Circular Northeast Scotland
The northeast region of Scotland can act as an innovator and frontrunner for a circular economy transition due to its scale and diverse economies.
The study, delivered in partnership with Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, predicts that, by adopting a circular economy, the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire region could achieve economic benefits of over £625 million across four priority sectors:
- Construction and built environment sector – £286 million
- Energy infrastructure sector – £250 million
- Food and drink sector, and the wider bio-economy – £52 million
- Manufacturing sector – £37 million
This report is designed to help readers understand the economic activities at the local and regional level and to highlight the scale of some of the circular economy opportunities. It provides high-level sector action plans that serve as a guide for the next stage of the regional strategy, which is to engage with businesses and facilitate the implementation of the circular economy opportunities within this report.
The breadth and scale of the opportunities confirm the unique and strategic role cities and their surrounding areas will play in the transition to the circular economy.
Circular economy opportunities in Northeast Scotland
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are characterised by an incredibly rich set of resources arising from communities and households, industry and agriculture/fisheries.
Sector opportunities include:
Food and drink and the wider bioeconomy
- Biorefining straw
- Oilseed rape valorisation
- Fish processing waste valorisation
- Protein production
Construction and the built environment
- Engaging with the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) supply chain in house building and refurbishment
Manufacturing and energy infrastructure
- Innovative circular economy business models (leasing and servitisation)
- Re-use, repurposing, remanufacturing and refurbishment