Scotland needs to rewire its economy to become fairer, greener and more prosperous, a new economic and environmental report has said.
The paper, published today by the Economic Development Association Scotland (EDAS) and Zero Waste Scotland, argues that the circular economy should be at the heart of government plans for growth, calling for ‘social provisioning’ to be a central part of public policy.
The joint report, Circular Economy: Unlocking Scotland’s Economic Potential, emphasises the need for more alignment between Scotland’s economic development and the circular economy in the hope of moving toward an economy that benefits both the Scottish people and the planet.
Arguing that the nation stands at an ‘inflexion point’ in the move away from fossil-fuelled economic growth, the report’s authors claim a circular, greener, and more universally generous model could help tackle unacceptable levels of poverty and inequality across Scotland.
“We need a rewiring of the economy, which is not just tinkering at the edges. We must embrace real reform,” says the report.
Dubbing Scotland’s economy a ‘take-make-waste’ model, the report notes that the nation’s material footprint currently stands at 21.7 tonnes per person, with just 1.3% of materials reused – nowhere close to meeting sustainable levels.
However, the study also recognises that there is an increasing awareness of circular economy principles, praising Scotland’s ‘strong policies’ such as the Circular Economy Act, Green Industrial Strategy, and Just Transition Framework, though warns policy-makers must do more to place circular resources at the heart of economic development.
Moving forward, EDAS and Zero Waste Scotland said that key industries like housing, construction, and food production should look to embed circularity to reduce waste and increase their sustainability, while also advocating for a move beyond GDP as the sole measure of success.
“The alignment of economic development and circularity is not a marginal concern – it is central to Scotland’s future prosperity,” said EDAS chair, Neil McInroy.
“We need greater innovation and bolder ambition to transform our economy and move beyond the constraints of the traditional growth versus no growth debate and create a thriving, resilient society.
“Scotland has an opportunity to be a true leader in integrating circular principles into economic development.”
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According to figures from the Circularity Gap Report for Scotland, implementing circular strategies could cut the country’s emissions by as much as 43%, and nearly halve the resources needed to meet the needs and wants of most citizens, as well as generate nearly 60,000 new jobs, especially in labour-intensive sectors.
Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “For too long the circular economy has been painted as a ‘bolt on’ to business as usual; something that offers a degree of sustainability and opportunity around the fringes of the current economic model but only where circumstances allow and certainly not where it appears to get in the way of normal growth characteristics.
“But if we’re serious about achieving a future that’s both environmentally and economically sound then circularity needs to become more central to the purpose of economic growth.”
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