Although circular economy is still a new term in many people’s vocabulary, it is here to stay. It refers to the adoption of innovative products or business models that re-design the concept of waste – waste is not to be thrown away but rather reduced, re-used or recycled, increasing product life cycle and keeping them in circulation for longer.
This concept has now become a reality with European Regional Development Funds being aimed at increasing circular economy activity throughout the EU and the Scottish Government introducing a Circular Economy Bill later in the year.
In light of these changes, Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce and Perthshire Chamber of Commerce created a strong partnership with Zero Waste Scotland to deliver Circular Tayside. With the chambers’ great record in business engagement and Zero Waste Scotland’s expertise in waste management, the project offers education, advice and access to funding, to local organisations that have a new idea of how to manage their waste. It is predicted that by doing so, Tayside will benefit from approximately £404m and the creation of numerous new employment opportunities.
The support covers advice and funding and is aimed at SMEs, social enterprises and third sector organisations that want to create an innovative circular economy product or business model to reduce and/or reutilise a waste stream. Circular Tayside is especially keen to work on collaborative projects (i.e. one business managing another business’ “waste”). Some examples of business activities that have received support in Tayside are an innovative waste management system that can process challenging plastics in Perthshire and a 3D printing business in Angus. The team recently decided to move into the next phase of their plan by welcoming a Circular Tayside Manager into the team, who becomes a dedicated resource for local organisations and a link between businesses, chambers and Zero Waste Scotland.
With a dynamic start in August 2019, the Circular Tayside Manager and the chambers’ CEOs met with relevant stakeholders in Dundee, Perth and Kinross and Angus councils, business networks, academia and other influential organisations to present the project and arrange joint ventures. Circular Tayside will be present at all major business, social enterprise and third sector networking events in Tayside to increase awareness about the opportunity aims to arrange 1-2-1 meetings with interested parties.
So if you are an organisation, business support network or just someone interested in the project, contact us on vasomakri@circulartayside.co.uk or visit https://circulartayside.co.uk and learn more on the available support!
