProgramme,fundedjointlybytheEuropeanRegionalDevelopmentFund(ERDF)andtheScottishGovernment,in2016.TheERDFfundinghasenabledustosignificantlyscaleupourdirectsupporttobusinessesandotherorganisations,anapproachthattookoffinearnestasof2017.

Scotland’scirculareconomyachievementstodateincludetheflourishingofcollaborationsbetweenbusinessandacademiaviatheScottishInstituteforRemanufacture;thesettingupoflarge-scalere-useandrepairhubsandwidespreadsupportforScottishbusinessestodevelopcirculareconomymodels,productsandservices.Capitalinvestmentismadeavailablethroughthe£18millionCircularEconomyInvestmentFundandourCircularEconomyBusinessSupportServiceprovidesbespokeadvice.

Layingthefoundationsforsuchsuccesseshastakenyearsofgroundwork.Inthisreport,weprovideinsightsintotheworkcarriedoutbyZeroWasteScotlandfrom2012to2016toestablishafirmbasisforScotland’scirculareconomy.Weexploretheneedtofocusonspecificsectorssuchasmanufacturingandenergyinfrastructure,andthebroadapplicabilityofre-use,remanufacturingandprocurementactivities.

OurcirculareconomyworkhasbeenbolsteredbytheEuropeanRegionalDevelopmentFundandScottishGovernment-backedResourceEfficientCircularEconomyAcceleratorProgramme,whichhasenabledus,since2017,tosignificantlyscaleupourdirectsupporttobusinessesandotherorganisations.

Supportingthetransitiontowardsacirculareconomyrequiresinputfrommoreagenciesthanoursalone.Inbringingtogetherourexperiencesinthisreport–alongwiththelessonswe’velearnedfromthem–wehopetohelpotherssuccessfullydelivertheirownprogrammesinsupportofacirculareconomyforScotland.

IainGulland

ChiefExecutiveZeroWasteScotland

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1 Executive Summary

Understandinghowbesttosupportthemovetowardsacirculareconomyisasmuchaworkinprogressasthetransitionitself.

Thecirculareconomyisaboutdrivinginnovationinthewayproductsandservicesareprovided–andthatistrueforthesupportweofferalso,whichisconstantlyevolving.Fromhumblebeginnings–buildingevidencefortheapproachandawardinggrantstofundinnovationinsustainableresourcemanagement–wehavebecomeaglobalauthorityinourfield.SuccessfullybiddingintohosttheCircularEconomyHotspot2018,amajorinternationaleventandtrademission,hashighlightedScotland’sprogresstodateandothercountriesnowlooktoourexample.

ZeroWasteScotlandistheScottishGovernment’sleadagencyforthecirculareconomy,butwecan’tachievethetransitionforScotlandonourown–collaborationatalllevelsiscrucial.WeworkcloselywiththeScottishGovernmentanditsagencies,anddrivethedeliveryofScotland’sfirstcirculareconomystrategy,MakingThingsLast.Buildingacirculareconomyrequiresextensivepartnershipacrosssectorsandbetweenorganisations.We’vebuiltourowncollaborations–withthelikesof

theEllenMacArthurFoundation,theScottishInstituteforRemanufactureandScotland’sinnovationcentres–andwe’vehelpedthosewesupporttonurturesimilarlysynergisticrelationships.

Circulareconomyopportunitiesareallaroundus,butMakingThingsLastidentifiesfourkeyareasthatdemandgreaterattention:manufacturing,construction,energyinfrastructureandfoodanddrinkandthewiderbioeconomy.DevelopingScotland’sbioeconomywillidentifylocalisedsolutionsandincreaserevenueforwasteandby-products,increaseresourceresilience,providesolutionsforunavoidablefoodwastearisings,andcreatenewbusinessopportunities.Estimatedsavingsofbetween£500millionand£800millioncouldbeachievedinthebeer,whiskyandfishsectorsalonethroughbetteruseofwasteandby-products.

Re-use,remanufacturingandsustainableprocurementareenablersthatcanbeembeddedacrossallsectorsandindustries.Re-useshouldbenormalisedintoallbusinessandconsumeractivityforthecirculareconomytobesuccessful.Remanufacturinghigh-valuegoodsretainstheirvalueanduseslessenergythanmakingnewproducts,andprovidessustainableeconomicgrowthandskilledemployment.PublicsectorspendingacrossScotlandamountstocirca£11billionperyear–makingprocurementapowerfulmeansbywhichtopromotecirculareconomysolutionsandpotentiallyalsoachievebetterlong-termvalueformoney.

Theabilityofanybusinesstosuccessfullyimplementacirculareconomyopportunityislargelydeterminedbyitscapacitytoembraceinnovation,itscapacityanditsexistingskillsbase.Externalfactors–suchastheappetiteofcustomersandthemarketbase,regulatoryrequirementsandaccesstofinance–arealsosignificantfactors,butthesewilloftenbebeyondthecontrolofthebusiness.Tobemosteffective,supportagenciesshouldunderstandthenatureofthebusinessfromthestart,andremainflexibleandagileasaprojectprogresses.Intheseways,supportagenciescanbesthelpbusinessestoovercomebarriersandtakeadvantageofenablersinthepursuitofacirculareconomyforScotland.

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2 Introduction

ZeroWasteScotlandprovidesleadershipandpracticalsupporttoencouragethegrowthinScotlandofacirculareconomy,inwhichgreatervalueisplacedonresourcesandwasteiseliminatedasfaraspossible.

ZeroWasteScotlandhasformanyyearssupportedactivitiesthatcontributetothedevelopmentofacirculareconomy,andin2014welaunchedadedicatedprogrammeofworkdesignedtoaccelerateScotland’stransitiontoacirculareconomy.Thisreportaimstoclearlydemonstratetherangeandnatureofoursupportofferinguptotheendof2016.

ThereportreviewstheactivitiesthatZeroWasteScotlandhasundertakenbetween2012and2016andhowthesehavecontributedtowardsdevelopingScotland’scirculareconomystrategyandapproach.Italsoprovidesexamplesofprojectsthatwehavesupportedandhowtheseprojectsandprogrammeshaveprogressedthroughourmorerecentsupportoffering.Thereportthendrawstogetherinsightoncommonbarrierstoandenablersofprogress,toinformfutureprogrammeplanningbothbyZeroWasteScotlandandotherorganisationsconsideringsimilarcirculareconomysupportprogrammes.Asaleaderinthisarea,webelieveourexperienceofwhatworks–andwhatdoesn’twork–willbeofwideinterest.Finally,thereisashortreviewofongoingandcurrentactivityareas,from2017onwards,todemonstratehowwecontinuetoprogressthecirculareconomyinScotland,buildingonthefoundationslaidthroughearlieractivities.

Impactsandsavingsarenotsystematicallyquantifiedinthisreportduetothediversenatureoftheactivity

reviewedandbecausemanyoftheinitiativesandprojectsarestillinprogress,withfinaloutcomesnotyetknown.Instead,thisreportfocusesondescribinghowourworkhascontributedtothedevelopmentofacirculareconomyinScotland.

Fromthestartof2016,keyareasofourcirculareconomyworkhavebeenpartfundedbytheEuropeanRegionalDevelopmentFund(ERDF),enablingustosignificantlyscaleupourdirectsupporttoorganisations.Thisreportdoesnotcoveractivitiesundertakenin2016aspartofthenewERDFResourceEfficientCircularEconomyAcceleratorProgramme,butdoesreflectonhowtheearlyactivitieshaveeitherinformedorprogressedthroughourmorerecent,ERDFfundedprogrammes.AlloftheactivitiesdescribedinthisreporthaveprovidedinsightthatisdirectlyrelevanttoourongoingERDF-fundedsupportoffering.Thissupportincludes;•TheCircularEconomyBusinessSupportService

(CEBSS):Providingbespokeone-to-onesupporttohelpbusinessesdeveloptheirideasforcirculareconomyproductsandservices.

• TheCircularEconomyInvestmentFund(CEIF):Providingcapitalinvestmenttosupporttheimplementationofbusinessmodels.Keyareasofinterestareplastics,thebioeconomy,re-useandflatglassrecyclingsolutions,butthisisbynomeansanexhaustivelist.

Thesupportdescribedwithinthisevaluationhasbeendeliveredtospecificindustriesoractivityareasandhasincludedbothdirectsupport,includinggrants,adviceandtraining,andindirectsectorsupportsuchasresearchactivities,opportunityscoping,collaborationsandnetworking(seeFigure1).

Figure 1: DirectandindirectsectorsupportprovidedbyZeroWasteScotland

SECTOR

SECTOR SUPPORT DIRECT SUPPORT

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT RESEARCH

TRAINING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

ADVICE ANDSUPPORT

GRANTFUNDING

Engaging with key sectors, delivery

partners and consumers

Scoping opportunities and understanding

barriers

Online resources, workshops and matchmaking

Providing consultancy support

and resources to individual businesses

Providing funding to individual

businesses to enable them to progress circular economy

opportunities

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AwiderangeofZeroWasteScotlandsupportthatisbeyondthescopeofthisreportisalsocontributingtothedevelopmentofacirculareconomyinScotland.Wehaveexcludedfromthisreportanyactivitiesthataresubjecttoseparateevaluationandreporting,includingworktoimproveresourceefficiency,preventfoodwasteandincreaserecyclingandsustainableconstruction.Alsoexcludedisthedetailaroundouractivitytoupskilltheresourcemanagementindustry,asthiswillbecoveredinaforthcomingResourceManagementProgrammeevaluationreport.

Theextensivelistofworkareasthatwedocoverinthisreportincludes:•businessmodelsupport–coveringavarietyofsectors•citiesandregionsapproach–workingacrossarange

ofsectorsinasmallgeographicalarea•bioeconomy–stretchingacrossseveralindustries,

includingfoodanddrinkmanufacturing,organicwastemanagementandagriculture

•energysector–withafocusonoilandgasdecommissioning

•textilesmanufacturing•remanufacturing–acrossarangeofindustries•re-use–primarilyfocusedonretailofproductsfor

re-use•procurement–withinpublicsectororganisations•resourcemanagement–innovativeimprovements.

Otheractivitiescoveredinthisreportincludeoverallstakeholderengagement,communicationscampaigns,researchandopportunityscopingstudies.Thestructureofthisreportreflectsourinternalapproachtoengagingstakeholdersanddeliveringsupport.Thereisoverlapbetweenmanyoftheseworkareas,aswillbecomeclearthroughoutthisreport.

Inconsideringthelessonslearnedfromourreview,welookathowbusinessesbehaveandcaninteract,whatexternalpressuresarefeltbythesebusinesses,andhowsupportorganisationscanmosteffectivelyprovidesupport.

Finally,thereportprovidesashortoverviewofongoingZeroWasteScotlandactivitiesandofhowourexperienceofpreviousworkhasshapedthedesignofourcurrentprogrammeandsupportoffering.

The strategic backdropInearly2016,theScottishGovernmentlaunchedanexplicitcirculareconomystrategywithMakingThingsLastandScotland’sManufacturingActionPlan,AManufacturingFutureforScotland.ThesedocumentsbuiltuponadirectionoftravelinmaterialandwastepolicyalreadyestablishedbyScotland’sZeroWastePlan(2010),SafeguardingScotland’sResources(2013)andScotland’sEconomicStrategy(2015).ScotlandwasthefirstnationtojointheEllenMacArthurFoundation

(EMF)CircularEconomy100(CE100)Programmein2013,demonstratingthenation’scommitmenttothedevelopmentofasustainableeconomy.Attheinternationallevel,2015sawthepublicationoftheinitialEuropeanUnion(EU)CircularEconomyPackageandtheagreementoftheUnitedNationsSustainableDevelopmentGoals.Goal12,whichreferstosustainableproductionandconsumption,isdirectlyrelevanttocirculareconomyactivities.

ZeroWasteScotland’sworkinthisareahaslikewiseevolvedovertimesincewewerenamedakeypartneragencyintheScottishGovernment’scirculareconomystrategy.OurfirstexplicitinvolvementwasourparticipationintheCircularEconomyEvidenceProgrammeincollaborationwiththeScottishGovernment,theScottishEnvironmentProtectionAgency(SEPA)andScotland’senterpriseagencies.Thisprogrammefocusedonunderstandingthespecificsector-levelopportunitiesinScotlandfollowinghigh-levelworkconductedin2013byEMF,whichprovidedaheadlinevalueforcirculareconomyopportunitiesinScotland.

Duringtheperiodcoveredbythisreport,2012-16,ZeroWasteScotlandlargelyfocusedonexploringhowcirculareconomysupportcouldoperateandonidentifyingthebestopportunitiestoprovidesupport–activitiesinformedby,andthathavehelpedtoinform,evolvingpolicypriorities.Today,ZeroWasteScotlandistheleadagencyforthecirculareconomyinScotland–butitisnotsomethingthatwecanachievealone.Buildingacirculareconomyrequiresextensivepartnershipworkingacrosssectorsandbetweenorganisationsandweaimtobeacatalystforchange.Manyoftheachievementsdescribedinthisreportwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthehardworkandcommitmentofvariousotherparties.Since2016,ourroleinthedevelopmentofScotland’scirculareconomyhasbecomemoreformal.Scotland’sManufacturingActionPlannamedZeroWasteScotlandasaleadagencyforthecirculareconomyworkstreamwithintheplan,whileMakingThingsLastformallylaidoutthecirculareconomyambitionsforScotlandasawhole.Thesestrategicdocumentshavebroughtourcirculareconomysupportintosharperfocussince2016and,inconjunctionwithERDFsupport,ledtoasignificantscalingupofsomesupportstreams.Asdiscussed,thislater,ERDF-fundedworkwillbesubjecttoaseparateevaluation–akeyoutcomefortheearlierwork,however,wasthatitshouldinformwhatcamenext,sosomeoverlapisunavoidable.

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3 Review of activities 2012 to 2016

3.1 Development of the Circular Economy Programme

BeforeweestablishedaZeroWasteScotlandprogrammeandteamdedicatedtothecirculareconomy,ourMarketDevelopmentProgrammewasalreadyexploringbettervaluerecyclatesandhowtokeepthatvalueinScotland.Forexample,aresearchreportprofilingtheplasticsindustryconfirmedthatmostplasticswereleavingthecountryratherthanScotlandretainingthisresourcesothatitmightbereabsorbedintooureconomy.

Astheconceptofthecirculareconomyandtheappetitetomovetowardsitbegantogrow,ZeroWasteScotlandrecognisedthatsignificantopportunitieswereemergingforScottishbusinesses.Tohelpthemrealisetheseopportunities,weformedourdedicatedCircularEconomyProgrammeanddeliveryteamin2014.

Relationship buildingItiswidelyrecognisedthatacirculareconomyrequirescollaboration,andZeroWasteScotlandhasfromanearlystagebuiltrelationshipswithorganisationsitseesasessentialpartnersinthetransitiontoacirculareconomy.In2013,theScottishGovernmentformedtheCircularEconomySteeringGroup,comprisingSEPA,ZeroWasteScotland,ScottishEnterprise,HighlandsandIslandsEnterprise(HIE)andtheScottishGovernment.Althoughthegroupnolongerformallyexists,theagenciescontinuetocommunicateandcollaborateasrequiredtoacceleratethedevelopmentofthecirculareconomy.

AsourCircularEconomyProgrammehasdeveloped,thenewrelationshipswehavefounded–includingwithEMFandtheIndustrialBiotechnologyInnovationCentre(IBioIC)–haveledtocollaborativeprojects,whichwedetaillaterinthisreport.Byestablishinggoodrelationshipswithkeypartnerorganisationsandtappingintotheirconnections,we’vebeenabletopromptlyaccessandinfluencesectorsthatmayotherwisehave

requiredyearsofengagementbeforeprogresscouldbemade.OtherrelationshipshaveenabledknowledgesharingandopportunitiestoshowcaseScotlandasaleaderinthemovementtowardsacirculareconomy.

