Zero Waste Scotland has launched an £18 million fund to help small- and medium-sized enterprises pioneer ways to develop a circular economy.
The Circular Economy Investment Fund is part of a £70 million circular economy programme launched by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last month.
Zero Waste Scotland will work with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to help promote the fund and support businesses who could potentially benefit from it.
The funding will be spread over three years and will be focused on key sectors such as the bio-economy, the built environment and energy infrastructure.
Scottish Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Across Europe, switching towards a more circular economy could generate £1.4 trillion of annual benefits by 2030.
“It presents significant opportunities for Scotland, and that’s why the Scottish Government is showing ambition and commitment in putting support behind the development of circular economy businesses and ideas, and also setting a strategy to drive change.
“The circular economy is at the heart of the Manufacturing Action Plan recently launched by myself and the First Minister and I urge businesses who have the ideas and the ambition to work with us.”
