CGR Scotland

A circular economy can cut Scottish consumption almost in half, bringing it closer to a sustainable level

Scotland is hailed as a world leader for environmental action, boasting ambitious goals for net-zero and a well established Circular Economy Strategy.

Its current level of consumption, however, far surpasses our planet's ecological limits. Our Circularity Gap Report Scotland finds that this could change: the country has the power to transform its economy.

By implementing circular strategies, Scotland can increase its circularity by nine-fold, and nearly halve the resources needed to fulfil its residents' needs and wants, while cutting emissions by 43%.

Scotland's population consumes nearly double the world average: 21.7 tonnes per person, per year.

Over 98% of Scotland's material use stems from virgin sources

Only 1.3% of the resources Scotland uses are cycled back into the economy after use. Or in other words: more than 98% of Scotland's resources come from virgin sources. The country's (per capita) material footprint of 21.7 tonnes far surpasses the global average of 11.9 tonnes—and is close to three times what's considered a sustainable level.

This overconsumption exhausts the planet's vital ecosystems and threatens our quality of life. Scotland's high-impact trade activity causes significant extraction abroad, which contributes to the bulk of its high material footprint and drives down the Metric.

Circularity metric

SCOTLAND

A circular economy with and for people

Realising a circular economy in Scotland will have implications for the country's economy and labour market.

Our analysis finds that shifting the tax burden from labour to resource use and pollution can potentially generate revenue exceeding €40.25 billion (£35 billion)—which can then be funnelled into various circular activities throughout the country through government spending.

What's more: putting this report's circular strategies into action could generate nearly 60,000 new jobs, especially in labour-intensive sectors like repair, maintenance and waste management.

Dive further into the resource use behind Scotland's economy

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In meeting the needs of its residents—and exporting elsewhere in the world—Scotland extracts a huge volume of materials: 22.8 tonnes per person, per year within its borders, contributing to its high material footprint.

This rate of extraction far exceeds the UK average, which sits at 5.5 tonnes per capita. This is largely driven by heavy fossil fuel extraction: per capita extraction of just this resource group exceeds the world average for total extraction, at 12.3 tonnes.

By scaling its circular economy, Scotland can cut its material consumption by 44%

Our analysis reveals that by implementing a set of circular strategies, such as shifting to healthier diets and using materials at their highest value for as long as possible in sectors such as manufacturing and construction, Scotland can bring material consumption per capita close to the world average: roughly 12 tonnes per person per year.

The road to circularity

Seven opportunities to cut resource use in Scotland and bring its circularity to 11.8%

Build a circular built environment

Material consumption reduced by 11.2%
Carbon footprint reduced by 11.5%

In Scotland, the need for new housing is on the rise, and residents are increasingly living alone. At the same time, available and affordable housing is becoming a serious social issue, further pressured by unoccupied dwellings. Increasing the housing stock must be done in a circular way to prevent strain on virgin materials.

To minimise the built environment's high material footprint, we recommend that Scotland optimise its building stock expansion (by limiting virgin material use in new builds and reusing construction and demolition waste, for example), increase housing occupancy, and create a resource-efficient building stock (for example, improving home energy efficiency and decreasing room temperatures).

Nurture a circular food system

Material consumption reduced by 9.1%
Carbon footprint reduced by 6.8%

Scotland's agrifood system is a key economic player, contributing highly to trade and employment. However, meat consumption and production are are high, and food waste poses a serious challenge. Levels of overweight and obesity are also high. Circular strategies can help Scotland cut its food system's impact.

To transform its food system, we recommend that Scotland endorse a balanced diet and cut food waste (by lowering food consumption and shifting to a vegetarian diet, for example) and adopt sustainable food production (by prioritising organic, seasonal and local farming, for example).

Champion circular manufacturing

Material consumption reduced by 10.5%
Carbon footprint reduced by 4.6%

Scotland is one of Europe's industrial powerhouses, and a world leader in heavy manufacturing. However, the industry is responsible for nearly one-third of Scotland's territorial greenhouse gas emissions, especially due to oil and gas refining, iron and steel works, and the production of cement, chemicals, and pulp and paper.

To make the manufacturing industry more circular, we propose that Scotland implement resource-efficient manufacturing (through process improvements, reduced yield losses and the diversion of scrap metals from landfill). Scottish manufacturers can also consider employing R-strategies for machinery, equipment and vehicles—remanufacturing and refurbishment, for example.

Rethink mobility

Material consumption reduced by 4.6%
Carbon footprint reduced by 2.4%

The need for mobility claims the largest portion of Scotland's territorial emissions. Car use is high across the country—especially in rural communities—and ultra low emission vehicles represent just 1% of cars on the road.

To reduce the material footprint of transport and mobility, which is highly dependent on fossil fuels, we recommend that Scotland embrace a car free lifestyle, walk and cycle more, and continue to work from home (where possible), as well as electrifying its vehicle fleet.

Keep goods like new for longer

Material consumption reduced by 14.6%
Carbon footprint reduced by 14%

Excessive consumption of every-day goods—from clothing and furniture to paper and household appliances—is exerting pressure on the environment around the world. Shifting to a lifestyle guided to circular principles will be key to shaping a Scottish circular economy.

We recommend that Scotland embrace a material sufficiency lifestyle: this includes lowering textile consumption, scaling community services for repair, rental and reuse, heavily decreasing paper use, and cutting back on long-distance travel in favour of home-based holidays and hobbies.

Tackle Scotland's import footprint

Material consumption reduced by 10.1%
Carbon footprint reduced by 4.7%

Scotland's high material footprint is largely driven by extraction abroad, to satisfy its residents' demands. But what if Scotland could track extraction taking place abroad and positively influence its import footprint?

By shifting away from high-impact material imports for the top ten most material-intensive industries, Scotland could substantially decrease its material and carbon footprints. In particular, we recommend that Scotland shift to more domestic production for sand and clay, industrial machinery and equipment, construction materials, chemicals, timber, cattle and cattle meat, and natural gas and related services.

Advance circular decommissioning

Material consumption reduced by 3.1%
Carbon footprint reduced by 0.3%

As Scotland shifts away from heavy fossil fuel extraction, the decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure is becoming a growing opportunity for the country's economic and industrial strategy.

To make this process as circular as possible, we recommend that Scotland optimise its circular energy infrastructure decommissioning, ensuring that valuable materials from no-longer-used energy infrastructure are reused.

Championing the circular economy, championing sustainability

The transition to a circular economy provides Scotland with a unique opportunity to reduce its consumption almost by half—and in turn, bring its economy closer to sustainable levels without compromising social standards.

Scotland is well poised to spearhead a circular transition: boasting already-strong commitments from the government, a skilled workforce, a wealth of natural resources and a well of materials owing to energy infrastructure decommissioning, the country has all the conditions needed to build its circular economy and shape a more resource-efficient, environmentally friendly and socially just socioeconomic model.

The Circularity Gap Report Scotland guides the way.