Opportunity scoping, research and evidence gatheringBeforedevelopingitscirculareconomystrategyforScotland,theScottishGovernmentcreatedthesteeringgroupandevidenceprogramme(mentionedabove)toreviewrelevantsectorsandpotentialopportunities.ThekeyobjectivesoftheevidenceprogrammeweretoidentifythedriversandopportunitiesrelatedtoacirculareconomyinScotlandandtoquantifythebenefits.ZeroWasteScotlandtooktheleadinidentifyingopportunitiesforsomeoftheserelevantsectors.ThisworkhasinformedthethinkingofalloftheagenciesinvolvedandthedevelopmentofbothScottishGovernmentpolicyandourownprogrammeofwork.We’vetypicallyhighlightedkeyindividualpiecesofresearchworkundertakenbyZeroWasteScotlandinthethematicsubsectionsthatfollow,butwebelievethatthesystematicapproachthatidentifiedpriorityareasforresearch,andthecoordinationofparallelprojects,addedsignificantvalue.Theresearchfocusedonkeysectorsbutalsoexploredcommonthemes,likebarriersandenablers,andlookedatsomecross-cuttingtopicssuchascriticalrawmaterials–infact,thelatterwork,whichSEPAhadalreadybegun,showedthevalueofthecollaborativeapproachintransferringknowledgeandavoidingoverlap.

Theoutcomesfromtheevidenceprogrammehelpedtoshapepolicyandoperationalthinking,andhavealsobeenusefulinraisingtheprofileofspecificopportunitieswhenengagingdirectlywiththesectorsinquestion.Evidencehasremainedkeytoprogressingthecirculareconomysince–andislikelytoremainsofortheforeseeablefuture.ThisisanemergingareabothinScotlandandinternationally,involvingasignificantelementof‘learningbydoing’aswellasmoreexplicitresearch.

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Inadditiontothesector-specificreportsmentionedelsewhereinthisdocument,theoverarchingresearchintoacirculareconomyinScotlandincludes:•ScotlandandtheCircularEconomy(2013):Areviewof

thepotentialforacirculareconomyinScotlandandthebarriersandenablersinvolvedinachievingthis.ProducedbyEMFincollaborationwithZeroWasteScotlandandScottishEnterprise.

•DesignforaCircularEconomy:AnActionPlan(2015):Apeerreviewedactionplandevelopedthroughstakeholdermappingandengagement.

•CircularEconomyScotland(2015):ThisreportidentifiesthegreatpotentialforScotland’sfoodanddrinkmanufacturingindustrytobenefitfromcircularopportunities.AselectionofprojectsweresubsequentlytakenforwardbytheRSA’sGreatRecoveryProjecttoexplorehowcirculareconomyopportunitiescanbeappliedinthesector.

•TheCarbonImpactsoftheCircularEconomy(2015):UsingScotland’sCarbonMetric,thisresearchquantifiesthepotentialcarbonimpactsofamorecirculareconomyinScotland.MaterialconsumptionisresponsibleforovertwothirdsofScotland’scarbonemissionsandamorecirculareconomycouldsignificantlyreduceScotland’scarbonfootprintwithoutsacrificingeconomicprosperity.

•CircularEconomyThinkingandActionattheUniversityofEdinburgh(2015):Researchtoreviewtheopportunitytodevelopa‘circulareconomyuniversity’,boththroughteachingandbymakingchangestofacilities.Itincludeslifecycleimpactmappingandaprocurementplan,anddiscusseshowtheuniversitycouldadoptacirculareconomyapproach,withtheconceptintroducedintaughtmodules.

•JobsandtheCircularEconomy:ThreeScenariosforScotland(2015):ThisconsidershowScotland’slabourmarketcouldbenefitfromamorecirculareconomy,andproposeswaystoaccelerateitsdevelopment.Thereportisnowoutofdate,however,duetochangesinthelabourmarketsincethestudywasconducted.

Precursors to the Circular Economy ProgrammeBeforewelaunchedourCircularEconomyProgramme,ZeroWasteScotlandprovidedsupporttoincreaseScottishreprocessingofrecyclatesandtodevelopmarketsforrecycledmaterialsthroughinnovationgrants.Amongthosetoreceivesupportwereprojectsthataimedtorecycleplastictocreateamaterialofvirginquality,divertscallopshellsfromlandfilltoproducealimefertiliser,anddevelopanewremanufacturingline.Ourobjectivesindispensingthegrantsweretostimulateinnovationinrecyclingtechnologies,supportproductdevelopmenttorapidlybringnewideastomarket,andensurethatproductsthatyieldedpositiveresultswouldbewidelysharedandadoptedbytheindustry.

Theoverarchinggoalwastoenablethere-processingofbetterqualityrecyclatesinScotlandandtoincreasetherecycledcontentofScottishmanufacturedgoods.

Individualgrantsweretypicallyrelativelysmallinvaluebutmanywereneverthelessinstrumentalinkickingoffaprogrammeofwork.Someoftheprojectsthatreceivedagrantarenowjuststartingtobearfruit,havingreceivedongoingsupportviaotherZeroWasteScotlandfundingstreamsorfromalternativeinvestors.Severalsignificantgamechangersfirstentereddevelopmentthankstoourgrants,buttheirrelativelyrecentsuccesshighlightsthetimeandsupportrequiredtotakeaninnovativeprojectfromdesigntooperation.Inaddition,earlyindicatorsofsuccess(measuredimmediatelyafterthegrantfundingisdispensed)donotnecessarilyresultinprojectswiththemostsignificantlongertermimpact(asmeasuredatleastfiveyearsfollowingtheendofthesupport).

Three key projects to come out of the Market Development Innovation Grants:

Impact Recycling wasgivenfunding toconstructademonstrationunitofitspatentedpolymerseparationtechnology,BOSS(BaffledOscillationSeparationSystem).ThisdisruptivetechnologyisnowbeingrolledoutacrosstheUK.ItisakeypartofProjectBeacon,aseriesoffourprojectsbeingsupportedunderourcurrentERDFprogramme.

Eco ideaM receivedfundingtoevaluatethepotentialfordenseplasticsseparationfacilitiesthatuseinfraredopticalsortingsystems.AlongwiththeImpactRecyclingproject,thishasdirectlyinformedProjectBeacon.

Celtic Renewables receivedagrantatthedemonstrationstageofitsproject,whichinvolvesfermentingpotaleintobiobutanol.Thegrantcoveredthecostofequipmentandtimefordesign,trials,testingandreporting.Sincethisinitialgrant,thebusinesshasgoneontocommercialisebiofuelproductionusingby-productsoftheScottishmaltwhiskyindustry.CelticRenewableshasnowreceivedfundingfromtheUKDepartmentforTransporttobuildabiofuelfacilityatGrangemouth,whichisunderconstructionandexpectedtobeoperationalbytheendof2018–sixyearsafterZeroWasteScotlandprovidedinitialsupporttodeveloptheidea.

ThesupportwecurrentlyofferthroughtheCircularEconomyInvestmentFund(CEIF)–andtosomeextent,therelatedbusinesssupportservice–isbasedonwhatwelearnedfromtheseearlygrants.

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3.2 Business model support

During2014and2015,ZeroWasteScotlandofferedsupporttobusinessesacrossallsectorstodevelopcirculareconomyopportunitiesthroughtheCircularEconomyBusinessModels(CEBMs)programme.Typesofopportunitiessupportedincluded:•re-use•remanufacturing•leasingmodels•resourcesharing•circularprocurement•manufacturingprocesschange.

Supportwasprovidedtoarangeofindustriesincludingfoodanddrink,manufacturing,fashionandtextiles,agriculture,oilandgas,andhealthcare.Businesseswereprovidedwithvarioustypesofsupportincludinghelpwith:•calculatingenvironmentalbenefits•developingbusinessplans•policydevelopment•stakeholderengagement•marketresearchandconsultation•financialanalysis.

SixorganisationsweresupportedduringCEBMs1,thefirstphaseofthesupportprogramme,andlessonslearnedfromitsdeliverywereappliedtothesecondandthirdphases(CEBMs2&3).Thesewereto:•providemorestructuretothesupport(e.g.through

projectplans),butallowforflexibilitywithinthis•understandthecommitmentandabilityofthebusiness

attheoutsetofthesupport•increasethedurationofeachpackageofsupport(from

25to30days).

CEBMs2&3supported16businessesintotal,theircollectivecarbonsavingpotentialestimatedat176,470tonnesCO2eperannum.

Many of these businesses are continuing to progress their circular economy initiatives - examples of successful CEBMs supported companies which have gone on to receive a CEIF award or further business support through our more recent ERDF programmes include:

Recycling Technologies producesPlaxx®(anultra-lowsulphuroilwithapplicationsinmultipleindustrialsectors)frompreviouslyunrecyclableplastic,withestimatedscaled-uppotentialannualsavingsof5000tresource,7000twasteand11,500tcarbon.Theenterprisereceivedsupportwithitsbusinessplanandmarketing,lifecycleanalysisandassurancearound

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feedstockavailability.Inaddition,thesupportprovidedexposureandraisedtheprofileoftheproject.AspartofProjectBeacon,theprojectcontinuestoprogresswithCEIFfundingbehindit.

UniGreenScheme (Universal Resource Trading) isestablishingaScottisharm ofitsUKbusinessmodel,whichcollectsusedlaboratoryequipment(mainlyfromuniversities)andstoresandtestsitbeforesellingitontobere-used.Thesupportdeliveredincludedafeasibilitystudy,financialbusinesscase,marketassessmentandmarketengagementexercise.TheprojectcontinuestoreceivesupportthroughCEIF.

Revive Eco collectsspentcoffeegroundstoextractoilsandpotentiallyproduceabiomassfuel.ZeroWasteScotlandsupportprovidedareviewofthemarket,competition,financing,pricing,riskmanagementandlong-termsustainabilitytoinformthedevelopmentofabusinesscase.Withanestimatedfuturesavingof312twaste,thenextstageistoobtainpremisesandconductapilotforprocessingwastecoffeegroundstoextracthigh-valuechemicals,thistimeforthecosmeticsindustry.TheyhavealsobeensuccessfullyawardedaCEIFinvestment.

Icecream Architecture wantedtoconsiderthebrokeringofsurplusassetssuchasfurnitureandsoftfurnishingsforre-usewithintheNewGorbalsHousingAssociation.Thegroupreceivedsupporttoquantifycarbonsavings,supervisetheadaptationandfunctionalitydesignofasharingportal,facilitateworkshops,anddevelopthepilotandlaunchevent.Seventy-sevenmembersofthegroupsharedsoil,furniture,skillsandinformationaboutfunding,andotherhousingassociationshaveshowninterestinadoptingtheportal.Estimatedfuturesavingsare120tcarbonand£200,000perannum.

TheCEBMsactivitywasaprecursortotheERDF-fundedCEBSSnowofferedtoSMEstosupportthedevelopmentofcirculareconomyopportunities.ThelearningsfromCEBMsdeliverywerekeytothedevelopmentofCEBSS.

3.3 Cities and regions

AkeyelementofafunctioningcirculareconomyistokeepresourceswithinScotlandand,wherepossible,withinlocalareas.Thisisparticularlybeneficialtoremotecommunitiesandislands,wheretheretendstobearangeofrelevantsectorsandindustries,includingfoodanddrink,manufacturing,fishingandagriculture.Thesecommunitiesalsooftenhaveareputationforinnovationandavibrantenterpriseculture,whichcansupportadevelopingcirculareconomy.Aregionalapproachisn’tjustforremotecommunities,however–citiescanalsobenefitfromlocalcircularopportunities.Giventheconcentrationofbusinessesacrossarange

ofsectorsinbuilt-upareassuchasthecentralbelt,theopportunitiesforsymbioticapproachestobusinessaresignificant.Inaddition,leasemodelsbecomemoreattractiveinhigh-densityareaswhereregularmaintenancecanbeeasilyandefficientlyprovided,andre-useandrepairhubsaremorelikelytosucceedwherethereisagreaternumberofpotentialsuppliersandcustomers.Bytakingupcirculareconomyopportunities,localcommunitiescouldtacklepotentialwastedisposalpollution,preservevaluablenaturalassets,reducecarbonemissionsanduseofrawmaterials,andbecomemoreresilienttofluctuationsinthemarket.

Takingacitiesandregionsapproach,ZeroWasteScotlandhasbeenexploringhowtoidentifycirculareconomyopportunitiesinaspecificlocaleandsupportingbusinessestoidentifyanddeveloptheirowncircularopportunities.Byconductingresearch,introducingpotentiallysynergisticbusinessestooneanotherandraisingtheprofileofthecirculareconomy,itishopedthatinnovationandprogresswillbemobilisedinlocalareas.Inaddition,theactivitieswillincreasetheknowledge,skillsandexperienceoflocalsupportagencies,suchasChambersofCommerce,toallowthemtocontinuetosupporttheirlocalbusinessesinrelationtothecirculareconomyand/orreferthemontotheexistingnationalsupportsystem.

Between 2012 and 2016, two projects have approached the introduction of circular economy opportunities in this way:

A study on the islands of Orkney developed potentialprojectideasbyengagingwithstakeholderstounderstandwastemanagementissuesintherelevantsectors,identifyingopportunitiestobettermanagebiowastesandby-products,andidentifyingpotentialresearchcentres,start-upsandinnovationsforbiowastetreatment.Potentialopportunitiesincluded:•diversificationofproducts•costreductionofbiowastedisposal•transformationofwasteintonewproductsandservices•productionofanimalandfishfeedsandfertilisers•substitutionoffossilfuelswithbiowaste.

AworkshopdeliveredinpartnershipwithHIEandtheOrkneyIslandsCouncil(OIC)inMarch2016brought

togetherbusinessesfromacrosstheislandstodevelopthekeyrecommendationsfortransformationalchange.

Glasgow City Project ZeroWasteScotlandhasbeenworkinginpartnershipwithGlasgowChamberofCommerceonatwophaseproject.Phase1,whichcompletedinJune2016,includedalaunchworkshopanddinner,theidentificationofcircularopportunitiesin

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thecity,aworkshopwithnetworkingopportunitiesandafinalrecommendationsreport.Phase2isbeingdeliveredaspartoftheERDFprogrammeandwillbereportedelsewhere.

OneparticularlysuccessfulpairingtoresultfromtheGlasgowprojectisbetweenAuldstheBakersandJawBrew,whowereintroducedbyGlasgowChamberofCommercein2016.Thebusinesseswentontodevelopasynergisticbusinessmodelin2017,wherebywastebreadfromthebakeryisnowdeliveredtothebreweryandusedtoproduceanew,commerciallyavailablebeer.

Inbothofthecitiesandregionsprojectsundertakentodate,foodanddrinkmanufacturinghasbeenidentifiedasakeyindustrywithsignificantcirculareconomypotentialatalocalscale,focussingparticularlyonthebakery,meatandfish,andbeerandspiritindustries.Thisworksparticularlywellwhenbiowastemanagement,agricultureandfisheriesarealsopresentinthelocale.

Morerecently,therehasbeentheopportunitytoexpandandscaleupbothoftheseprojectsthroughtheERDFprogramme.InOrkney,ZeroWasteScotlandcontinuestoworkwithHIEandOICtoidentifycirculareconomyopportunitieswithintheislands,increaseunderstandingofavailableresourcesandidentifypotentialcirculareconomyprojects.OneOrkneybusinesshassincereceivedsupportthroughCEBSSandfundingthroughCEIFtodeveloplocalusesfortheglasscollectedthrough

thehouseholdrecyclatecollectionservice.InGlasgow,GlasgowChamberofCommercecontinuestoworkonitsCircularGlasgowproject,launchedinNovember2017,raisingawarenessofthecirculareconomylocally,introducingpotentialpartners,developingcasestudiesandreferringsmallandmedium-sizedenterprises(SMEs)toCEBSSandCEIF.

