The resource efficiency organisation opened a fund offering awards of up to £100,000 over two years to encourage remanufacturing for items such as commercial and industrial equipment, furniture and small electronics.

“The remanufacturing sector presents a fantastic economic opportunity for Scotland,” said Gulland, “and Zero Waste Scotland is focused on getting the right infrastructure and supply of products and materials in place for Scotland to reap the rewards.”

Re-use economy

Gulland said: “Enabling the return of high-value, priority products and materials, like electronics and machinery, back into remanufacture is the key to developing a thriving, profitable remanufacture and re-use economy in Scotland and is the focus of the latest initiative from Zero Waste Scotland to boost these sectors.”

Zero Waste Scotland said it was looking for innovative solutions to help remanufacture products currently “gathering dust”.

Gulland said the remanufacturing sector in Scotland has the potential to grow from its current value of £1.1bn, adding more than £620m in value by 2020 and generating up to 5,700 new jobs.

Bidders for the £100,000 funding will have to respond to Zero Waste Scotland’s call for solutions by 18 September.

Productive materials

Gulland added: “As Scotland’s resource efficiency experts, Zero Waste Scotland is committed to the development of a more circular economy – where materials are kept in productive use as long as possible, we are keen to use the expertise and contacts of business to help solve the issues that will help these sectors reach their potential.”

The Carbon Trust has said the UK is falling behind other developed nations in harness the value of remanufacturing. A report from the group claimed that while remanufacturing added £2.4bn to the British economy, it could increase this share to £5.6bn, reducing waste and benefitting manufacturers.

Scotland recently saw the establishment of a new Scottish Institute of Remanufacture to help realise the value of materials such as gold and electrical components from old electronic waste, and the European Commission launched a new lobby group, the European Remanufacturing Network, to try and encourage businesses to take up remanufacturing and improve public awareness.

Matt Field

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