Draft circular economy strategy: consultation

The total tonnage of materials extracted globally to fulfil the final consumption in a given country (also referred to as ‘material footprint’). Calculated by taking the materials being extracted in Scotland, adding what is imported into Scotland and the materials used to create those imports, and then subtracting the materials exported from Scotland and the materials used to create those exports. Currently reported on a per capita basis based on the MFA (RMC per capita).

Material Flow Accounts

The total tonnage of materials extracted globally to produce the goods which are available for use in production and consumption activities of the economy in a given country. Calculated by taking the materials being extracted from the environment within a nation's borders and adding the materials that are being imported as well as the materials used to create those imports.

Material Flow Accounts

Measures the proportion of secondary material inputs (materials sourced from reuse and recycling rather than being extracted as new raw materials) out of our total material inputs. This indicator reflects how much of Scotland’s material needs are met by secondary (recycled/re-used) materials versus primary (virgin) materials.

Sub-indicator: EU formulation of CMUr

Material Flow Accounts

Circular material use rate (cei_srm030)

The percentage of total non-mineral waste that is recycled.

Major mineral waste is excluded to avoid trends in ordinary waste generation being difficult to identify due to the potential for massive fluctuations in mineral extraction wastes.

Sub-indicator: Recycling rate by source

Sub-indicator: Household recycling by material type

SEPA Waste data for Scotland

Natural resource depletion refers to the decrease in the quantity of a natural resource stock due to extraction rates exceeding regeneration or replacement.

Material Flow Accounts

Measures the total amount of waste produced in a given area or system. This includes waste generation in absolute terms.

Sub-indicator: Waste generation by source

Sub-indicator: Household waste by material type

SEPA Waste from All Sources

Total (or proportion of) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that come from waste processing and management (content and format of this indicator to be agreed/under development).

Leeds Carbon Footprint, NAEI

GHG emissions associated with RMI (including the emissions associated with the consumption of Scotland’s exports) divided by RMI. This indicator indicates whether or not a nation is consuming more sustainable alternatives, independent of trends in overall GHG impact.

Sub-indicator: Total emissions associated with RMI (Including GHGs resulting from the consumption of Scotland’s exports).

Material Flow Accounts

Measures the effect of our resource use on biodiversity both within a country (domestically) and in other regions (abroad). It assesses changes to ecosystems, species populations, and genetic diversity, often considering factors like habitat loss, species extinction rates, or ecosystem service degradation.

Material Flow Accounts

Measures the proportion of gross value added (GVA) attributed to the sectors classified as part of the Circular Economy (CE). The CE sectors are defined as the 5-digit SIC codes identified as being inherently circular activities - such as waste management activities focused on producing secondary materials, reuse activities, repair activities and material harvesting activities.

Circular Jobs Tracker; Scottish IO Tables

GDP divided by RMI and vice versa. This indicator provides insights into the extent to which economic growth is decoupling from the consumption of natural resources over time.

Sub-Indicator (for comparison): Resource productivity calculated with DMC (Domestic Material Consumption) in the denominator. DMC represents the amount of primary raw materials directly consumed by an economy (domestic extraction plus imports minus exports).

Material Flow Accounts

Measures the economic output per hour worked within the CE sectors, based on GVA generated by FTE employees (37.5 hrs per week) in CE jobs over time.

Circular Jobs Tracker

Raw Material Equivalent (RME) of imports divided by RMI. The Raw Material Equivalent of Imports are the direct weight of imports plus the amount of materials required to create those imports; therefore, this indicator represents how dependent the country is on resources sourced from abroad.

Material Flow Accounts

Measures the direct amount of materials associated with a nation's trade flows relative to the total value of imports and exports.

Material Flow Accounts

The Raw Material Equivalent (RME) of imports of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) divided by the total Raw Material Inputs of CRMs to the Scottish Economy. This represents the total tonnage of CRMs that are imported or are used in the supply chains of imports, divided by the total tonnage of CRMs that are used as inputs to the Scottish Economy (including the CRM’s used for exports or the overseas supply chains associated with imports). This indicator represents how dependent the country is on CRMs sourced from abroad.

Material Flow Accounts

Measures the total number of patents granted for technologies and product designs that are associated with the Circular Economy (CE). This includes innovations in areas such as resource efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, re-use and repair models, and the development of sustainable materials/secondary raw materials or processes.

One IPO database^[69]

(Development required)

Measures the total number of new businesses established within defined CE sectors. This includes startups focused on circular practices such as recycling, waste reduction, product life extension, and resource efficiency. The business behaviours indicator will also attempt to assess uptake of CE activities/business models across the wider economy.

Data sources to be confirmed (Development required)

GHG emissions associated with managing Scotland's waste outside of Scotland (Content and format of this indicator to be agreed/currently under development).

Date sources to be confirmed (Development required)

Emissions from RME imports plus the emissions associated with the consumption of Scottish exports/input-based GHG emissions plus the emissions associated with the consumption of Scottish exports.

MFA or Leeds Carbon Footprint

Measures the proportion of total Scottish waste (waste produced in Scotland) that is managed within Scotland, including recycling, recovery, and disposal, out of the total Scottish waste managed both within Scotland and outside of Scotland.

SEPA^[70]

Measures the total number of jobs in sectors classified as part of the Circular Economy. The CE sectors are defined as the 5-digit SIC codes identified as being inherently circular activities.

Circular Jobs Tracker

Measures the proportion of the population that has reasonable access to services supporting Circular Economy (CE) activities, such as repair, re-use, rental, and sharing services (e.g. sharing libraries). Direct link between this and consumer behaviours indicator.

(Development required)

Measures the total household expenditure on services related to the repair and maintenance of products, such as electronics, appliances, vehicles, and furniture. Intention to include an additional parallel indicator on re-use service transactions, including spending on second hand goods. This indicator provides insights into consumer engagement with CE practices.

Scottish Supply-Use Tables

(Development required)

Measures public understanding and attitudes toward the circular economy and uptake of circular behaviours in society. Requires development (underway) but may include sub indicators such as: understanding and attitudes towards CE/CE policy; consumption/ purchasing behaviours; re-use, repair and recycling behaviours; volunteering in CE activities/services; and level of CE skills/education.

(Development required)

Measures how businesses adopt circular practices. Requires development (underway) but may include sub-indicators such as: investment in CE activities/technologies; sustainable sourcing/ procurement; development/adoption of circular business models (e.g. including rental/sharing/leasing etc.) across Scottish businesses; development of circular action plans; CE training interventions.

(Development required)