Ourinitialexplorationstoconsiderhowbesttosupportlocalareasinregardtothecirculareconomyhaveinformedthedeliveryofourcurrentsupportoffering.ZeroWasteScotlandisnowbuildingonthisexperiencetoundertakesimilarprojectsinothercitiesandregionsthroughtheERDFfundedprogramme.

3.4 Bioeconomy

Maintainingthehighestvalueofbio-basedresourcesisakeypartofthecirculareconomy.Expandingthebioeconomyincludesdevelopingnewproductsandprocessestosupportthetransitionawayfrompetrochemical-basedsystems.Activitiesoccurinarangeofindustriesincludingfoodanddrinkmanufacturing,animalfeedproduction,bioenergyandindustrialbiotechnology.ItisestimatedthattheUKindustrialbiotechnologymarketwillbeworthupto£12billionby2025andthatsavingsofbetween£500millionand£800millioncouldbeachievedinthebeer,whiskyandfishindustriesthroughbetteruseofwasteandby-products1.

DevelopingScotland’sbioeconomywill:•identifylocalisedsolutionsforwasteandby-products•increaseresourceresilience•addvalueandincreaserevenueforwasteandby-

productmaterials•providesolutionsforunavoidablefoodwastearisings•createnewbusinessopportunities.

ScotlandiswellplacedtodeveloptheseopportunitiesgiventhecoordinatedapproachpromotedbyZeroWasteScotland,supportfrompolicymakersandfundingbodies,world-leadingcentresofresearchexcellence,largevolumesofbio-basedresourcesandwideindustrialbase.

ZeroWasteScotlandhasplayedasignificantroleinbuildingawarenessofandprovidingadviceandsupportforbio-basedopportunitiesinScotland.ReportsfromearlyopportunityscopingworkledbyZeroWasteScotlandprovideevidenceoftheimportanceoftheseactivitiesinestablishingastrongcirculareconomyinScotland.ManyoftheprojectsandprogrammesdeliveredbyorinpartnershipwithZeroWasteScotlanddemonstratethatworkingcollaborativelywithpartnerscandelivervaluableoutcomes.

1http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090609032547/berr.gov.uk/files/file51144.pdf;http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/BeerWhiskyFish

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Our key bioeconomy activities and outputs between 2012 and 2016 include:

PublicationoftheSector Study on Beer, Whisky and FishinJune2015aspartoftheCircularEconomyEvidenceProgramme.ThishasbeenakeydocumentfordrivingthebioeconomyasitfeedsintotheMakingThingsLaststrategyandhighlightsthatthebioeconomyisakeyareaofgrowthforthecirculareconomyinScotland.Manysubsequentactivitieshavebuiltonthefindingsinthisreport.

Optimising the value of digestate and digestion systems,researchdeliveredinpartnershipwithWRAP(WasteandResourcesActionProgramme)andCranfieldUniversityinthe2015/16financialyear,identifiesopportunitiesforthevalorisationofdigestate.Theobjectiveofthisworkwastoinformplansforpotentialinvestmentintheorganicsectoranditresultedin18potentialtechnologiesbeingconsideredagainstalistofcriteria.

SeparatelytoCEBM’sbusiness supportwasdeliveredtoninebio-basedbusinessesfrom2014to2016todevelopandpromoteprojects,createcasestudiestoincreaseawarenessofthebioeconomy,andenablethebusinessestoprogresstheirideasandaccessfurthersupportandfunding.ManyoftheprojectsarecontinuingtoprogressusingsupportandfundingfromZeroWasteScotlandandothersupportagencies.

The Scottish Biofuel Programme wasdeliveredbyEdinburghNapierUniversitywithfundingfromZeroWasteScotland,ScottishEnterpriseandTransportScotland.Thebusinesssupportprovidedwasmainlyone-to-oneadviceanddevelopmentgrantsfortechnicalsupportgiventomorethan50businessesofvaryingsizestodevelopbiofuelandbioenergyprojects,includingpyrolysis,biochar,wheyandmicro-anaerobicdigestionopportunities(seefurtherdetailsbelow).Theprogrammealsoinvolvedresearchandthedevelopmentofcasestudies.ZeroWasteScotlandcontinuedtofundtheprogrammeuptoMarch2017,andidentifiedpotentialmaterialdiversionof46,530tacrossthethreephasesofdelivery.

Acallforphosphorus recovery and priority substance removal technologieswasissuedbytheSmallBusinessResearchInitiativeonbehalfofHIE,ZeroWasteScotlandandtheScottishGovernment’sHydroNationteam.Thiswasapartnershipprojectthatengagedwithotheragenciesandorganisationstofundsevenprojectstorecoverphosphorusfromwastewaterforre-useandprioritysubstancesfromwater.Theprojectsraisedtheprofileofnutrientrecoveryandwaterqualityopportunities.Someofthebusinessessupportedhave

sincebeensupportedorfundedbyZeroWasteScotlandorotherfunders.

Examples of successful projects supported by the Scottish Biofuel Programme:

Celtic Renewables:Followingonfrompreviousgrantsupport,CelticRenewablesreceivedfurthersupportthroughtheScottishBiofuelProgrammetodevelopapplicationsfortheIBioICAcceleratorProgramme,tooptimiseitsfermentationprocess,andforaScottishEnterpriseSMART:SCOTLANDgrant,toinvestigatethepotentialofplastic-coatedpaperasafeedstockforitsfermentationprocess.

A shortbread manufacturer:TheScottishBiofuelProgrammeidentifiedthatwasteandresiduesfromconfectioneryandbiscuit-makingmightbeusefulmaterialsforconversiontobiofuelsastheycontainsugarandfats.Shortbreaddoughwastestedintwodifferentconversionprocessestodetermineitspotentialtoproducebiofuel.Itwascalculatedthat15twastecouldbediverted,resultinginsavingsof6tcarbonand£7,000.ThiswastecouldbeusedtofuelthenewCelticRenewablesfacilitythatisduetobeoperationalbytheendof2018.

Three of the bioeconomy projects that have stemmed from our early support activities are currently being implemented using CEIF funding. Two of these are outlined below:

Pennotec receivedagrantthroughthephosphorusrecoveryandprioritysubstanceremovalcallandwassuccessfulinsecuringfundingviatheBioeconomyAccelerator2017,afundingcallthroughCEIF,tocommercialisechitinextractionfromcrustaceanshellwaste.High-valueapplicationsincludecosmetics,surgicalstitchesandfood(asathickeningagent).TheprominenceofScotland’sshellfishindustryensuresasustainablewastestreamforharvesting.

Xanthella’s ENBIO (Energy and the Bioeconomy) projectreceivedcirculareconomybusinesssupportin2015/16andtheprojectwassuccessfulinsecuringfundingviatheBioeconomyAccelerator2017fundingcalltodevelopanalgalproductionprocessusingwhiskydistillationresidues.Thisprojectwillstimulatenewindustrialactivityandstrengthenthecirculareconomyinruralareasbyenablingbetteruseofstrandedtimberanddistilleryresidues.

Bioeconomyactivitiesoperateininnovativeindustriesthatareopentopushingboundariesandmovingtocirculareconomybusinessmodels.Someofthemost

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successfulcirculareconomyprojectstodatearerelatedtothebioeconomy,demonstratingtheappetiteandpotentialforprogressinthisarea.

ZeroWasteScotlandcontinuestooperateanactiveprogrammeofsupportforandresearchintothebioeconomy,basedontheearlieractivitiesdescribedabove.RecentactivityhasincludedputtingoutafundingcallfortheBioeconomyAccelerator,deliveredthroughCEIFin2016/17,andpartnershipdeliveryoftheBiorefineryinScotlandreportin2017,whichhasbeeninstrumentalinidentifyingthelevelandpotentialofbioresourcesacrossScotland.

3.5 Energy sector

TheScottishenergysectorisverybroadanddiverse,withawidearrayofbusinessesandstakeholdersinvolvedinavarietyofactivities.However,provisionofemploymentisquiteconcentrated,withnon-SMEs(1.6%ofallcompanies)employingalmost78%ofenergysectorworkers.Thisresultsinatwo-prongedapproachtofacilitatingthecirculareconomywithinthesector,focusingsimultaneouslyondeveloping“ground-up”solutionsdirectlywithSMEsanddeveloping“top-down”solutionswiththeSMEsupply-chainsoflargeplayersintheenergysectore.g.energyutilitiesandoilandgasserviceproviders.

Upto2016theprogrammefocusedonresearch,opportunityscoping,businesssupportandstakeholderengagementaroundthedecommissioningofoilandgasinstallations.Theseactivitieswereinstrumentalinraisingawarenessandengagingoilandgascompanieswiththeideaofre-useandrepurposing,andmovingitupthesector’sagenda.

Totheendof2016,ZeroWasteScotlandhassupportedtheproductionofsevenresearchreportsandguidancedocumentsonoilandgasdecommissioningandre-use,mainlybyprovidingfundingtothetradeassociationDecomNorthSeatoresearchandwritethereports.Ourdeliveryteamhasusedthepublishedreportstodemonstratethepotentialopportunities,engagewiththesectorandstimulateinnovation.Aspartofthis,theteamhasrepurposedreportcontentforuseinpresentationsatconferencesandevents,andforinclusionincasestudycollateralforfollow-upactivity.

The reports that have been most useful to date are:

The Circular Economy in the Oil and Gas Sector(2015):Thisbookletofre-usecasestudieshasprovedusefulforengagingbusinesses.

North Sea Oil and Gas Rig Decommissioning and Re-use Opportunity Report(2015):ProducedbytheRSA’sGreatRecoveryProject,thisreportidentifiesmaterials,componentsandequipmentfromoffshorefacilitiesthatcouldbere-usedorreconditionedattheendoftheirlife.Italsoproposesseveralfeasibilitystudies(steel,pipeline,anchorchain,vesselsandtanks,accommodationblocksandwinches)todevelopthebusinesscaseforre-useandreconditioning.

Decommissioned Steel Re-use in Construction(2016):ProducedbyDecomNorthSeaandAmecFosterWheeler,thisreportidentifiesopportunitiestore-usedecommissionedsteelfromoffshorefacilitiesinonshoreconstructionapplications.

Theseresearchreportshavehelpedtoshapetheprogramme’scurrentdirectioninternallyatZeroWasteScotland,andDecomNorthSeaiskeentoimplementsomeofthekeyrecommendations.

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We have provided direct business support to four oil and gas projects through the CEBMs programme: The four (anonymised) projects are outlined below2:

Project A:Aproviderofpipe-endprotectorstotheoilandgasindustry,wasconsideringanon-siteinjectionmouldingprocesstoachieveclosed-looprecyclingofthepipe-endprotectors.ThebusinessaccessedZeroWasteScotlandsupporttoidentifythefinancialandenvironmentalopportunitiesaswellasthebenefitsandrisksoftheprocess.Theproposedmodelcouldincreaseprofitby£425,000peryear,reducethroughputofmaterialsonsiteby12%andreduceoverallcarbonemissionsby650tperyear.Inaddition,twonewfull-timejobswouldbecreatedatthebusiness.

Project B:Acompanythatprovidesdrillingandoilfieldequipment,waslookingtoacceleratere-usebymarketingmaterialsonlinewhilsttheywerestillinsituintheNorthSeatoavoidthecurrentrushedsalvageapproachi.e.discoveringandtryingtodealwithmaterialswhentheyarriveinportforonshoredismantling.ZeroWasteScotlandprovidedsupportbymodellingcostandincomescenarios,creatingabusinessplan,andresearchingandengagingwiththemarket.Forthecompany,thisresultedinagreaterunderstandingofitstargetmarkets,newsalesroutestoexploreandanewsuiteofmarketingmaterials.

Project C:Thecompanywaslookingtodevelopanonlinemarketplacefortheoilandgassectortofacilitateandbrokertheresaleofdecommissionedandsurplusassetsandequipmentforre-usewithintheglobaloilandgasmarket.

Project D:Aproviderofmobileassetmanagementsoftwarethatusesradio-frequencyidentification(RFID)technologywasconsideringthepotentialmarketapplicationofRFIDtechnology,intheoilandgasdecommissioningsector,tosupporttheefficientcollectionandmanagementofassetandequipmentinventory.Supportwasprovidedtoinvestigatethemarketappetiteforthetechnology,theperceivedbenefitsofthetechnologyforimprovingequipmentre-use,andthepotentialroutestomarket.

Someelementsoftheprogrammehavebeenhinderedbyrisksassociatedwithenvironmentalregulation.ZeroWasteScotlandcontinuestoworkcloselywithSEPAtoensurethatallcircularopportunitiesfallwithincurrentregulationsandtohighlightanypotentialprojectsthatshouldbereviewedfromaregulatoryperspective.

Ourcirculareconomyenergyactivitiescontinuetogrow,withadedicatedmemberofstaffnowonboardtoforgenewrelationshipsandraiseawarenessofZeroWasteScotland,thecirculareconomyagendaandopportunitiesfortheenergysector.ThesectoralfocushasalsowidenedasaresultoftheapproachdevelopedinMakingThingsLast,goingbeyondoilandgasdecommissioningalonetoalsoencompassrenewableenergy(e.g.windinfrastructure),heatingandenergystorageinfrastructureandengagementwithenergyutilitycompaniesandtheirsupplychains.

3.6 Textiles manufacturing

Scotland’stextilesindustryissignificanttotheScottisheconomy:itemploysover8,000individualsandexportshighqualityproductstomorethan150countries3.Thisactivityiscomplementedbythebreadthoffurtherandhighereducationcoursesintextiles,fashionanddesignavailableatScottishuniversitiesandcolleges.In2014,ZeroWasteScotlandbegantocollaboratewithJohnLewisandYoungScottosupportWRAP’sSustainableClothingActionPlan.Insupportofthis,wecommissionedindependentresearchconsultantstoexaminetheacademicandindustrialtextilelandscapeinScotland,includingdevelopmentsintechnicaltextilesandresearchintoinnovationsintextiledesign.

ThisopportunityscopingexerciseextensivelyinformedZeroWasteScotland’s2014to2016workprogramme.NoexamplesofcirculareconomyorinnovativebusinessmodelsinScotlandwereidentifiedandaneedfortrainingwashighlighted.Technicaltextilesandcomputer-aideddesignwereidentifiedaskeyareasforinnovation.Furtherresearchinvestigatedinnovativewaystoprotectandconserveresourcesanddevelopclosed-loopmanufacturingandhigh-valueproductsandservices,allofwhichwouldcontributetoasustainablecirculareconomyforthetextilessector.

Thekeyobjectivesfrom2014to2016wereto:•scopethepotentialforfibreprocessinginScotland•considerasustainabilitystandard•showcaseandpilotcirculareconomymodelsand

resourceefficientpractice•bringacademiaandindustrytogethertoconsider

circulareconomytheoryandpractice.

Tosupporttheseobjectives,ZeroWasteScotlandprovidedevidence,supportandincentivestothesector,includingbarrieridentification,trainingeventsandmasterclasses,businesssupportandfunding,andstakeholderengagement.

2Projectshavebeenanonymisedtoprotectthecommercialnatureofsomeofthedetailinthissection.3ScottishEnterpriseEconomicFacts,2017

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Some examples of these activities are outlined below:

Stakeholder engagement and communicationsactivitieshavehelpedthetextilesprogrammetogaintraction.ZeroWasteScotlandinitiallyintroducedtheconceptofthecirculareconomytotheScottishtextilessectorthroughaseriesofeventsin2013and2014.TheseeventsweredeliveredinpartnershipwiththeScottishTextilesandLeatherAssociation(nowTextilesScotland)andtheScottishTextilesAcademicGroup.

