Draft circular economy strategy: equality impact assessment

Executive summary

8. The publication of the Strategy in and of itself will not directly impact people or communities. However, there is potential as individual interventions related to the Strategy priorities are developed and implemented, for them to affect everyone in Scotland (including individuals, businesses, public sector and third sector organisations).

9. The priorities set out in the Strategy are intended to apply across Scotland and do not specifically target particular groups, geographical locations or sections of society. It is, however, important to consider that future interventions related to the Strategy priorities may impact people differently as they are developed and rolled out.

10. Across each of the priorities there may be potential for associated future actions to impact on individuals within protected characteristic groups.

11. At this stage, it is unlikely that there are potentially positive or negative impacts on protected characteristic groups however, it is possible that the following protected characteristic groups may be affected by interventions resulting from the priorities set out by the Strategy:

• Age
• Disabled (physical and mental health)
• Sex
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Pregnancy and maternity

12. Interventions resulting from the priorities set out in the Strategy may require individual assessments and consultation as and when they are developed. We do not anticipate every intervention will require individual assessments and consultations. Any future assessments will allow for more detailed consideration of issues and opportunities for specific activities, and for recommendations to be made about any amendments or mitigating measures needed.

13. Key considerations in future EQIAs are likely to be for interventions resulting from the Strategy priorities which may affect:

• Goods people purchase and how they are purchased
• Access to food
• Access to personal transport
• Access to skills, training and jobs
• Building fabric and energy efficiency
• Knowledge/understanding of circular economy opportunities

14. As an example, there is potential that skills and job opportunities are increased through the transition to a circular economy. While this will be across all society, it may provide additional opportunities for individuals with physical or mental health conditions. It may also offer opportunities for young adults, and equally for older individuals who remain in the workforce. There is clearly also potential for negative impacts that may not be immediately obvious until the detailed content of specific interventions is determined. However, as the Strategy itself sets out broad outcomes, it is not clear at this time how any specific interventions will affect these groups.

15. Another example is that a more circular economy may create the potential for increased access to lower cost, high quality goods for some products - as a result of changed behaviours by consumers, businesses and organisations. This could benefit protected characteristic groups and may especially be relevant for disabled or older individuals (Age), or for families with children (of all ages). There may also be disbenefits if a future intervention reduces access or increases costs for other product types. As such, understanding and setting out the potential impacts of priorities will require assessment of associated interventions once they are in their own planning and development phase.

16. Due to the strategic nature of the Strategy, we have undertaken an initial screening to assess potential impacts on people with protected characteristics. It is anticipated that subsequent EQIA requirements will be further assessed as the interventions resulting from the priorities set out in the Strategy are designed, developed and implemented.