Scotland’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030
Scotland's Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030 is now published.
It sets out an ambitious plan to deliver actions that the government in collaboration with others must take to accelerate progress towards a circular economy between now and 2030.
Understanding the circular economy
Consumption in Scotland is unsustainably high. How we use our resources remains a massive problem in the current climate emergency - but we know the circular economy is the best tool we have to end our throwaway culture and protect the environment.
Background
The development of Scotland’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map involved consultation with key stakeholders from across a diverse and wide range of sectors.
The initial consultation in 2022 gathered feedback on proposals to transform how we produce, consume, manage resources and maximise progress towards Scotland’s waste, recycling and emission reduction targets.
Key milestones:
- 2022: First consultation, Delivering Scotland's Circular Economy: Route map to 2025 and Beyond, was launched on 30th May – 22nd August alongside a consultation on proposals for a Circular Economy Bill.
- 2023: Analysis of responses to the first consultation was published April.
- 2024: A second consultation Scotland’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030 launched on 18th January – 15th March.
- 2024: The Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 came into place and analysis of response to the second Route Map consultation was published in August 2024.
- 2024: Final Route was published.
Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024
The Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 came into place on August 8, 2024, after the Scottish Parliament passed the Circular Economy Bill on June 26th 2024 and received Royal Assent, The Act enables powers that set a framework for the future, including delivery of some of the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map interventions.
In line with stakeholder feedback from the first consultation, the Route Map was streamlined from seven packages to four strategic aims each with several priority actions. The second consultation closed in March 2024 and the analysis is available here.
Accelerating progress to a circular economy
This year, Zero Waste Scotland evolved to become Scotland’s circular economy public body and we published our latest Corporate Plan 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 Route Map that we will continue to collaborate and work in partnership with other stakeholders to deliver in the years to come.
Downloads
Zero Waste Scotland supported the development of the Route Map by delivering evidence-based research and working with our partners and stakeholders to design appropriate interventions. The below research is part of a body of research that contributed to the development of the Route Map and is available to download below:
