In his keynote address at the ecoConnect forum in Glasgow this evening, Zero Waste Scotland chief executive Iain Gulland will focus on the benefits of developing a circular economy by summarising the key financial and technical support on offer to businesses willing to adopt it. 

That support includes a £3.8m Scottish Recycling Fund available to organisations interested in developing sorting, repair, or reprocessing capacity for waste materials and to businesses in the remanufacture industry; and the RETrieve Scotland Support Programme for manufacturing companies.

Maximising gains

Speaking before the ecoConnect forum, Gulland said: “The Scottish Government recently launched a national engagement programme around the circular economy, in which Zero Waste Scotland will be closely involved.

“So tomorrow’s ecoConnect is a great opportunity for businesses in and around Glasgow to find out more about the benefits of a ‘circular economy’ – as opposed to our current take, make and dispose model – and the support on offer. Firms interested in developing a circular business model shouldn’t hesitate to get in touch.

“The current linear economic model, where we produce, consume and discard, is simply not the best way to extract the full value of resources and maximise economic and environmental gains in Scotland.

“By establishing a more circular economy in Scotland – where goods are firstly designed with future re-use in mind, and then recycled and remanufactured to be used again – we can maximise the value of resources in our economy, and embed sustainability in the way we do business.

“A circular economy will help shield businesses from fluctuations in price and availability of key resources, and provide huge opportunities for those who can capitalise on the need to repair, reprocess, and remanufacture materials and products. This would create jobs and economic growth for Scotland.”

Thinking circular

Zero Waste Scotland has six key delivery priorities for 2014 and 2015: to support a circular economy; harness the value of recycling; transform attitudes to food waste; reduce the impact of litter; implement resource efficiency savings; and accelerate the development of low carbon heat.

Last week, edie reported on the latest publication from global CSR consultancy Corporate Citizenship – Ahead of the curve: How the circular economy can unlock business value – which explains why businesses must now start ‘thinking circular’ and concludes with practical ways in which a circular business model can be implemented.

For more information on adopting the circular economy business model, read edie’s exclusive report, Making circular relevant: a business blueprint – an essential guide for any organisation that is looking for practical help on how to drive resource efficiency as a first step on the path to a circular business model. 

The ecoConnect forum – a networking event with an emphasis is on cleantech/green industry from a local perspective – takes place in Glasgow on 11 November, from 5-8pm.

Lois Vallely

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