Circular economy business support

Around four-fifths (80%) of Scotland’s carbon footprint comes from all the goods, materials and services which we produce, use and often throw out after just one use. This is the single greatest cause of the climate crisis.

Our linear economic model leaks endless value through the poor management of products and resources. We have an opportunity to create a stronger and more resilient economic system, whilst saving the planet.

 A circular economy is part of the solution to our global climate emergency - one in which products, services and systems are designed to maximise their value and minimise waste.

Take the complexity out of exploring the circular economy with free downloadable worksheets to help you get started in identifying circular opportunities for your own business.

Work through them in order (spend roughly 20 minutes on each worksheet) and you’ll end up with a strong starting point for conversations with one of our Business Support Advisors.

At its core, a circular economy means that products no longer have a linear life with a beginning, middle and end. Instead, a truly circular product will never reach the end of its life but will instead cycle around the system indefinitely continually taking new forms and remaining of value.

Download our ‘30 ideas to kickstart your circular business’ toolkit for inspiration to design, develop and evaluate circular business models of the future. 

The toolkit contains thirty ‘what if’ questions that challenge the status quo and inspire new solutions to today’s problems. Each card showcases a successful business innovating and pioneering by moving towards a circular economy.

The Circular Economy Investment Fund has closed for applications. For further information about how Zero Waste Scotland can support your business, see below.

Zero Waste Scotland's Circular Economy Business Support service provides advice and guidance to help innovate the design and delivery of products, services and business models that will accelerate the shift to a circular economy in Scotland.

Circular ways of doing business can result in resource efficiencies, improved profitability, higher quality products, increased customer base and alternative supply chains for your business.

Our expert Business Support Advisors are here to help you explore the circular economy and what it means for your business.

• Getting started with circular economy
• Circular business innovation and ideation
• Circular guidance, advice and signposting
• Stakeholder engagement
• Business plan review
• Networking
• Support to identify funding opportunities
• Communications and marketing support
• Implementation support

The Climate Action Hub is a free e-learning resource, developed by Scottish Business Climate Collaboration (SBCC) partners and delivered by Zero Waste Scotland, to help your business save money, better understand the climate crisis and win new business and potential funding through taking action to reduce emissions. 

The Hub features resources, including 12 e-learning modules on topics ranging from entry-level climate science to carbon emissions related to business practices. 

Users of the platform will also have free access to a dashboard to track carbon literacy across their organisation and the tools to calculate their own carbon baseline and develop a carbon reduction plan. 

Register your interest now.