Training events and the Masterclass Skills Seriesweredeliveredin2015byUKandinternationalexperts,toconnectindustry,academiaandhighereducationprofessionals.Attendancewasbyinvitationandapplication,andapplicantswereaskedtoevidencehowtheywouldcascadethelearningwithintheirbusinessordepartment.Theobjectiveoftheprogrammewastoenableresourceefficiencyandhoneskillsforacirculareconomy.Areascoveredincludeddesignfordisassemblyandfibrereprocessing,andresourceefficiencytopicssuchaszero-wastepatterndesignandnewdyeingandprintingtechnologies.

The Circular Economy Textile and Apparel Fundprovidedfivebusinesseseachasmallcapitalgrantandmentoringsupporttoexperimentwithclosed-looptechnologies,conductpilotsfordisassembly,explorenewfibreopportunitiesandconsidernewbusinessmodelssuchasleasing.Thefundingcoveredcapitalandrevenuecostssuchasstudioandmanufacturingtime,equipmenthire,testingfacilitiesandresearchtrips.

The CEBMs programme supportedfivetextilesprojectstoconsiderclothesrentalmodels,therecoveryofleather

fromvehicles,andtheintroductionofre-usablehospitalgarments.

From2014to2016,theLove Your Clothes campaignrunbyWRAPfocusedonengagingindividualswithtextilesissues.ScottishcampaignactivityincludedaSpringCleanYourWardrobeWeekendtoencouragethepassingonofoldclothesforre-use.In2015,aLoveYourClotheseventattheEdinburghInternationalFashionFestivalwasusedtopromotesustainablefashiontotheindustryandtohighlighttheopportunitiesforcirculareconomybusinessmodelswithinthesectorinScotland.

Some examples of our successful textiles projects are:

Thefeasibilityoftherecovery and re-use of upholstery leatherfromhigh-gradepost-consumeruses,supportedthroughCEBMs1.Alocalleatherdesignerwasabletoproduceseveralprototypeitems(e.g.passportcover,luggagetags)fromtheusedupholsteryleatherextractedfromRyanairaircraft.Thecarbonimpactofusingrefurbishedorremanufacturedleatherwascalculatedatlessthan10%ofthatinvolvedinmanufacturefromvirginleather.

Diggory BrownwasawardedfundingfromtheCircularEconomyTextileandApparelFundtoresearchanddeveloparangeofpracticalworkweargarmentsandaccessoriesmadefromYarnoverwool,aby-productcollectedfromtheUistWoolspinningmill.

In2016,thetextilesprogrammeopenedouttoincludethewidermanufacturingsector,basedonScottishGovernmentprioritiesaslaidoutinMakingThingsLastandScotland’sManufacturingActionPlan.

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Themanufacturingprogrammeusedlessonslearnedfromthetextilesprogrammetoacceleratethemobilisationofcirculareconomysupporttothesector.Afocuswasplacedonengagementwiththesectorthroughavarietyofrelevantpartnersand,followingthesuccessoftheTextilesMasterclassSeries,ageneralManufacturingMasterclassProgrammeisnowbeingdeliveredthroughthecurrentERDFprogramme.

3.7 Remanufacturing

Remanufacturingisakeypartofawell-functioningcirculareconomyandisalreadycommonplaceintheautomotive,aircraftanddefenceindustries.Remanufacturinghigh-valuegoodsretainsthevalueoftheproductsanduseslessenergythanproducingnew,whilstprovidingsustainableeconomicgrowthandhighquality,skilledemployment.Butwhilethepracticeisingrainedinsomeindustries,therearestillsomesectors,productlinesandservicesthathavenotfullyconsideredtheopportunitiesforremanufacturing.

TheremanufacturingprogrammeatZeroWasteScotlandaimedtostimulateinnovation,influenceacademicpartners,buildcapacityandestablisharemanufacturingnetworkinScotland.SupportwasprimarilydeliveredthroughtheScottishInsituteforRemanufacture(SIR).Asthisactivitycutsacrossseveralindustries,however,someremanufacturingactivityoccurredelsewhere,forexample,withintheCEBMsortextilessupport.

Examples of our remanufacturing activity include:

Circular Economy Evidence Building Programme: Remanufacturing Study(2015)carriedoutaspartoftheCircularEconomyEvidenceProgramme:DeliveredjointlywiththeScottishGovernment,Scotland’senterpriseagenciesandSEPA,thisopportunityscopingexercisereviewed14sectors–includingaerospace,automotive,energyandmedicalequipment–toquantifythepotentialeconomicbenefitofremanufacturing.ItpredictedthatanincreaseinremanufacturingwillincreaseemploymentandestimatedthatremanufacturingcouldbemorevaluabletotheScottisheconomythantotheUKasawhole.

The Scottish Institute for Remanufacture isacollaborationbetweentheUniversityofStrathclydeandtwokeyfunders:ZeroWasteScotlandandtheScottishFundingCouncil(SFC).ZeroWasteScotlandsupportedtheUniversitytodeveloptheirproposalintoafundableventureandbroughttheSFCtothetableasaco-funder.OtherpartnersaretheScottishManufacturingAdvisoryService,whochairthesteeringboard,andInterface.ScottishEnterprisehasalsobeenengagedwhenappropriate.SinceMay2015,SIRhasprovided

supporttobusinessesinterestedinremanufacturingproductsbyhelpingthemtoidentifyprojectsandpairingthemwiththemostsuitableacademicstosupportthedevelopmentofthoseprojects.ZeroWasteScotlandsupportedSIRuptotheendofthe2017/18financialyearandfuturesupportiscurrentlyunderconsiderationbySFCandZeroWasteScotland.Themajorityoftheactivitythattookplacebeforetheendof2016(andsowithinthescopeofthisreport)wasinsettinguptheinstituteanddevelopingapipelineofprojects,whichwerethenprogressedin2017and2018.Intotal,fundingandsupportwereawardedto32projectsspanningarangeofareas,includingtherenewableenergyindustryandtheautomotive,oilandgas,informationandcommunicationstechnology,andmarineindustries.SIRfoundthattherewasn’tapent-updemandforthissupportandsoitwasnecessarytodriveindustrytoengage.Initially,thesupportlargelywenttoestablishedremanufacturerstohelpthemextendorbroadentheirprocesses.Butlaterinthedelivery,newplayerswhohadn’tpreviouslybeeninvolvedinremanufacturingwerestartingtoengageandreceivesupport.

The following two examples of SIR-supported projects provide an insight into the type of activity undertaken by the institute:

Weir Group identifiedapotentialopportunitytooptimisethetimeandcostsassociatedwithtestingandcommissioningofremanufacturedpumps.WithsupportfromtheUniversityofStrathclydetoredesignanessentialpieceoftestingequipment,itwasdeterminedthatthetheWeirGroupcouldsaveinexcessof£22,000and233hoursperunittestcycle.Theredesigncouldgenerateanadditional£500,000perannumandcreate4newoperatorrolesattheWeirAlloafacilitythroughanincreasedthroughputofremanufacturedpumps.

Turbo Guy receivedsupporttoidentifyprocessefficiencyimprovementstoincreaseremanufacturingproductionofturbochargers.Identifiedefficienciesincludedbettercostingmodels,improvedflowlayoutoftheworkshopandimprovedstockmanagement.Ifimplemented,thesemeasureswouldincreaseproductivityby21%,allowingmoreunitstoberemanufacturedanddiverting2tofmaterialfromrecyclingtore-useperyear.

Theinstitute’smostsignificantimpacttodatehasbeentoraisetheprofileofremanufacturinginScotland,asevidencedbytheincreasedinterestinthisareaamongbothacademiaandthebusinesscommunity.SIRrepresentativeshavealsoraisedawarenessofremanufacturinginternationally,byattendingandpresentingatconferences.Morerecently–andsobeyondthescopeofthisreport–SIRhassponsoredthe

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RemadeinScotlandcategoryattheMadeinScotlandAwards.

Otherhighlightsincludethecreationofanetworkofpartners,goodengagementwithbusinessesthathadnotpreviouslyconsideredremanufacturing,andthedevelopmentoftheDesignforRemanufacturetool,whichwillcontinuetoexistasalegacysupportoffering.

Scotland’sManufacturingActionPlanmentionsbothremanufacturingandtheneedtosupportthescalingupofsuchactivity.ZeroWasteScotlandhasprovidedremanufacturingsupportsincethemobilisationofSIRandthroughoutitsdeliveryuptotheendof2017/18.Inthisway,ZeroWasteScotlandhasprovidedanimpetustoexpandScotland’sremanufacturingactivityandleftalegacythatwillcontinueintothefuture.

3.8 Re-use and repair

Justlikeremanufacturing,theactofrepairandre-usehasthepotentialtocutacrosssectorsandisattheheartofthecirculareconomyinretainingandachievingthemostpotentialfromproductandmaterials.Re-useshouldbenormalisedintoallcommercialservicesandconsumeractivityforthecirculareconomytobesuccessful.WithintheCircularEconomyProgrammeatZeroWasteScotland,allsector-focusedworkconsidersre-useaspartofthesolutiontotransitiontowardscircularity.Previously,adedicatedre-useprogrammefocusedontheorganisationswhoseprimaryactivitywasre-useandrepairandinfluencingconsumerbehaviours.

ZeroWasteScotland’sRe-useandRepairProgrammeaimedtoincreasetheprofileofre-useinScotlandbysupportingbusinessestomeethighstandardswitharecognisedcertification,whichcanhelptoincreasecustomerandpartnerconfidenceandawareness.Theprogrammealsoprovidedasuiteofsupporttoorganisationsincludingbusinesssupportandgrantfundingforinfrastructureandcapacitybuildingtosupportgrowthofre-useactivitiesandorganisations.

Between2011-17,ZeroWasteScotlandworkedcloselywithCommunityResourcesNetworkScotland(CRNS)throughpartnershipprojectsandgrantsfordeliveringstrategicsupporttothesector.CRNSisacharitythathasmembershipdrawnfromthecommunityre-use,repairandrecyclingsectorinScotland.OursupportenabledCRNStoconsolidateitsadvocacyandrepresentationworkforthesectorthroughregionalforums,sponsoringitsannualconferenceandsupportingresearchincludingitsStateoftheSectorReportsandprovidingcapacitytosupportthemobilisationoftheRevolvequalitystandardforshopsthatsellsecondhandgoodsinScotland.

Below are some examples of the type of activities we have undertaken to support re-use organisations (more detail can be found in our recently published Re-use and Repair Activity Review):

Revolve certification and support: Revolveisacertifiedre-usequalitystandardforshopssellingsecond-handgoodsinScotland.Re-usestoresreceivesupportandtrainingtoimprovetheiroperationsand,oncecertified,candisplaytheRevolvelogotodemonstratetheircommitmenttoqualityandexcellentcustomerservice.Theaimistoencouragegreaterre-usebyincreasingcustomerconfidenceinpurchasingsecond-handgoods.Launchedin2011,thecertificationandsupportprogrammehasbeengainingtractionyearonyear,with99storesinScotlandcertifiedbytheendofthe2016/17financialyear.

Re-use Line: Thisreferralserviceconnectshouseholderswishingtodonatere-usablebulkyfurnitureorelectrical/electronicequipmentwithre-useorganisations.Theserviceisfreetocalloritcanbeaccessedonline.TheRe-useLinehassteadilyextendeditsreachsinceitwasfirsttrialledin2012,andtheservicenowcovers30localauthorityareasandissupportedby60re-useorganisations.SinceJuly2014,ZeroWasteScotlandhashadresponsibilityforallRe-useLinemarketingcampaignswiththeaimofspreadingthewordstillfurther.Bytheendof2016,theservicehadbeencontactedmorethan40,000times,resultingin12,000referralsandover1,000tofre-usablehouseholdgoodsbeingdivertedtore-useorganisations.

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Re-use sector grants: Revolve-certifiedorganisationshavebeenabletoaccessarangeofgrantstosupportvariousactivitiesincludingbusinessdevelopment,capacitybuilding,repairtrainingandcollectiontrials.

Re-use Infrastructure Grant for Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs):ThesecapitalgrantsenabledcouncilstoinvestintheinfrastructureneededtodivertitemswithinHWRCsforre-use.Alatergrant(2016/17)providedfundingforsignagetoimprovediversiontore-use.Collectively,thesupportedHWRCshavedonated873tofpotentiallyre-usableitemstore-useorganisationsbetween2015and2017.

Re-use Shop Grant: Aspecificgrant,tosupportthedevelopmentofre-useshopsatlocalauthorityHWRCs,allowingsuitablegoodstobecollected,preparedforsaleandsold,allwithinthefootprintofanHWRC.Anew,purpose-builtre-useshopwasconstructedbytheFurnitureProject(Stranraer)ontheDumfriesandGallowayCouncilZeroWasteParkinStranraer.BoththeorganisationandtheshopitselfarenowknownastheCommunityRe-useShop.

Re-use and Repair Hub Grant: Thisgrantwaslaunchedin2015totrialdifferentmodelsforincreasingthescaleandvisibilityofre-useretail.Thevisionwastocreate‘destinationshops’throughlarge-scaleandcollaborativeregionalprojectsfundedbyatwo-phasegrant.Thegrantledtothreehubsopeningbetween2015and2017,eachofthempilotingadifferentbusinessmodel–fromaguaranteedcommercialofftakemodeltoane-commerceapproach.Anevaluationandreviewoflessonslearnedisindevelopmenttoinformfutureactivityofthisnature.

Repair training: Aspartofaprogrammetohelpincreaserepairskills,ZeroWasteScotlandhasfundedaccesstorepairtrainingcoursesforsevenorganisationsoperatinginScotland’sthirdsector.Thecoursesspannedfurniture,textilesandelectronicsrepairs.Theaimwastomainstreamrepairactivityandsofacilitateahigherlevelofre-useactivitybyincreasingtheskilllevelandknowledgebasearoundrepair.

Stakeholder engagement events:Twore-useeventswereheldinStirling,onein2014andonein2016.Upto120delegatesattendedeachevent,representingarangeoforganisationsincludinglocalauthorities,privatecompaniesandthethirdsector.

TheprogrammealsosupportedtheNHSGreaterGlasgowandClyde(NHSGGC)healthboardwithamajordecommissioningproject.From2014to2016,NHSGCCreceivedsupporttomaximisethere-usevalueofitemstakenfromitsdecommissionedhospitalspriortotheopeningofthenewQueenElizabethUniversityHospital

Glasgow.Thisprojecthighlightstheimportanceofandpotentialfornormalisingre-usewithinlargepublicsectorbodieswhichhaveaninternaldemandforproductsandanabilitytore-deploygoods.Initially,ZeroWasteScotlandemployedthreeinterns(viatheBrightGreenBusinessinternshipprogramme)tocreateacatalogueof40,000mobileassetsheldbythehospitals,with90%ofthesedeemedsuitableforre-use.Re-usableitemsincludedcleaningequipment,furniture,officegoods,smallelectricalsandtextiles.ZeroWasteScotlandtheninfluencedthedevelopmentofastrategicapproachtomaximisethevalueofthesedisplaceditems,whichwasemployedfromspring2015andthroughoutthedecommissioningprocess.ZeroWasteScotlandprovidedNHSGGCwithapart-timeprojectmanagerwhoprovidedongoingadviceandsupportanddeliveredaMakeUseWeek,wherere-useorganisationscouldseeandreserveitemsforcollection.Thisresultedinthecollectionof1,000itemsby11organisations.Re-useisnowembeddedinNHSGCCprocurementprocesses,whichmakeuseoftheWarpItnetwork,andthisapproachhasbeenreplicatedinotherNHSlocations.

