A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland

Footnotes

1 PwC, Building a more productive and resilient UK through circularity (2025).

2 Scottish Government, Scotland's Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030 (2024), figure 1, p.12.

3 Scottish Government, Scotland's Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030 (2024).

4 Zero Waste Scotland, Circular Jobs Tracker Report (2026).

5 Zero Wast Scotland, Business Information Hub.

6 National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS).

7 ReMake Value Retention Centre (RVRC).

8 Consumer Scotland, Consumer perceptions of and engagement with the transition to net zero (2024).

9 Scottish Government, Environment, natural resources and agriculture: strategic research 2022-2027: overview (updated 2024).

10 For example, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, Circular Glasgow; Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Circular Edinburgh; Circular Tayside.

11 Other examples include the Energy Transition Zone in Aberdeen, the Arrol Gibb Innovation Campus, and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS).

12 Zero Waste Scotland, Circular Jobs Tracker Report (2026).

13 EU, Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (2024).

14 Scottish Government, Onshore Wind Sector Deal for Scotland (2023).

15 Zero Waste Scotland and Economic Development Association Scotland, Circularity: a material development in economic innovation (2025).

16 Leanne Hannah, Regulating Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment (2022), p.3.

17 Scottish Government, Infrastructure Strategy 2027-2037: consultation (2026).

18 Scottish Government, NPF4 planning guidance: policy 2 - climate mitigation and adaptation (2025). This highlights the use of standards such as PAS2080.

19 Scottish Government, Net Zero Public Sector Buildings Standard.

20 In 2023, construction and demolition waste in Scotland was 4.3 million tonnes, down from 5.8 million tonnes in 2018; the construction and demolition recycling rate was 90.1%.

21 Zero Waste Scotland, Circular Construction Hub aims to increase reuse of building materials and drive investment in Scotland (2025).

22 For example, industry has supported ReBlade in Dumfries, the UK’s first dedicated wind turbine decommissioning service as part of the Onshore Wind Sector Deal.

23 Zero Waste Scotland, The future of onshore wind decommissioning in Scotland (2023).

24 European Parliament, The impact of textile production and waste on the environment (2020); Ferdinand Omondi, Fast fashion, slow poison: new report exposes toxic impact of global textile waste in Ghana (2024).

25 European Commission, Sustainable and Circular Textiles Strategy.

26 Scottish Government, Strengthening approach to household recycling collection services: consultation analysis (2025).

27 Over 4 in 5 clothing repairs displace new purchases, not only reducing environmental impacts but saving consumers money (WRAP, Displacement Rates Untangled (2025)).

28 EU, Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design, (2023).

29 EU, Regulation concerning batteries and waste batteries (2023).

30 Scotland’s National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology sets a target of £1.2 billion in associated turnover and 4,000 direct employees by the end of 2025.

31 Scottish Government, The First National Good Food Nation Plan (2025).

32 Scottish Government, Local Food for Everyone: Our Journey (2024).

33 Scottish Government, A Blue Economy Vision for Scotland (2022); Scottish Government, Strategy for Seafood (2022); Scottish Government, Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture (2023).

34 ClimateXChange, Project specification: Circular economy opportunities in Scottish farming – an evidence review (2025).

35 WRAP, UK Food and Drink Pact.

36 Zero Waste Scotland, Food Waste Reduction Business Support.

37 This is a priority action in the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map; it will take an evidence-based approach, looking across decision making stages to ensure we are encouraging action and promoting new habits in the right areas.

38 Scottish Government, Strengthening approach to household recycling collection services consultation (2025).