Publication - Consultation paper

Draft circular economy strategy: consultation

Published: 21 October 2025
Directorate: Environment and Forestry Directorate, +1 more … Jobs and Wellbeing Economy Directorate
Topic: Economy, Environment and climate change
ISBN: 9781806432141

We are consulting on the draft circular economy strategy for Scotland.

Open
58 days to respond
Respond online

Closes: 13 January 2026

Supporting documents

Footnotes

1 Building a more productive and resilient UK through circularity

2 scotlands-circular-economy-waste-route-map-2030.pdf (see figure 1)

3 scotlands-circular-economy-waste-route-map-2030.pdf

4 Consumer perceptions of and engagement with the transition to net zero HTML | Consumer Scotland

5 Strategic Research Programme 2022 to 2027

6 Circular Glasgow; Circular Edinburgh | Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce; The Circular Tayside Initiative; Turning 'waste into wealth' with launch of Circular North-east.

7 Place Standard tool | Our Place

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

9 The Future of Work | Zero Waste Scotland

10 Regulation - EU - 2024/1781 - EN - EUR-Lex

11 Home | National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS)

12 Home | National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS)

13 ‘Time to rewire Scotland’s economy to drive sustainable, circular economic growth’ - The Economic Development Association Scotland (EDAS)

14 Quoted in Microsoft Word - ARMILA_ZWS_RegulatingEC_version1.1_23052022

15 A National Mission With Local Impact: Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021-22 to 2025-26

16 NPF4 planning guidance: policy 2 - climate mitigation and adaptation - gov.scot. This highlights the use of standards such as PAS2080.

17 Net Zero Standard

18 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% .

19 Circular Construction Hub aims to increase reuse of building materials and drive investment in Scotland | Zero Waste Scotland

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

21 The future of onshore wind decommissioning in Scotland | Zero Waste Scotland

22 European Parliament (2020). The impact of textile production and waste on the environment (infographics). [online] Europarl.europa.eu. [Accessed 03 Feb. 2025]. Omondi, F (2024). Fast fashion, slow poison: new report exposes toxic impact of global textile waste in Ghana. [online] Greenpeace Africa. [Accessed 30 Jan. 2025]

23 Textiles strategy - European Commission

24 3. Introduction - Strengthening approach to household recycling collection services - gov.scot

25 Over 4 in 5 clothing repairs displace new purchases, not only reducing environmental impacts but saving consumers money (Displacement Rates Untangled | WRAP - The Waste and Resources Action Programme).

26 Directive 2005/64/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2005 on the type-approval of motor vehicles with regard to their reusability, recyclability and recoverability and amending Council Directive 70/156/EEC

27 Batteries are currently regulated in Scotland under the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 and the Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008. Since these regulations came into force, lithium-ion batteries have become increasingly common, including for use in EVs.

28 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.

29 Part Three: Working Towards a Good Food Nation - National Good Food Nation Plan - gov.scot

30 Local Food Strategy

31 Blue Economy Strategy: A Blue Economy Vision for Scotland - gov.scot;Sea food Trade Strategy: Seafood strategy - gov.scot; Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture: Vision for sustainable aquaculture - gov.scot

32 Project-specification-Circular-economy-opportunities-in-Scottish-farming-–-an-evidence-review.pdf

33 UK Food and Drink Pact | WRAP - The Waste and Resources Action Programme

34 Food Waste Reduction Business Support | Zero Waste Scotland

35 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

36 3. Introduction - Strengthening approach to household recycling collection services - gov.scot

37 Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/908 and repealing Directive 94/62/EC (Regulation - EU - 2025/40 - EN - EUR-Lex).

38 Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024

39 Share & Repair Network Impact Report – The Share & Repair Network

40 Supporting documents - Scotland's circular economy and waste route map to 2030 - gov.scot

41 Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024

42 National Litter and Flytipping Strategy - gov.scot

43 State of the Circular Economy Report | Zero Waste Scotland

44 Building a more productive and resilient UK through circularity

45 Remanufacturing study | Zero Waste Scotland

46 Scotland's National Strategy for Economic Transformation - gov.scot

47 Green industrial strategy - gov.scot

48 Supporting documents - Onshore wind sector deal - gov.scot

49 Assessing Global Resource Use: A systems approach to resource efficiency and pollution reduction