February 2023
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This conference assessed the pathway for developing a zero waste and circular economy in Scotland.
It was a timely opportunity to discuss priorities and challenges for the forthcoming Circular Economy Bill due to be introduced to the Scottish Parliament next year, following the recently published consultation analysis of the proposals in Delivering Scotland’s circular economy: A Route Map to 2025.
Delegates examined implications for key stakeholders - including local authorities, businesses and consumers - of ambitions to recycle 70% of remaining waste, send no more than 5% of remaining waste to landfill by 2025, and introduce Scotland’s deposit return scheme in August 2023.
Areas for discussion included:
- policy and regulation:
- assessing the pathway for achieving a circular economy - priorities for a just transition - options for regulatory reform to support change
- aligning sustainable consumption practices with economic strategies - long-term goals for the sector
- options for approaches to measuring waste and outputs - monitoring the impact of policy changes
- priorities for maintaining the momentum of progress on waste reduction - supporting the move to a circular economy
- implementation:
- assessing next steps for businesses - environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices and reporting
- what will be needed for private and public sector organisations to adapt supply chains, establish new commercial and operating models, and meet waste and emissions targets
- encouraging households in behavioural change and adapting to new consumption patterns - support that may be needed amid wider cost-of-living and energy challenges
- priorities for infrastructure, including developing recycling and reuse services - tackling littering - limiting waste sent to landfill
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with Lorna Slater MSP, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Scottish Government; and Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland. The chairs are Maurice Golden MSP, Convener, Circular Economy Cross-Party Group; and Monica Lennon MSP, Deputy Convener, Circular Economy Cross-Party Group.
The discussion brought together stakeholders with key policy officials who attended from The Scottish Government; Marine Scotland; NatureScot; CMA; Defra; and DIT.
