Circular Economy Consultation
On 21st October 2025, the Scottish Government launched a consultation on a draft Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland.
A circular economy isn’t solely about the environment. It's about driving sustainable growth, increasing supply-chain resilience, creating jobs and encouraging innovation while also tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
As the circular economy public body for Scotland, we’re encouraging stakeholders to take part in the consultation and to recognise the economic opportunity of Scotland’s circular economy. The consultation will run for 12 weeks, closing on 13 January 2026.
Why a Circular Economy is so Important
We are in climate and nature emergencies with consumption and waste being the primary drivers. Reducing material consumption, our need for virgin materials and designing systems that ensure materials flow back through the economy is key to addressing the environmental crises we face.
Scotland’s Circular Economy Strategy to 2045
The draft circular economy strategy is a key milestone as set out by the Circular Economy Act (Scotland) passed in 2024. The strategy highlights the circular economy not just as an environmental activity, but a core economic strategy for sustainable growth, innovation and resilience. By prioritising sector specific roadmaps and key policy levers, it sets out the rationale and benefits of a circular economy within the wider economic framework transitioning Scotland to be more circular by 2045.
The consultation outlines priority sectors that present the biggest economic opportunities that a circular economy presents to businesses.
Key policy mechanisms include:
- Business support: guidance, tools, and targeted support
- Behaviour change: empowering consumers and organisations
- Place-based approaches: tailored local solutions
- Procurement: embedding circularity in public sector purchasing
- Skills and education: reforming education to support circular jobs
- Circular economy data: improving data quality and availability
- Policy Alignment and Systems Thinking: Integrating circular principles across government
- Product Stewardship
Upcoming Webinar
Tuesday 9th December 11am – 12 noon
Join this webinar to learn more about the draft Circular Economy Strategy, how it was developed, what it aims to achieve, and how to take part.
In this webinar session, Scottish Government policy leads from the Circular Economy Division, in collaboration with Zero Waste Scotland, will discuss:
- The development of the draft Circular Economy Strategy
- Why it’s important and what it aims to achieve.
- Opportunity for Q&A
To join the conversation please register via the Zero Waste Scotland Eventbrite page.
Key Milestones
- The Circular Economy strategy is a requirement of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024.that was passed in parliament in 2024. Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024
- The draft strategy builds on actions set out in the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map which sets out 11 priority actions where efforts and resources will be concentrated to support a transition to a circular economy by 2030.
- The Circular Economy Strategy consultation will run for 12 weeks, from 21 October until 13 January with the final strategy planned for publication in 2026. This will include a monitoring and indicator framework that will inform future targets from 2027.
Scotland’s circular economy is a shared journey, so this consultation urges all sectors of society - from government, businesses, third sector, communities, and individuals – to have their say and be part of the change!
Sector-specific Roadmaps
Zero Waste Scotland evolved to become Scotland’s circular economy public body in 2025 and we published our latest five year Corporate Plan in 2024 that showcases our ambition to rewire the economy and our commitment to accelerating progress to a circular economy in Scotland.
We have several projects and programme areas aligned to the Circular Economy Strategy that we will continue to collaborate and work in partnership with other stakeholders to deliver in the years to come . This includes the development of sector specific roadmaps. Roadmaps are targeted action plans that guide priority sectors through Scotland’s transition to a circular economy - identifying barriers, enabling change, and unlocking environmental, economic, and social benefits.
Zero Waste Scotland are leading on the Built Environment and Energy Infrastructure roadmap development, engaging with industry, local government, and communities. Roadmaps will be co-designed with stakeholders to ensure relevance, ownership, and long-term impact. To learn more about these roadmaps as well as upcoming stakeholder engagement events click here.