A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland - Report to Parliament on Consultation Responses

Priority Sectors

Consultation Feedback:

• 71% either agreed or strongly agreed with the priority sectors.
• Respondents also outlined support for the development of roadmaps, and for the various sectors to be involved in their design.
• However, respondents also called for clear delivery/implementation plans. There was also a strong desire for plastics and packaging to be included as a priority sector, followed by electricals and chemicals.
• As with policy mechanisms, some felt these priorities relied too heavily on voluntary mechanisms, and they felt they needed to be stronger and include legally binding regulations, mandatory requirements and enforcement measures in order to compel change.

Changes Made:

• We have emphasised in different sections of the document that the strategy takes a sector-led not material-led approach. By focusing on sectors and products we can best address the impacts of individual materials, such as plastics, critical materials and chemicals, across the supply chain as a whole.
• Plastics have also been given greater emphasis throughout the document more generally, including references in the earlier sections to international agreements.
• In terms of asks for stronger and/or legally binding requirements, these are now given greater emphasis within the product stewardship section. The sector roadmaps will also consider these issues as part of their development.