Re-useorganisationshavebeenreceptivetoZeroWasteScotlandmessagingandthesupportoffer.Thenextstepistoengageotherindustriesandsectorstofocusonre-useintheirbusinessdevelopmentstrategiesandtoinfluencehouseholderstoincreasedonationandacquisitionbehaviours.WhiletheRevolveprogrammewillcontinuetocertifyre-usestoresandengagewiththegeneralpublic,theCircularEconomyProgrammewillpromotere-usethroughthecitiesandregionsapproach,CEBSSandbyengagingwithspecificsectorssuchasenergy,manufacturingandconstruction.

3.9 Procurement

Publicsectorprocurementoffersasignificantlevertoshapeoureconomyandsocietyforthebetter.PublicsectorspendingongoodsandservicesacrossScotland,includinghealthandeducationservices,amountstocirca£11billionperyear–almost10%ofScotland’sgrossdomesticproduct.Assuch,procurementisapowerfulmeansbywhichtopromotecirculareconomysolutionswhileprovidingsimilar,orbetter,valueformoneyincostterms.Circularprocurementchoicesmayresultindirecteconomicandenvironmentalsavings,andpursuingthisapproachinthepublicsectormayprovideatransformativepushforthewidereconomy.Aspublicsectorprocurementbothshowswhatispossibleandalsoincentivisessupplierstodevelopcirculareconomysolutionstowincontracts,othersmayfollowsuit.

ZeroWasteScotland’sprocurementworktodatehasfocusedonupskillingpublicsectorprofessionalsandorganisationsengagedinprocuringgoodsand

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services.Thishasinvolvedraisingtheirawarenessofsustainablealternativesand,ultimately,enablingthemtotakemeasurestoincorporatethisknowledgeintotheirprocurementpractice.ThisalignsnotonlywithanexplicitpriorityinScotland’sMakingThingsLaststrategy,butalsowiththepre-existingobjectivesofScottishprocurementpolicy.ZeroWasteScotlandhassupportedlandscapeinterventions(suchasgeneraltrainingforprofessionals),individualprocurements,andinterventionsthatsitbetweenthesetwoextremes,withaparticularfocusonthedevelopmentofprocurementframeworks(whichspecifyrequirementsforextensivecategoriesofproductsforanumberofindividualprocurementexercises).

Some specific support streams include:

Training: Afocusontrainingprocurementprofessionalsfrom2014to2016ledtomorethan700individualsbeingtrainedontheinternationalMarrakechstandardsforsustainableprocurement,andalmost400peoplecompletingane-learningmoduleco-deliveredwiththeScottishGovernment’sProcurementTeam.

Guidance:Developmentofsector-andproduct-specificprocurementbestpracticeguidancetoencouragetheprocurementofvariousproductsonaleased,re-usedorremanufacturedbasis.Theseincludeelectricalandelectronicgoods,furniture,constructionmaterials,textiles,cateringandcleaningequipment,flooring,powerandhandtools,vehiclesandtyres,outdoorplaygroundequipmentandmedicaldevices.

Mentoring: One-to-onementoringfrom2014to2016aidedthedevelopmentofScottishGovernmentprocurementtools(onlifecycleimpactmapping,prioritisation,sustainabilityandflexibleframeworkassessment)bysupportingindividualprocurementsfromstarttofinish,aswellasproviding10casestudiesofcircularprocurementinaction,allofwhicharenowactivelymanagedlivecontracts.Subsequentworkhasbuiltonthisapproachwithafurther22mentoredprojects.

Raising awareness: Forumsandeventshavebeenusedtopromotedisseminationofandactiveengagementwiththecircularprocurementagenda.Suchoccasionsofferachancetoreachprocurementprofessionalsatalllevelstoincreasetheirawarenessofcirculareconomyopportunities.

Partnership working: KeypartnerorganisationswehaveworkedwithincludeNHSScotland,universitiesandcolleges,centresofprocurementexpertiseforthepublicsector(i.e.AdvancedProcurementforUniversitiesandColleges,CentralGovernmentProcurementSharedServices,ScotlandExcel),localauthoritiesandtheScottishProcurementandCommercialDirectorateoftheScottishGovernment.

Ourtrainingmaterialsandguidancehaveshapedbestpracticeinprocurementbeyondourdirectsupport,andthepartnershipworkabovehasbeenakeydriverinthisregard.SustainableprocurementtrainingisnowincorporatedanddeliveredviatheScottishGovernment’sownprocurementsupportservices.OurworkonconstructionprocurementisbeingincorporatedintoguidancebeingdevelopedbytheScottishGovernment’sConstructionProcurementPolicyUnit.Oure-learningmodulehasbeenadoptedinitsentiretybyin-houseprogrammeselsewhere(e.g.ScottishBordersCouncil).AndourguidancedocumentsarereferencedintheEuropeanCommissionguidanceonPublicProcurementforaCircularEconomyandhavebeenuploadedtotheSustainableProcurementPlatform,whichtargetslocalauthoritiesaroundtheworld.

Theprocurementspendunderframeworksthatwehaveinfluencedvia15projectsin2015/16couldbeasmuchas£641million.Theframeworkswehavehelpedto

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developwillshapetheprocurementofahugevarietyofgoodsandservicesovertheirlifetime–fromplaygroundequipmenttoelectricalservices–andwillinformorganisationsasdiverseasPoliceScotlandandtheRoyalBotanicGardenEdinburgh.Forexample,wesupportedthecreationofaqualityre-uselotwithinScotlandExcel’sdomesticfurnitureframework,whichinitsfirstyeardiverted210t(worth£428,726)fromlandfill.Thefurniturewasdistributedamong1,735familiesinneedandmorethan10jobswerecreated,helpingScotlandExceltowinaScottishPublicServiceAwardforitseffortsin2017.

ZeroWasteScotlandhasalsohelpedScotlandtoestablishexpertiseinthisareainternationally.Theuseofourguidancehasalreadybeenmentionedabove,butourinvolvementintheseforumshasalsoenabledScotlandtobuildlinkswiththeDutchMinistryofInfrastructureandWaterManagement(agloballeaderincircularprocurement),whichresultedinajointbidforEuropeanfundingtosupportfurtherwork,workingwitheightpartnerorganisationsfromfivecountries.

Ourworkhasdevelopedfromabroaderfocusonsustainableprocurementtoamoreexplicitfocusoncircularprocurement.Inpractice,thesetermsareoftenusedinterchangeably.Webelieve,however,thatcircularprocurementdoesimplygoingbeyond‘traditional’sustainableprocurementbyactivelyhelpingtocloseenergyandmaterialloopswithinsupplychainsandembeddingbehaviourssuchasbuyingequipmenttolastlonger,leasingofservicesratherthanpurchasingoutright&incentivisedreturnmodels.Decidingwhichtermismostappropriateforthepurposesofinitialengagementwillusuallydependontheaudienceandthespecificopportunities.

3.10 Influencing the circular economy agenda

ZeroWasteScotlandhasnotjustdelivereddirectsupporttobuildthecirculareconomy.Wehavealsoplayedakeyroleasacontinuingcentreofexpertise,availabletoanswerquestions,promotetheissuesatstake,andexchangeanddisseminateknowledge.ThisistrueofourpartnershipswiththeScottishGovernment,othergovernmentagencies,tradebodies,expertnetworksandinternationalforums.Ourrelationshipwithgovernmentisparticularlyclose:ZeroWasteScotlandstaffhavebeensecondedtosupporttheScottishGovernment’sWastePolicyteamandweplayedaproactiveroleinhelpingtodevelop,andnowtodeliver,MakingThingsLast.Wehavebeeninvolvedindiscussionsaroundextendedproducerresponsibility,andalllevelsofgovernmentcancallonoursectoralandanalyticalexpertiseasnecessary.ZeroWasteScotlandhasbeenaskedtorepresenttheScottishGovernmentontheEllenMacArthurFoundation(EMF)CE100programme,andweareabletoaccess

somenon-governmentalnetworksthattheScottishGovernmentcannot(e.g.EUPlatformonFoodLossesandFoodWaste).ThissectionhighlightskeyareaswherepartnershipsandnetworkinghavebeencriticalinallowingZeroWasteScotlandtopromotecirculareconomythinking–orsimplythinkingaboutthecirculareconomy.

3.10.1 Building strategic partnerships within and beyond ScotlandCollaborationatthenationalandinternationalleveliscrucialifScotlandistotransitiontoacirculareconomy.OneofthemostsuccessfulelementsoftheCircularEconomyProgrammeatZeroWasteScotlandisourengagementwithstakeholdersandpartnershipworking.TheteamhasworkedwiththeScottishGovernmentanditsagencies,universities,tradebodiesandtechnicalspecialistsandhasbeenapartofleadershipgroupsbothnationallyandaroundtheworld.Thesepartnershipshaveledtothedeliveryofsuccessfulprojects,arecognitionofScottishexpertiseacrosstheUK,theEUandtheglobe,andtheopportunitytobothshareandacquireknowledgefromothernations.Wheresuchpartnershipsrelatetospecificsectors,theyhavebeenincludedintherelevantsectionsofthisreport.

Aswellasthepartnershipsalreadymentioned,ZeroWasteScotlandalsoworkswithScotland’sinnovationcentrestopromotecirculareconomyinnovationviaresearchanddevelopment,particularlyinthekeysectorsidentifiedintheMakingThingsLaststrategy–i.e.foodanddrinkandthebioeconomy,manufacturing,constructionandenergyinfrastructure.Innovationcentresaimtohelpbusinessesofallsizesaccelerateinnovationtogrowandstrengthenoureconomyforthefuture.Inparticular,wehaveworkedwiththeIndustrialBiotechnologyInnovationCentre(IBioIC),ConstructionScotlandInnovationCentre(CSIC)andOilandGasInnovationCentre(OGIC).

Recognisingtheimportanceofbringingorganisationstogethertoachievepositiveimpacts,andbuildingonthenetworkcreatedbytheEMFCE100programme,ZeroWasteScotland,Scotland’senterpriseagenciesandSEPAbegantodevelopanetworkofbusinessesthatweremakingprogressoncirculareconomyissues.TheScottishCircularEconomyBusinessNetwork(SCEBN)launchedin2015withawell-receivedevent.Ayearlater,thenetworkbegantogaintractionfollowingtheprovisionofmorefocussedresourcecourtesyoftheERDFprogramme.SCEBNsupportspeer-to-peerlearningtoleadandacceleratethetransitiontowardsacirculareconomy,andprovidethespaceandopportunitiestohelpbuildresponsiveandnetworkedsupplychains.

3.10.2 Sharing our knowledge overseasIn2014,webegantoforgerelationshipswithEMF,throughZeroWasteScotlandsecondmentstothe

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charityaspartoftheworktodevelopaGlobalPlasticsProtocol.Twomembersofstaffwereeachsecondedforsixmonths,whichbothprovidedEMFwithZeroWasteScotlandexpertiseandcementedrelationshipsthathavesinceledtonewopportunities.Aswellasestablishingconnectionswithseniorstafffrominternationalandinfluentialcompanies,ZeroWasteScotlandformedlinkswiththeWorldEconomicForum.

ScotlandwasthefirstcountrytojointheEMFCE100programme,andZeroWasteScotlandistheScottishGovernment’smainrepresentative(alongwithScottishEnterpriseandSEPA)onthisglobalprogramme,whichbringstogetherleadingcompanies,emerginginnovatorsandregionstoacceleratethedevelopmentofthecirculareconomyacrosstheglobe.AspartoftheCE100,theScottishGovernmentcanshareitssuccesseswithothersandplayaleadershiproleincirculareconomydevelopment.MembershipalsohelpsScotlandtobuildpartnershipswithbusinesses,innovatorsandregionstocapitaliseonemergingopportunities.TheCE100hasaninterestingandvariedmembership,includingseniorexecutivesfromglobalcompanies,whichprovidestheopportunitytomakeamarkeddifference,particularlythroughchangestosupplychains.ZeroWasteScotlandhasprovidedcasestudiesonprocurementandRevolvecertificationfortheEMFwebsite,helpedtoraiseScotland’sprofileandsharedourexamplesofbestpracticewhilealsolearningfromtheexperienceofothers.Membershiphasalsoprovidedaccesstotrainingandnetworkingeventsandaccelerationworkshops,whichupto10ScottishSMEscouldattend.Thisenabledsmallbusinessestosharetheirexperience,learnfromeachother,accesstrainingandmakecontactwithglobalplayerstoraisetheirprofile.

ZeroWasteScotlandisamemberoftheNewPlasticsEconomyinitiative,whichaimstoworkwithcountriesandinternationalcompaniestoreducethevolumesofplasticproducedandmakeanyremainingplasticvaluablebeyonditsoriginaluse.Theseobjectiveshavesofarbeendeliveredthroughanumberofreports–whichincludequotesfromIainGulland,ChiefExecutiveofZeroWasteScotland–oncommitmentstomakingchangesinnationallegislation(includinginScotland)andonthepotentialsolutionstotheinternationalplasticsproblemthatarebeingtrialledbysevencountries.

Weshareourknowledgeandexperience,andprovidetechnicaladvicetotheinitiative,bothbyattendingmeetingsandbyleadingoneofthesesevenpilots,ProjectLodestar.AlsoknownasProjectBeacon,itistriallinganewplasticsrecyclingtechnologythatwasinitiallysupportedbyourMarketDevelopmentInnovationgrantsin2012andisnowfundedthroughCEIF.Theprojectwillpresentablueprintforanadvancedplasticrecyclingfacility,whichothercountriesmaywishtoadoptandlearnfrom.ProjectBeaconmightthereforeattractvisitorsfromaroundtheworldtoScotland.

ZeroWasteScotlandworkscloselywiththeAssociationofCitiesandregionsforsustainableResourcemanagement(ACR+)andin2018,IainGulland,becamePresidentoftheBoardofDirectors.ThisisaEurope-widenetworkfocusedondevelopingtheexpertiseandskillsofpublicauthoritiesineffectivewaste-product-resourcepolicies.ZeroWasteScotlandprovides‘lighttouch’support,contributingexpertiseandexperiencetohelpACR+designitsprogrammeofwork.ZeroWasteScotlandalsorepresentsScotlandonvariousEUforums(e.g.SustainablePublicProcurementforCircularProcurement)andhascontributedtoEUpapers

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(e.g.PublicProcurementforaCircularEconomy,whichcross-referencestheZeroWasteScotlandprocurementguidance).WehavealsocontributedtotheEUGreenPublicProcurementcriteriaforFoodandCateringServices.

ZeroWasteScotlandhasprovidedexpertcontributionstotheEUPlatformonFoodLossesandFoodWaste,ourinvitationtoparticipatereflectingScotland’sleadingroleinsettingambitiousreductiontargets,deliveringmeaningfulinterventionsanddevelopingmeasurementstrategies.ZeroWasteScotlandcurrentlysitsonthemainplatformaswellasonthesub-grouponfoodwastemeasurementandthesub-grouponactionandimplementation.ParticipationrepresentsachancetobothinfluencethinkingonhowfoodwastepreventionwillbetackledandassessedattheEUlevel,andtotransferknowledgebetweencountriesandplatformmembers.

3.10.3 Engaging with the general publicInadditiontosupportingandfundingorganisationstounderstandandimplementthecirculareconomy,ZeroWasteScotlandhasalsoundertakenanumberofcommunicationsactivitiestoengagewiththegeneralpublic.Toembedasuccessfulcirculareconomy,everyindividualmustalsoplayherorhispartinincreasingthedemandforsustainableproductsandinsupportingre-use,remanufacturingandrecycling.Theterm‘circulareconomy’hasnotbeenwidelyusedwithindividuals,however,asthemeaningisdifficulttoexpressanditencompassesarangeofdifferentbehaviours.Instead,wehaveundertakensmaller,individualcampaignsandactivitiestogetacrossspecificmessagesaroundwastepreventionandmaterialre-useandrecycling.Webelievethatthispiecemealapproachiseasierforindividualstounderstandandactupon,butalsorecognisethatengagementactivitiesmustbecommittedtostrategiclong-termmessagingtohavearealimpactonpeople’sbehaviours.Examplesofsuccessfulandongoinglong-termengagementcampaignsincludeRecycleforScotland,whichaimstoimproverecycling,andLoveFoodHateWaste,whichfocusesonpreventingfoodwasteinthehome.Whileneithercampaignfallswithinthescopeofthisreview,theirsuccessfulapproachescouldbeadoptedbypartsofthecirculareconomyengagementcampaign.

