Scottish businesses will be able to apply for funding from Zero Waste Scotland to help them overcome the barriers to becoming more resource efficient.
Resource Efficient Scotland, which is a programme from Zero Waste Scotland, has launched an Implementation Grant fund and an SME Loan fund to help businesses overcome barriers to implementing resource efficiency measures.
SMEs and third sector organisations will be able to employ somebody on a short-term basis to undertake a project with a specific focus on energy, water, raw material efficiency or waste prevention.
The funding will come in the form of mostly interest free loans of between £1,000 and £100,000. Loan applications will also need to be supported by a qualifying free audit report, which can be carried out for free by Resource Efficient Scotland.
Reource Efficient Scotland head Marissa Lippiatt said: “Making resource efficiency a priority doesn’t just benefit the environment, it can also lead to cost savings and a real competitive advantage.
“We know that time, money and expertise can often be perceived as a barrier, particularly for small businesses. These funds can help overcome some of these barriers, and I hope to see businesses taking this opportunity and making progress in becoming more sustainable.”
Scotherbs managing director Ronnie Leggett (pictured) said: “Scotherbs is an important business within the Scottish food and drink sector, with growing sales across the UK marketplace expected to increase by 40% in the coming year and 20 new roles being created.
“Waste, cost and resource efficiency is vital to us – supporting future competitiveness and meeting customer needs. Thanks to the invaluable help and expert advice from Resource Efficient Scotland, the savings and the reduction in herb waste we’ve made have been fantastic.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a small organisation or large – there are ways to cut your resource use and waste, and experts at Resource Efficient Scotland can help businesses do that.”
