Climate for change campaign: Circular route to a cleaner planet

Our reckless tendency to throw things away is coming under increased scrutiny – and for urgent reasons. It is estimated there will be more plastics than fish in our oceans by 2050 and a step change in our behaviour is needed, starting with action to tackle cosmetic microbeads, plastic cotton buds, plastic straws and disposable coffee cups.
As part of a vital drive to combat waste, Zero Waste Scotland is bringing a major international event to the UK for the first time this October. Around 300 of the world’s decision-makers, trade representatives, investors and circular economy entrepreneurs will be in Glasgow for the Circular Economy Hotspot Scotland, backed by the Scottish Government and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 
Global delegates will hear about the nation’s world-leading efforts to develop a circular economy, one in which materials are kept in high value use for as long as possible via closed loop systems, and goods and services are designed to ensure longevity.
The circular economy is a priority for the Scottish Government and its Economic Strategy and Manufacturing Action Plan. Its dedicated circular economy strategy, Making Things Last, highlights areas that will deliver economic, environmental and social benefits. Across Europe, shifting towards a more circular economy could generate £1.4 trillion of annual benefits by 2030.
Ways of moving towards a more circular economy include managing materials already in circulation in the best way possible – such as maximising recycling. The Scottish Government’s commitment to introduce a deposit return scheme to Scotland has a vital role in this.
With a public consultation on a Scottish deposit return scheme now live, the Scottish Government and Scotland’s circular economy experts, Zero Waste Scotland, want as many people as possible to have their say – by responding directly to the Scottish Government consultation at https://consult.gov.scot/environment-forestry/deposit-return-scheme, or by engaging with Zero Waste Scotland at a series of events across the country this summer.
As a nation, Scotland is also host to a centre of excellence to increase innovation in remanufacturing – the Scottish Institute for Remanufacture, based at the University of Strathclyde – as well as re-use and repair superstore “hubs” in Edinburgh, Argyll and the Highlands.
Scotland is also accelerating the circular economy at regional level, with a “Circle Scan” of Glasgow in 2016 identifying huge opportunities for businesses – with the city’s £330m manufacturing sector identified as that with the greatest opportunity. Following Glasgow’s success, circular economy work being led by Zero Waste Scotland is now being rolled out to Edinburgh, Tayside and North-east Scotland – with over £300m of opportunity identified in the north-east alone. Since 2016 the Circular Economy Business Support Service has worked with over 80 businesses across Scotland. 
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, said: “We’re hugely excited to be hosting the UK’s first Circular Economy Hotspot event and to really put Scotland’s circular economy achievements on the map. 
“Climate change is a global issue and we need to work together to fix it – whether that’s through facilitating small businesses to benefit from each other’s experiences, or through learning about the policy levers tried and tested by different nations.
“The Circular Economy Hotspot Scotland will include visits to Scottish businesses, workshops and keynotes from some of the world’s leading circular economy experts. Not only is it a first for Scotland and the UK, it is not to be missed by anyone with an interest in future-proofing their operations and contributing to Scotland’s economy for 
years to come.”