Thefirstofficialcirculareconomyactivitynotfocusedsolelyonbusinessandindustrywasthe#Makethingslastcampaignin2015,whichwasdeliveredthroughsocialmediaandalimitedamountofpressactivity.Thecampaign,whichranshortlybeforetheScottishGovernmentreleaseditsMakingThingsLaststrategy,isestimatedtohavereached3millionpeople.ToinformthewritingoftheScottishGovernmentstrategy,an‘ideasjam’washeldinpartnershipwithYoungScottoexplorehowyoungpeopleviewthecirculareconomy.Twentyindividualstookpartinthevariousworkshopsheldover

thecourseofonefullweekend.Ittookthewholeofthefirstdayforattendeestograsptheconceptofthecirculareconomy,highlightingthecomplexityofengagingwithnewandinexperiencedindividuals(andorganisations)onthistopic.

Priortothis,EducationScotlandandZeroWasteScotlandhadsupportedEMFfrom2013to2015byfundingamemberofthecharity’sstafftoincreaseengagementwithschoolsandlearningrelatedtothecirculareconomy.Activitiesundertakenincludedaskingyoungpeopletoconsiderthecirculareconomyinabusinesscontext,conductingtrialstoembedthecirculareconomyacrossthecurriculum,trainingteachersonthetopic,andworkingwithcareersguidanceprofessionals.

PassitonWeek,anannualre-usecampaign,hasbeenrunningsinceMarch2015,andistheonlynationalre-useweekintheworld.Eachyear,thecampaigntakesadifferentfocus,forexample,clothesorelectricalgoods.Celebrityinvolvementhashelpedtoraisetheprofileofthevariousannualcampaigns,whichhaveprovedpopularandbeenpickedupbymorethan200organisations,withanestimated£15,000-worthofclothesdonatedinPassitonWeek2016alone.

Other engagement activities have included:

Design Doctor campaign: This2015furnitureupcyclingcampaignachievedgoodonlinetractionandmediacoverage.

Love Your Clothes campaigns: ThesehaveinvolvedPRactivity,socialmedia,cascadetrainingtopartnerorganisations,andeventsinJohnLewisandOceanTerminal.

A circular economy board game: ProducedviaaKickstartercampaignsponsoredbyZeroWasteScotland,thegameinvitesplayerstomakeproductsfromavailableresourcesandwasteproductsandisoftenusedtoengagewiththepubliconthecirculareconomy.

Anumberofgrant-fundedprojectshavealsoinvolvedengagingwiththegeneralpublicaroundre-use.Buildingonapre-existingvolunteerprogramme,theVolunteerandCommunityAdvocateProgrammewasdeliveredfrom2013to2017.Thissupported15organisationstoemployavolunteercoordinatorwhothenrecruitedvolunteerstostagecommunityactivities,andcommunityadvocatestohelpreachnewaudiences.Activitiesincludedrecycling,foodwastereduction,clothesswaps,repaircafés,upcyclingworkshops,maintenanceclasses,andotherre-use,repairandsharingactivities,allofwhichhavehelpedtoincreasecircularbehavioursinthecommunity.

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TheZeroWasteTownprojectsinButeandDunbarfast-trackedawarenessofthecirculareconomyatalocallevelfrom2014to2017.Theprojectscoveredawholerangeoftopics,includingrecycling,re-useandwasteprevention.

Examples of circular elements of the projects include:

A “Zero Waste Shed”wasestablishedonthelocalHWRCwhichwasusedtocommunicateZeroWastemessagesandmadeiteasierforresidentstodivertwasteawayfromlandfillforre-useandremanufacturing.

Atextilescollectionandre-useproject, The Big Pick,wasestablishedinDunbar.

New Life to Old Things: are-useprojectthatlinkedwith‘hardtolet’propertiesonButeandaKerbsidetextilecollectionserviceonButetoenablere-use.

Construction on Bute: Localbuilderschangedtheirpracticesandmadesalvagedmaterialsavailableforre-useasaresultofButebecomingaZeroWasteIsland.

Bute Food 360:Acompostingcentrehasbeenintroduced,whichsuppliesacommunitygardenwithcompost.Thegardensellsvegetablestolocals,whointurnsendtheirfoodwastetothecompostingcentre.Thisdemonstrationofthecirculareconomyinactioncanbeseenandappreciatedonalocallevel,basedasitisonasimpletechnologythatiseasytograsp.

ZeroWasteScotlandiskeentounderstandattitudesandbehavioursregardingthecirculareconomytoidentifybarriersandsolutions.Apieceofresearchcarriedoutin2016,lookingspecificallyatre-use,includedgapanalysis,anevidencereviewandasurvey,revealinginsightsintowhattypesofmessageincreaseengagement.TheimpactofdifferentmessagesandsignageemployedatHWRCsaspartoftheRe-useInfrastructureGrantprojecthasdemonstratedhowthevolumeofdonationscanbeaffected.Furthermarketresearchintore-usebehaviourtookplacein2018andthreemoreZeroWasteTownprojects,coveringpartsofPerth,LeithandEdinburgh,areindevelopment.

3.10.4 Scotland as a circular economy leader BS8001,thefirststandardintheworldforimplementingacirculareconomyframeworkforbusiness,wasdevelopedwithinputfromZeroWasteScotland,includingrespondingtoconsultationandprovidingexpertadvice.Thestandardwaspublishedin2017anditisnowintendedthatZeroWasteScotlandwillusethisframeworkandguidancetosupportcompanieswithinCEBSS.

MuchoftheactivitydescribedinthisreportcontributedtoScotlandwinningtheAwardforCircularEconomyGovernments,CitiesandRegionsattheWorldEconomicForum’sCircularEconomyAwardsinJanuary2017.Scotlandisnowseenaroundtheworldasaleaderforthecirculareconomy.SeveralgovernmentshavevisitedtoseekoutmoreinformationaboutZeroWasteScotlandactivities,andScotlandwasselectedtohosttheCircularEconomyHotspoteventin2018.

CommentingonTheCircularAwards,RoseannaCunninghamMSP,CabinetSecretaryforEnvironment,ClimateChangeandLandReform,said:

“The Award for Circular Economy Governments, Cities and Regions reflects our clear direction and priorities set out in our circular economy strategy ‘Making Things Last’, and the rich programme of investment and innovation we are pursuing in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, SEPA, Scottish Enterprise, the third sector and business across Scotland.”

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4 Lessons learned and future considerationsAstheCircularEconomyProgrammehasdeveloped,ourexperiencehastaughtusimportantlessons.Thesehaveinformedthedirectionandnatureoftheprogramme’sdeliveryandwillcontinuetodosoastheprogrammeprogresses.Someoftheissuesraisedhavenotyetbeenresolved,butarekeyconsiderationswheneveranewprojectorprogrammeofactivitiesisembarkedupon.WebelievethatmanyoftheinsightsthatwehighlightherecanbeconsideredapplicabletoothersupportprogrammesacrossScotlandandbeyond.

Quiteoften,similarexperiencesoccurredwithineachoftheseparateworkstreams,makingfortransferableinsightsthatwedescribeinthesubsectionsbelow.First,though,wesetoutsomeofthelessonswe’velearnedthatarespecifictocertainactivityareas.Forexample,re-use,remanufacturingandsustainableprocurementarecirculareconomyactivitiesthatspanallsectorsandindustries.Tomakesubstantialprogressintheseareas,itisnecessarytoinfluencethemarketatscaleandintegratethetheoriesandopportunitiesacrossallindustries.

Procurement opportunitiesWithregardstoprocurement,NHSScotlandofferssignificantopportunitiestomakeanimpact,asdemonstratedthroughtheGlasgowhospitals’decommissioningprojectandtheZeroWasteScotlandprocurementprogramme.ScotlandExcelisanotherkeypublicsectororganisationthatwecantargettoinfluencepublicsectorprocurement.Wearecurrentlyengagingwiththesetwoorganisationsaroundre-useandprocurementsupportandtheywillcontinuetobeakeyfocus.

Procurementhasprovedtobeacomplexareainwhichtopromotecirculareconomythinking.Procurementprocessestaketime,andareoftenforlong-termprojects,soitcanbedifficulttounderstandthefinalimpacts.Howthecontractismanaged–forexample,whichkeyperformanceindicatorsareselectedforreportingperformance–cansignificantlyaffecttheextenttowhichbenefitsidentifiedintheprocurementphaseare,infact,realised.Webelieveongoingsupporttomentoredprojectsiskeytoensuringpotentialbenefitsarerealised,andlessonslearnedarecapturedinordertoimprovefuturesupportprovision.

Inaddition,circularprocurementisonlyoneofthegreatmanydriversofprocurementpolicy,eveninthesustainabilitysphere.Impactsmaybegreaterwherecircularsolutionsarespecified(e.g.tenderingforalease)ratherthansimplybeingoneofmanyscoringcriteria(i.e.whereinfluenceonawardingtheactualcontractmaybemoremarginal).Nonetheless,eveninthelattercase,circularprocurementcriteriaarelikelytoshapethebidsreceived.

Conventionalwaysofthinkingaboutprocurementcanremainabarrier.Consideringwhole-lifecosts,ratherthanupfrontcostsonly,cancountagainstcircularprocurementsolutions.Changingthisrequiresengagementnotonlywithprocurementprofessionalsbutalsowithotherdecisionmakers.Realisingthefullpotentialofcircularprocurementrequiresaculturalshiftinhowthepublicsectormakespurchases,notsimplyatechnicalchangeintheprocurementprocess.

Todate,ZeroWasteScotlandhasfocusedonbuyers,butinternationalpracticeincountriesliketheNetherlandshassoughttoengagemoredirectlywithframeworksuppliersaswell,toreallydrivecirculareconomythinking.ThisisanopportunitythatcouldbefurtherexploredinScotland.Thecurrentfocusonpublic

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procurementcouldbeextendedtoencompassprivateprocurement,therebycreatingamoresignificantdemandforcirculareconomyproductsandservices.Someinsightsandsolutionsmaybetransferablebetweenthepublicandprivatesectors.

The bioeconomySuccessfulbioeconomyactivityiskeytoacirculareconomy.ActivitiestodatehaveseeninnovativetechnologiesandprocessesemergingthankstoScotland’sstrongacademicexpertiseandexcellentresearchfacilitiesandsupportagencynetwork,whichisbackedbynationalstrategiessuchasMakingThingsLast.ThebioeconomystronglylinkstokeyindustriesforScotlandsuchasfoodanddrinkmanufacturingtodate,supporthasbeenspreadacrossallsectors,butasector-specificfocusmayenablegreatertraction.Otherlessonslearnedfromdeliveringsupportonthebioeconomyinclude:•Early-stageandresearchdevelopmentprojectsrequire

morecapitalfundingsupport.•Itisnecessarytoconnectthebiotechnologies,

biosystemsandbioproductsindevelopmentwiththemarketandincreasemanufacturers’confidenceinthesenewtoolsandmaterials.

•Wasteproducersneedtobelinkedupwithwasteusersandtheendmarket.

•NationaldatashouldbereviewedtounderstandwhichfeedstockscouldbesourcedwithinScotlandfrombiologicalsources,ratherthanfrominternationalchemicalsources.

•Increasingunderstandingofthescaleoftheopportunity–consideringfinancial,socialandenvironmentalaspects–canhelptoinforminvestmentandprioritisation.

4.1 What works (and doesn’t work) for directly supported businesses?

Bysupportingarangeoforganisations,ZeroWasteScotlandhaslearnedaboutvarioussupporttypesandhowtheyarereceived,barrierstoimplementingcirculareconomyopportunities,andhowtosupportsmallbusinessesandstart-ups.Theabilityofabusinesstoimplementacirculareconomyopportunityislargelydeterminedbyits:• abilitytoembraceinnovation• availablestaff,timeandfunds• existingskillsbasewithintheorganisation.

Successoftencomesdowntothepresencewithinthebusinessofanindividualwhohasthenecessarydrive,skillsandtimetodevelopandexploitanopportunity.Unfortunately,thissuccessfactorcanbedifficulttoassessandinfluence,butitneverthelessrequiresconsiderationattheoutsetofanyprojectorpartnership.Abenchmarking,competencyorreadinessframework

maybeusedtoscorethebusinessanditsprojectanddeterminehowlikelytheprojectistosucceed.

4.1.1 Innovation Readiness for innovation:Anyorganisationreceivingsupportshouldunderstandhowtheopportunityfitswithinitswiderbusinessobjectives.Whileanewbusinessmodelmaydisruptatraditionalbusinessmodel,thecirculareconomyobjectivesmustmakebusinesssense.Manybusinessesareunclearonthetypeofsupporttheyneedorevenwhatisavailable,andsothesupportagencymustdeterminethebusinessdriversandputtogetheranappropriatesupportpackage.Innovativeprojectsrequirebespokeknowledgeandskillsandsupportcannotbegeneralised.Acompetencyframeworkcandeterminehowreadyabusinessisforinnovationaswellasthebespokesupportpackagethattheprojectwillrequire.Itisalsonecessarytogaugethecommitmentofthebusinessandthusthelikelihoodofprojectsuccess.Projectshavebeenfoundtobemoresuccessfulwherethereisbuy-inatahighlevelandlonger-termstrategicplanning.

Range of support:TheearlyMarketDevelopmentInnovationGrantsdemonstratethatinnovativeprojectsrequirearangeofsupportfromtheinitialresearchstage,throughdevelopmentandpiloting,tooperationalisationandmarketing.Thissupportincludescapitalfunding,technicalexpertiseandbusinessadvice,andthereshouldbecontinuitytothesupportbasedonaclearcustomerjourney.Weneedtounderstand,however,atwhatpointoursupportcanactuallymakeadifference.Forexample,well-developedideastendtobenefitmorefromthesupportavailable,sothematurityofaconceptrequiresconsiderationbeforesupportcanbeoffered.

Intellectual property:Thesupportagencyalsoneedstoconsidertheimplicationsofintellectualproperty(IP)andthelikelihoodofaninnovativebusinesswantingtoprotectitsownIP.Thiscouldbeachievedbydevelopingstandardtemplatesformemorandumsofunderstandingornon-disclosureagreementsandcreatingstrongerlinkswithIPexperts.Publishingcasestudiesandkeyexamplescansupportthedeliveryoftheprogramme,however,IPissuesanddatasensitivitywillrestrictthisopportunity.

Partnership approach:Smallerbusinessesfinditmoredifficulttoemployinnovativebusinessmodels,butmayfinditeasiertodosoiftheyworktogether.Forexample,smallbusinessescouldjoinforcestomorecost-effectivelyimportinnovativeresourcescurrentlyunavailableinScotland,orasmallenterprisecouldbenefitfromtheinfrastructureandsecurityprovidedbyworkingwithalargerbrandtosupportanotherwiseriskyinvestment.

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4.1.2 Resource Time commitment:Theresourceandtimecommitmentrequiredtoimplementchangeisoftenunderestimated,especiallybysmallbusinessesthatfinditastretchjusttooperateabusinessasusualmodel.Thisshouldbeconsideredatthetimethesupportofferingisagreed,withtheexpectedrequirementswrittenintothecontractorsupportagreementattheoutset.Aspreviouslymentioned,individualsarekeytodrivingtheprojectforwardandachievingsuccess.

