Zero Waste Scotland to separate from WRAP

In a letter sent to key stakeholders, the Scottish Government’s head of environmental quality George Burgess said that Zero Waste Scotland would cease to remain a subsidiary company of WRAP and look to form its own governance structure as part of a strategic policy move.

“We are now looking to integrate the work of Zero Waste Scotland more closely with the wider Scottish policy landscape, our Scottish delivery partners and the Scottish business and research communities,” he wrote.

Burgess added that the Scottish Government had consulted closely with WRAP on the decision, which he said would enable the country to focus its efforts more sharply on creating the right conditions for a circular economy.

“We have examined a number of options for realigning the governance and management of Zero Waste Scotland to better achieve these outcomes.

“We have jointly concluded that the best option is to transition Zero Waste Scotland from a subsidiary company of WRAP operating under the WRAP board, to an organisation operating under its own governance structure,” he wrote.

Burgess confirmed that Zero Waste Scotland’s current delivery plan would not be affected by this change. He said the programme would continue to combine a Scottish-focused delivery team with investment in WRAP’s UK-wide initiatives such as the Courtauld Commitment and Product Sustainability Forum.

“We recognise the valuable contribution that WRAP’s expertise, international networks and wider engagement brings to our priorities. Both we and WRAP very much value the strong working relationship we have developed and we are confident this partnership will continue,” he wrote.

WRAP and Zero Waste Scotland have now been tasked with putting in place these new delivery arrangements to take effect from 30 June. WRAP set up Zero Waste Scotland back in 2010.

The announcement comes just days after edie exclusively revealed that WRAP is set to apply for charitable status in a bid to diversify its funding base.

In a letter seen by edie, WRAP’s CEO Liz Goodwin reacted to the news by saying that the move would “have a limited impact” on WRAP’s core funding.

“It is worth pointing out that the vast majority of the funds currently provided by the Scottish Government stay within our Scottish operations for initiatives delivered in Scotland,” she wrote.

Goodwin added: “The Scottish Government has decided that it now wants to integrate that work more closely into the Scottish landscape and we were happy to help them identify the way to do that.

“The Government will continue to buy into our expertise and very successful cross-UK initiatives. I look forward to our strong partnership going from strength to strength in future.”

Maxine Perella