A new report from Dutch social enterprise Circle Economy has revealed that the global economy is consuming a record 100 billion tonnes of materials a year, while the reuse of resources has gone into reverse.
Paul Vanston, CEO of the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN), calls on the resources and waste industry to be bold in its actions to combat climate change and advance the circular economy in 2020.
The European Commission’s European Green Deal includes proposals to introduce an EU-wide model for the separate collection of waste and rules on minimum recycled content, promising a step change in the EU’s approach to resources and waste.
The Scottish Government has revealed measures for its upcoming Circular Economy Bill and will now invite responses to a consultation to gather public feedback on the proposals.
The Welsh Government has confirmed plans to launch a complementary currency system across Wales which could boost the economy by an estimated £250 million in the next decade.
Scottish businesses have been at the forefront of the circular economy in recent years, and Ogilvy Spirits has been particularly innovative in this regard, turning waste potatoes into vodka, as Imogen Benson reports.
Scotland’s 2019/20 Programme for Government has outlined plans to introduce a Circular Economy Bill, as part of the country’s ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2045.
Consumers in Scotland are spending £600 million on more than 300,000 tonnes of single use packaging for their groceries every year, according to Zero Waste Scotland.