Communications support: Onceaninnovativeinterventionhastakenplace,oratheorythatdisruptsnormalbehaviourshasbeenputintopractice,communicationsarerequiredtoensuretheproject’scontinuedsuccess.ExamplesincludethemarketingoftheRe-useLinetogenerateongoingdemand,andsignageatHWRCstohelppeoplemakeuseofthenewopportunitiespresentedtothem.

Financial considerations: Innovativeordisruptiveprojectscancarryfinancialrisks,bothtothebusinessandtothesupportagency’sinvestment.Innovationisinherentlyriskyandaconsiderableamountoftimeandmoneymayneedtobeinvestedbeforeareturnisseen–andthereisnoguaranteethatthereevenwillbea

return.Businessesshouldaimtospreadtheirfinancialrisk,byexploringcirculareconomyopportunitiesalongsidethecurrentbusinessmodel.Tappingintoarangeoffundingoptionscouldalsohelptode-risktheinvestment.Supportagenciesmaywishtodevelopguidanceoncirculareconomysupportandfundingtohelpbusinessesnavigatesuchissues.

Sustainable support: Thelegacyofasupportofferingalsorequiresconsiderationattheoutsetofaproject.Temporaryfundingshouldsupportabusinessmodelthatissustainableoverthelongterm,andthismodelshouldbeconsideredatthetimefundingisallocated.

4.1.3 SkillsArangeofskillsisrequiredtodeliverasuccessfulcirculareconomyproject,andindividualbusinesseswillpossess–andlack–expertiseindifferentareas.Forexample,start-upstypicallyrequirebusinesssupporttodefine,understandandusekeybusinessterms,toimplementgoodfinancialmanagementandtocommercialiseaconcept.Innovativeorganisationstendnottoneedsupportwithtechnicaldevelopment,butoftenrequireinputonbusinessissuessuchasmarketresearch,marketingandbuildingabusinesscase.Otherskillsrequiredforasuccessfulprojectincludedataskillsandtheabilitytomodelflows,generalcirculareconomyandresourceefficiencyawareness,andfundingandgrantsupportapplicationskills.Supportshouldbuildexpertisewithinthebusiness,throughtrainingandtheuseofguidancedocuments.Usefultoolsmayincludeprocessflowmodels,financialmodelsandcarboncalculators,aswellasprocurementapproachesincludingamentoringprogrammeforspecificsectors.

4.2 What wider market factors can help or hinder circular economy ideas?

Arangeofexternalchallengesandfactorswillaffecttheabilityofabusinesstosuccessfullyimplementanewcirculareconomyapproach.Manyofthesefactorswillbebeyondthecontrolofboththebusinessandthesupportagency,butitisneverthelessusefultotakeearlystepstoidentifyandtrytomitigateanypotentialrisksandchallenges.

Regulatory requirements:Smallbusinessesareresource-andtime-poorandsomustprioritiseregulatoryrequirements,suchashealthandsafety,beforedevelopingandapplyingcirculareconomyopportunities.

Regulatory restrictions:Newproductsandbusinessmodelsmaychallengecurrentwasteclassificationsandtheregulationssurroundingsomewastematerials.Anysuchissuesmustberesolvedbeforetheopportunitycanbedevelopedorreceiveinvestment.

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Access to finance:Manyyoungbusinessesareunabletoapplyforbankloansandnewbusinessmodelsoftendon’tsuittraditionalloans.Whenrequestingmatchfundingfromthesupportrecipient,itisimportanttoconsiderwhatfinance,ifany,thebusinessisabletoaccess.

Market opportunity and demand:Significantworkisrequiredtobringanewproductorservicetomarket–andthentheremustbeademandforit.Considerationmustbegiventohowtogeneratethisdemandiftheproducthasahighercostorrequiresachangeincustomerbehaviour.Alternatively,organisationssuchasZeroWasteScotlandcouldpotentiallygeneratedemandforacircularproductorservice,de-riskinginvestmentinnewbusinessmodelsthatcanmeetthisexistingdemand.

Procurement opportunities:Asmentionedearlier,procurementoffershugeopportunitiestoencourageacirculareconomy–itisanareainwhichinterventionscanveryeffectivelytriggerdemandforcirculareconomyproductsandservices.Itcanbeacomplexareaforintervention,however,astherangeofprocurementopportunitiesisvast,yetprocurementactivityisoftenlongtermanddifficulttoinfluence.

4.3 How can support agencies be most effective?

4.3.1 Delivery mechanismsThesupportprovidedtorecipientsneedstobeflexibleandagile,withthepossibilityofrevisitingandadaptingtheinitialprojectscopeagreedattheoutset.Toimprovesupportdelivery,itisnecessaryforagenciestofirstfullycomprehendthenatureofthebusinessestobesupported.

Expectations and timescales

Management of expectations:Toavoiddamagingimportantrelationshipsandorganisationalreputation,allsupportagencystaffandpartnersshouldbeabletoaccuratelycommunicatewhatsupportis,andisnot,availabletobusinesses.Itisalsoimportantnottohaveunrealisticexpectationsofstakeholders’abilitytocollectmonitoringdatafromSMEsorreferbusinessestotheprogramme.

Long mobilisation times:Ourexperienceofmanyofthesupportstreams–and,inparticular,SIR–hashighlightedthesignificantamountoftimeandresourcesrequiredtomobiliseasupportprogramme.Projectpipelinesshouldbebuiltduringthemobilisationstageandifanetworkdoesnotalreadyexist,thiswilltaketime,effortandresourcetoestablish.Workingwithstrategicpartnerscanacceleratethisstage,butwhen

tryingtobuildapresenceandreputationinaparticularmarket,sectororindustry,plansshouldincludesufficienttimefordevelopment.Incorporatinglongerleadtimescanresultinmoresuccessfulandwider-reachingprojects.

Long support timescales:Evenaftermobilisingitssupportprogramme,SIRfoundthatittookeightmonthsonaverageforaninitialenquirytobecomeanengagementactivity.Timescaleswerelongerforlargerormorebureaucraticorganisationsandshorterforhighlymotivatedbusinessesalreadyontheirwaytobecomingmorecircular.Assuch,extendedprogrammesofsupportarerecommendedtoensurethegreatestimpactonthecirculareconomy.

Return on investment:Severalyearscanpassbetweenthereceiptoftheinitialsupportandsavingsbeingrealised.TheearlyResourceManagementInnovationGrantsin2012areagoodexampleofthis,withsomerecipientsof2012grantsnotexpectedtoseeactualsavingsuntil2018.Innovationisriskyand,whileitmaytaketimetoprovethevalueofaninvestment,itisnecessarytoacceptthattherewillalsobesomefailures.Astherealimpactofmostcirculareconomyinterventionswillbefeltsometimeaftersupporthasbeendelivered,post-fundingevaluationandmonitoringshouldcontinueforasufficientlylongperiodfollowingtheendofthesupport.Inreality,somebusinessesfinditdifficulttomeetongoingmonitoringrequirementsand,ifthefundinghasbeenreceived,itcanbedifficulttoholdtheorganisationtosubsequentmonitoringrequirements.

Support route

Capital vs expertise:Capitalissometimesrequiredtopurchaseequipmentthatwillallowcirculareconomyactivitiestotakeplace.Inmanycases,expertsupportisrequiredalongsidethisinvestment,toensurethattheequipmentpurchasedisusedtomaximumeffectandthatcirculareconomythinkingisembeddedinthebusiness.Expertsupportand/ortheprovisionofpersonnelcanbedeliveredinanumberofways:viaagrantthatpaysforamemberofstafforexpertconsultant;byemployinganinternonbehalfofthebusiness;orbysecondingasupportagencystaffmembertothebusinessforalimitedtime.

Grant vs procurement:Supporthastraditionallybeenprovidedthrougheitheragrantoraprocurementexercise.Therearebenefitsanddrawbackstobothsupportroutes,anditisworthinvestingsometimetodeterminewhichismostappropriatebeforeembarkingonaproject.Whicheverrouteisselected,allcontractsmustincludearequirementfortherecipienttomonitorimpactsandreportsavings.

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Strategy and intervention:Providingasingleinterventionisgenerallynotenoughtoincreasecirculareconomyactivity.Supportedbusinessesneedtohaveanoverarchingstrategythatencompassessustainabilityandcirculareconomythinkingtoensurethattheseareembeddedacrosstheentireorganisation.Ifsuchastrategyisnotalreadyinplace,thesupportagencyshouldworkwiththerecipienttodevelopone.

Pilots and trials:Runningpilotsandfundingtrialsallowsforvarioustheoriestobetestedbeforeamajorinvestmentismadeinaparticularmethod.TheRe-useandRepairHubGrantsprogrammeisanexampleofhowthreedifferentdeliverymethodscanbetestedthroughagrantprogramme.Toreapmaximumbenefitfromsuchtrials,itisnecessarytodetailtheobjectivesattheoutsetandagreethemonitoringandevaluationrequirementswiththerecipientatthecontractnegotiationstage.Ongoingmonitoringthroughoutaprojectandsubsequentfollow-upstoreflectonoutcomesareparamounttosecuringthemostusefulinsightsfromtheproject.

Opportunity-driven support:Grantprogrammesaresetupwitheligibilityrequirementsandscoringcriteriathatapplicantsmustmeettoaccessthefunding.Whilstthisensuresthatfinanceisinvestedinafairanddemocraticway,itresultsinsomeprojectsbeingalteredtofitthecriteriaorlosingoutonfunding.Innovationcanbestifledandprogresslimitedasaresult.Ontheotherhand,opencallsforfundingoropportunity-drivensupportoftenresultinapplicationsofvariablequalityandchallengeswhenitcomestocomparingtherelativevalueofprojects.

4.3.2 Strategic opportunitiesClear support landscape:WhileScotlandisconsideredaworldleaderonthecirculareconomy,thesupportlandscapeforbusinessesiscomplicatedbythevarietyofhelpavailablefromseveralsupportagencies.One

benefitofthisiswider-reachingengagementandcommunicationsonthesubject,butitcanalsoleadtoconfusionoverthevarioussupportroutesavailable.Insomeindustries,theremayevenbeagreatersupplyofsupportthancurrentdemandfromeligiblebusinesses.Inaddition,itishardertopromotethevariedcirculareconomysupportopportunitiesthroughasinglemarketingcampaign.Possiblesolutionsmaybetoproduceaguidancesummaryofsupportopportunities,embedsupportintoexistingbusinesssupportsystemsand/orintroduceamorestreamlined,connectedlandscape.

Start-ups:Workingwithstart-upsbringsbothopportunitiesaswellasdifficulties,astheytendtobemorereceptivetocirculareconomythinkingbutcanbeariskierinvestment.Generally,grantsupportfromZeroWasteScotlandiscontingentonabusinessprovidingevidenceofthreeyearsoftradingtooffersomesecuritybeforepublicmoneyisinvested–newbusinessesaredeemedariskierinvestment.Thisneedstobeaddressed,however,ifyoungorganisationsarealsotoreceivesupport.Start-upsrequireawholerangeofsupport,someofwhichisoutsideofZeroWasteScotland’sexpertise,andsopartnershipswithothersupportagenciesmayresultinmoresuccessfulcircularbusinessmodels.Inaddition,smallerbusinessesrequireresponsivesupportthatisreadywhentheyare,whichisoftenincompatiblewithlargegrantprogrammes.

Bespoke solutions:Circulareconomyinterventionstendtobebespokeandarenotgenerallyreplicable.Alackofstandardisedmeasuresmakesitdifficulttodevelopbestpracticeguidesthatapplytoarangeofbusinesses,meaningthatone-to-onesupportismoreappropriate.

Legacy:Supportprogrammesshouldconsidernotonlythefuturesustainabilityoftheprojectstheyfund,butalsothelegacytheprogrammeitselfwillleaveonce

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fundingisnolongeravailable.Suitablelegaciescouldincludeleavingasectorwithincreasedcompetencyandskillsorself-helptools,ordevelopingaself-sustainingsupportdeliverybusinessmodel.

Skills and knowledge development

Specialist knowledge:Therangeofsolutionsandmeasuresthatcanbeimplementedandthevarioustypesofsupportthatabusinessmayneedcallsforsupportagenciestohavespecialistknowledge.Thiscouldbeaconstraintforsupportagenciesandanappropriateteammayneedtobebuiltupovertime.

Actionable research:Researchneedstobeactionable,withaclearsenseofscopeandobjectives.Possibleobjectivesmaybetopresentevidence,toscopeopportunitiesortodeterminerecommendations.Publishedresearchreportshaveprovedsuccessfulindemonstratingexpertiseandengagingwithtechnicalsectorsaswellasinstimulatingideasandattractingbusinessestosupportagencies.

Reflection and review:It’simportanttofindtimetoreflectonpastactivitiestounderstandwhysomeinnovativeprojectsdonotsucceedtoavoidthesameissuesoccurringinfutureinitiatives.Conversely,understandingwhysomeprojectsworkbetterthanotherscansometimesenablefurthersuccess.ThephasedapproachtothedeliveryoftheCEBMsprogramme,andthenCEBSS,hasallowedlessonslearnedfromeachphasetobeappliedtosubsequentphases.Timeisoftenatapremiuminbusysupportprogrammes,however,soitmaybevaluabletoformaliseopportunitiestoreflectandprovidefeedback.

Upskilling and training:Aswellasdevelopingasupportagency’sownskillsandknowledge,itiscrucialtohelptheengagedorganisationstoembedcirculareconomyskillsandunderstanding.Forexample,thedeliveryoftheGlasgowChamberofCommerceprojectmeansthatChamberstaffarenowabletoidentifyandsupportcirculareconomyopportunitieswithintheirbusinessnetworks.Agreaterawarenessandunderstandingofcirculareconomyandsustainabilityprinciplescouldalsobeachievedbyintroducingthetopicwithinhigherandfurthereducation,andbyupskillingtheresourcemanagement,recyclingandre-useworkforce.

Networking, partnerships and collaborative projects

Informal relationships:Whilstcollatingthelearningsfromacrossallprogrammeactivities,wehaverecognisedtheimportanceandvalueoftheinformalrelationshipsthatexistbetweensupportagencydeliveryteamstaffandexternalorganisationsandsectors.In

somecases,wherestafforiginatefromaparticularindustry,theyhavebroughtthoserelationshipswiththemtoZeroWasteScotland;inothercases,therelationshipshavegrownovertimeasaprogrammehasdeveloped.Arealchallengeforsupportagenciesishowtomaintainsuchcontactswhenstaffoneithersideoftherelationshipmoveon.Working with delivery partners:SeveralprogrammesdeliveredbyZeroWasteScotlandhavebeendeliveredinpartnershipwithothersupportagencies,includingGlasgowChamberofCommerceandIBioIC.Suchpartnershipsprovideincredibleopportunitiestoaccessnewsectorsandmarkets,addanewperspectivetothesupportofferingandprovideadditionalexpertisetotheprogrammes.

Funding collaborative projects:Anumberofprojectswehavefundedhaveadoptedacollaborativeapproach,forexample,theRe-useInfrastructureforHouseholdWasteRecyclingCentresandtheRe-useandRepairHubgrants.Again,significantbenefitsandgreatergainscanresultfromworkingincollaboration,butchallengescanalsobeencountered.Aprojectwillusuallyhavealeadapplicant,whoiscontractedtoZeroWasteScotlandanddirectlyreceivesthefundingorsupport,withotherrecipientsnamedintheprojectproposal.Collaborativeprojectstendtorequiremuchmoreinvolvedprojectmanagementtoensuretheirdelivery,andthetimerequiredforthisshouldbetakenintoaccountattheoutsetofsuchprojects.

Network building:Buildingnewnetworkstakestime,frommakingtheinitialengagementtonurturingrelationshipstoensurethatthoseinvolvedhaveconfidenceandtrustinoneanother.Networkbuildingcanberesource-intensiveduringtheestablishmentphaseandprojectplansshouldincludebothtimeandresourceforthisactivity.

Internal and external communications and engagement

Ashighlightedbyallofthecirculareconomyactivityareascoveredinthisreport,theimportanceofcommunicationsandengagementcannotbeunderestimated–theycandeterminethesuccessofanactivity.Activitiesincludecommunicatingsupportopportunitiesbothinternallyandexternally,promotingsuccessstoriesanddisseminatingresearchfindings.

Awareness of the concept:Thereneedstobeabetterunderstandinggenerallyoftheconceptofthecirculareconomyandgreaterawarenessofhoweveryonecanbeinvolved.Increasingawarenessamongcustomersandsupplychainscanstimulatedemandandsupportfornewinitiatives,whileamorewidespreadawareness

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acrossbusinessesandotherorganisationscoulddriveinnovationandprogress.

Generating demand for support:WehavefoundinseveralcasesthatthedemandforcirculareconomysupportisnotnecessarilypresentinScottishbusinesses.Assuch,ithasbeencrucialtoengagebothwithpartnersanddirectlywithcompaniestogenerateprojects.Morewidespreadcommunicationoftheconceptofthecirculareconomy,theopportunitiesitbringsandtheavailablesupportcouldincreasethedemandfrombusinesses.Thereisalsothepotentialtoincreaseawarenessofcirculareconomyopportunitiesamongotherbusinesssupportagencies.ZeroWasteScotlandcontinuestoworkwithothersupportagenciesviatheScottishBusinessSustainabilityPartnershiptoimproveinter-agencyreferralsandthedeliveryofcoordinatedsupportfromZeroWasteScotland,ScottishEnterprise,HighlandsandIslandsEnterprise,SEPA,BusinessGatewayandEnergySavingTrust.

Learning from others:Creatingandsharingbestpracticeexamplesandgoodnewsstoriesprovidesopportunitiestohighlightprogrammesuccesses,educateothersoncirculareconomyprinciples,encouragepeer-to-peerlearningandattractnewbusinessestoconsiderthesupportoffering.Timelyaccesstosuchcommunicationssupportsengagementwithnewsectorsandbusinessesandcanbuildmomentumandinspirewiderparticipation.

Recipient confidentiality:Whilesharingbestpracticeandgoodnewsstoriescanbeanidealmechanismfor

inspiringothers,manysupportrecipientsmaynotwishtobeshowcased.Thismayrelatetoconcernsaboutcommercialconfidentiality,IPrestrictionsand/orapreferencenottosharetheirsecretswithcompetitors.Inaddition,activitieslikeremanufacturingandre-usearesometimesmisunderstoodbycustomers,sobusinessesactiveincertainsectorsmaywishtoavoidhighlightingsuchaspectsoftheirbusinessmodel.Anysuchconcernsshouldberesolved,however,asthesupportprogrammebeginstoinfluenceattitudestowardscirculareconomyactivities.

Method of engagement:Werecognisethatdifferentcommunicationmediawillengagedifferenttypesofbusinessesandresultindifferentoutcomes.Whilespecificprojectexamplesareusefulinengagingsmallbusinessestoreplicatepreviousactivities,researchreportshaveprovedmoresuccessfulininspiringinnovationamongtechnicalindustries.Forexample,sharingrelevantresearchreportswithenergyindustrybusinesseshasstimulatedengagementandinnovation,andencouragedbusinessestorequestsupporttopursuecirculareconomyopportunities.

Networking:Workshops,matchmakingeventsandnetworkingsessionsarerecognisedasexcellentwaystoengagewithbusinesses,createpartnershipsandstimulateideas.Encouragingsmall,time-poorbusinessestoattendsuchworkshopscanbedifficult,butworkingwithbusinessengagementpartners(e.g.ChambersofCommerceortradeassociations)hasbeenshowntoincreaseinterestandimproveattendance.

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ZeroWasteScotland’ssupportforacirculareconomyhasdevelopedrapidly.Thisreporthasfocusedonworkdeliveredpriorto2017,whatwelearntfromitandhowithasinformedanddevelopedintomorerecentwork,particularlyERDFfundeddirectsupporttosmallbusinesses.Someactivitiesdescribedinthisreportcontinuedbeyond2016andinto2017.Theseincludethe:• ScottishBiofuelProgramme• mappinganddatamodeldevelopedwithkeypartners

toinformthefutureofbiorefininginScotland,knownasBiorefiningforScotland

• procurementsupportactivities–whichhavecontinuedinto2018

• ongoingsupporttoCRNS• continuedengagementwithNHSScotlandtoincrease

re-use• lastoftheRe-useandRepairHubGrants• finalstagesofSIR–whichhascontinuedtoprovide

supportinto2018• secondphaseoftheGlasgowCityProject–whichruns

from2017• continuedengagementwithOrkney,workingwithOIC

andHIEtoidentifycirculareconomyopportunitieswithintheislands.

Asalreadydiscussed,ZeroWasteScotlandisnotaloneinsupportingcirculareconomydevelopments.Theinitialthree-yearphaseofZeroWasteScotlandfundingforSIRcametoanendinthesecondquarterof2018,althoughSIRiscontinuingtooperatecurrentlyunderSFCfundinguntilendApril2019.SIR,indiscussionwithSFCandZeroWasteScotland,isnowconsideringitsnextphase,includinghowitcanintegratewiththenewNationalManufacturingInstituteforScotland.

Since2016,twostreamsofZeroWasteScotlandsupporthavebeeninplacetobuildthecirculareconomyinScotland.ThefirstfocusesonprovidingdirectsupporttoSMEsandisjointlyfundedbytheScottishGovernmentandtheERDFResourceEfficientCircularEconomyAcceleratorProgramme.Thesecondstream,fundedsolelybytheScottishGovernment,focusesonstrategicengagementwithsectors,industryandthegeneralpublic,research,andopportunityscoping.Bothstreamsofsupporthavebeeninformedbytheactivitiesdescribedinthisreportandmanyofthelessonslearneddetailedabovehavebeenincorporatedintoourcurrentsupportoffering.BothERDFandnon-ERDFworkcontributestoScotland’soverarchingambitiontobuildacirculareconomy–andalsohelpstorevitaliseScotland’smanufacturingtradition.

Key ERDF projects include:

Circular Economy Business Support Service (CEBSS): Thisprovidesbespokeone-to-onesupporttohelpbusinessesdeveloptheirideasforcirculareconomyproductsandservices.LessonslearnedfromtheCEBMsprogrammeinparticularhavebeenkeytoinformingthedesignofthisservice.

Circular Economy Development Grant: ThisfundcanprovideasmallcapitalinvestmenttorecipientsofCEBSStodevelopapromisingprojectideatothepointwherethebusinesscanapplytoCEIFformorecomprehensivefunding.ItactsasabridgebetweenCEBSSandCEIF.

Circular Economy Investment Fund (CEIF):Thisfundprovidescapitalinvestmenttosupporttheimplementationofbusinessmodels,someofwhichmayhavebeendevelopedviaCEBSS.Keyareasofinterestareplastics,thebioeconomy,re-useandflatglassrecyclingsolutions,butthisisbynomeansanexhaustivelist.

Employment of sector managers:DedicatedZeroWasteScotlandsectormanagersareabletosupportengagementwithSMEsoperatingincrucialsectorsandindustries,includingenergy,manufacturing,foodanddrinkandconstruction.

Cities and regions projects:FurtherprojectsthatbuildontheGlasgowexperiencearebeingrolledoutacrossScotland,targetingbusinessesonageographical,ratherthansectoralbasis.

Masterclasses and networking events:MoreeventsareplannedtobuildonthesuccessoftheTextilesMasterclassesSeriesandthenetworkingeventsheldaspartoftheGlasgowChamberofCommerceandOrkneyprojects

Circular Economy Hotspot event host:ScotlandwasselectedtohosttheCircularEconomyHotspoteventin2018,highlightingournationasaleaderforthecirculareconomy.TheeventalsoenabledZeroWasteScotlandtosecurenationalandinternationalprofileopportunitiesandallowedScottishbusinessestogenerateinternationalleadsforcirculareconomyopportunities.

Zero Waste Towns:Fundingisinplaceforthreefurtherprojects,whichincludetrialsofinnovativecommunity-basedresponsestothecirculareconomy.Theseprojectsoffertheopportunitytoengagewithcommunitiesaboutthecirculareconomyandshowcasesolutionsnationallyandinternationally.

5 Our current support offering

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WhiletheERDFfundingenablesZeroWasteScotlandtosupportmorebusinessesmorewidely,italsointroducesrestrictionsaroundthetypesofprojectsthatcanreceivesupport.Forexample,SMEsmustbenefitfromtheprovisionofthesupportandfeasibilitystudiescannotbefundedthroughtheERDFprogramme.Thenon-ERDFworkstreampicksupwheretheERDFprogrammeisunabletoprovidesupport–thatis,forprojectsledbylargebusinessesorpublicsectororganisations.

Circulareconomyprocurementopportunitieshavecontinuedtobesupportedthroughengagement,mentoring,workshops,trainingandinputintoprocurementexercisesdeliveredthroughout2017andinto2018.WealsoprovidedsignificantinputtoinformthewordingofpolicyguidancetosupportthepublicsectoronhowtoconsidertheinclusionofcirculareconomyoutcomeswhenusingtheScottishGovernment’sSustainabilityTesttool.

StakeholderengagementcontinuestobeapriorityforourCircularEconomyProgramme,asitisrecognisedthatoneofthemainbarrierstorealisingacirculareconomyislackofdemand–bothforthesupportthatisavailableandfortheproductsandservicesthatcontributetoacirculareconomy.Weneedtoengageandcommunicatewithallsectorsandthegeneralpublictoraiseawarenessanddemand,driveinnovationandensurelong-lastingsuccessofprojectswesupport.

Future prioritiesPrioritieshighlightedintheMakingThingsLaststrategythatwillbeakeyfocusforZeroWasteScotlandinclude:

Reducing food waste–fromfarmtofork,byengagingwiththepublicsectorandlargebusinesses,supportingSMEsandinfluencingmembersofthepublic.

Reducing construction waste–includingindesign,constructionprocessesanddeconstruction.WorkingtoinfluencelargebusinessesandthepublicsectorandsupportingSMEstocreatelesswasteandincreasere-useandrecycling.

Increasing recycling by householders–throughimprovedorrationalisedcollectionservicesandpublicengagement.

Improvements to the recycling process–innovativeapproachesthatimprovethequalityofrecyclatesandretainthevalueofresourceswithinScotlandwillbefundedthroughCEIF.

Consideration of deposit return schemes and extended producer responsibility–toincreaserecyclatecaptureandrecyclatecontentandreducewaste.

Bioeconomy–particularlythroughpartnershipworkingwithIBioIC.

Communications and engagement–itisrecognisedthatawarenessofthecirculareconomyanditsbenefitsmustberaisedtodrivedemandandsustainatransitioningeconomy.

Currently,theERDFprogrammeisduetocometoanendinDecember2019,atwhichpointwecanconsiderotherwaystodeliversupportandadvancethecirculareconomy.Itisrecognisedthatsignificantimpactscouldbeachievedbyprovidingdirectsupporttolargercompaniesandthepublicsectoraswellasdeliveringpilotsandfeasibilitystudiestosupportnew,innovativetechnologies.ApotentialextensionoftheERDFprogrammecouldfocusonidentifyinglarge-scalestrategicprojectstosupport,andareviewofexistingsupportapproacheswouldhelpustounderstandboththeireffectivenessandcurrentmarketdemands.

InordertofurtheracceleratedevelopmentandimplementationofcirculareconomybusinessmodelsandapproachesbyScottishbusinesses,weareworkingtodevelopanew,engagingsectionofourwebsitecalled“TheCircularEconomyAccelerationCentre”(CEAC),whichwillbehometoallofourcirculareconomycontentandwillaimto:• Educatevisitorsaboutthecirculareconomy• Informbusinesseswhatthecirculareconomymeans

forthemandhowtheycancapitalise• Inspirevisitorstoimplementcirculareconomybest

practiceintotheirbusinessprocesses• Providetoolsthatempowerbusinessesto

independentlyexplorecirculareconomyopportunities• Showcasebestpractice‘casestudy’exampleswithin

Scotland,toinspire,educateandmotivateothers

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TheCEACmayincludetoolssuchasinteractivecasestudiesandmaps,videocontent,infographics,webinars,onlinediscussionandnetworkingtoolsandfree-to-downloadmaterialswhichwillprovidealastinglegacyintheeventthatwearenolongerabletoprovidedirectsupport.

Thereislikelytoremainafocusoncitiesandregions,whichwillseeusworkcloselywithpartnersand‘cityregiondeals’tomaximisecirculareconomyopportunities.Wewillalsocontinuetofocusonmanufacturingandremanufacturing,asweseektoinfluencetheworkofScotland’sManufacturingActionPlanandtheNationalManufacturingInstituteforScotlandinregardtocirculareconomyopportunities.

Wewillbegintoconsidersomekeyproblemproducts,raiseawarenessofextendedproducerresponsibilityandidentifysolutionsfortheseproductstoreducewastetolandfill.Theproductswewillfocusonarestilltobedetermined,butmayincludetyresormattresses,forexample.

TheRevolvecertificationprogrammewillcontinuetoexpand,shiftingitsfocustowardsincreasingawarenessofthebrand,inpartbysigninguphighstreetcharitychainstoincreaseitsreach.Amonitoringprogrammewillalsobeintroducedtoensurethatstoresthatarealreadycertifiedcontinuetomeettherequiredqualitystandards.

Circularprocurementofferssignificantopportunitiesandwewillfocusonprovidingsupportalongsupplychains-influencinglargecompaniesandpublicsectororganisationsintheirpurchasingdecisions.ActivitieswillconcentrateonworkingwithpublicsectororganisationstoimprovetheirprocurementpracticesandatthesametimesupportingSMEstomeetthesustainabilityrequirementsofprogressivepublicsectororganisations

Engagingtheconstructionsectortobecomeapartofthecirculareconomywillbeapriority.Programmeplansincludeshowcasingcirculareconomyprocurement,constructionandlivingbenefitsatresidentialsites,andcontributingtoScotland’sManufacturingActionPlanbyhighlightingcirculareconomy-focusedmanufacturingconstructionandoperations.

InMakingThingsLast,theScottishGovernmentoutlinedtheneedto“embedthedevelopmentofnewskillsandthinkinginthenextgenerationofdesigners,businessleadersandinnovators.WewanttomakesureScotland’sworkforcehastherightskillstotakeadvantageofopportunitiesfromamorecirculareconomy.”Thestrategyrecognisestheneedforspecificknowledgeandskills,inadditiontonewattitudes,behavioursandbusinessmodels,togrowthecirculareconomywhichwillbedevelopedthrougha“skillshub”.Thisinitiative,ledbyZeroWasteScotlandandSkillsDevelopmentScotland,isdesignedtobedevelopedinpartnershipwithabroadrangeofstakeholders,employers,industryleadershipgroupsandskillspartnerships.Itwilltaketheformofacollaborativenetworkofstakeholders,withacentralcoordinating‘hub’toprovideleadership,strategicdirectionandguidance.

Ourcurrentplanswillnotbetheendofthejourney.Newopportunitiesarecertaintoemerge,knowledgeofwhatworkswillcontinuetoimprove,andcirculareconomysolutionswillhavetoadaptandrespondtochangingmarketconditionslikeanyotherkindofbusiness.Thereisnosingleversionofacirculareconomy,it’sawayofthinkinganddoingthingssothatweusefewerresources,reduceourimpactontheenvironment,andrealiseneweconomicopportunitiesaswedoso.Truesuccesswillbewhentheseapproachesbecomeembeddedacrossoureconomy.

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@ZeroWasteScotzerowastescotland.org.uk