The First Minister today (February 15) unveiled the Scottish Government’s strategy for manufacturing ‘A Manufacturing Future for Scotland’, which outlines how government will work with industry and higher and further education institutions to boost manufacturing.
The support includes a ‘Circular Economy Investment Fund and Service’, to be delivered by Zero Waste Scotland and Scottish Enterprise, designed to help small to medium-sized businesses, develop “innovative technologies, business models and infrastructure”.
The service will be operational from April 1 and Zero Waste Scotland is inviting expressions of interest for support from small to medium sized businesses – including third sector organisations – in sectors such as manufacturing, food and drink, energy infrastructure, construction, re-use, remanufacturing, repair and reprocessing.
According to Zero Waste Scotland, projects which explore the market feasibility for new circular economy products or re-thinking business models to develop new circular economy services are likely to be successful.
£30 million in funding for the project is coming from the European Regional Development Fund.
Support
Commenting on the announcement, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “A circular economy provides an opportunity to support the competitiveness of our manufacturing base and attract investment – through eradicating waste, and becoming more efficient in our design and manufacturing processes to extend product life-cycles.
“The Circular Economy Investment Fund and Circular Economy Service will offer vital support to manufacturers that are seeking to develop processes and products that improve the economic performance of SMEs while at the same time reducing the impact of economic activity on the natural environment, in line with Scottish Government and EU policies.
“The Scottish Government will shortly publish our circular economy strategy – Making Things Last – which will set out in more detail our priorities for delivering the economic, environmental and social benefits of a more circular economy.”
‘Welcome’
Iain Gulland, chief executive, Zero Waste Scotland, said: “This is a welcome announcement from the Scottish Government and great news for Scotland. We’re delighted that we’ll be using our expertise to deliver such a ground-breaking programme.
“This new funding and support package will push boundaries in business innovation to develop circular models that will keep products in use for longer and ultimately save precious raw materials and resources.
“This makes great economic as well as environmental sense. By investing now, the Scottish Government is putting down foundations to build an ever more sustainable future – one that is resource efficient and most definitely circular.”
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