SCOTLAND is set to ramp up its reuse of construction materials after being chosen as one of four European locations to pioneer a new initiative.
Scotland will model a Circular Construction Hub – a second-hand marketplace for materials used in building and infrastructure projects. Led by Zero Waste Scotland and launching at the start of EU Green Week, the project will see an ‘investment-ready’ model prepared by December 2027.
The initiative aims to keep valuable materials in good use for longer, generating benefits for Scotland’s economy and accelerating circular economy ambitions.
Scotland is one of four locations to pilot a Circular Construction Hub, alongside Munich, Lisbon, and Denmark. It’s part of CirCoFin (Circular Construction Finance), an initiative funded by the European Union that aims to make reusing construction materials the norm.
Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said, “Developing a workable model for a Circular Construction Hub is an important opportunity for Scotland to lead by example and build on the success of our existing network of smaller community and commercial hubs across the country. It has enormous potential to help us forefront reuse as a convenient and aspirational option for businesses and simultaneously generate promising opportunities for sustainable investment in Scotland.”
Creating a circular built environment is one of seven opportunities identified in Scotland’s first-ever analysis of the circular economy in Scotland, the ‘Circularity Gap Report‘. Delivered by Zero Waste Scotland in collaboration with Circle Economy, the report states that by developing resource-efficient planning and construction Scotland could cut its material consumption by 11.2% and carbon footprint by 11.5%.
Acting net zero secretary Gillian Martin said, “There are huge opportunities in having an economy which makes reuse and recycling the default choice. We have already seen businesses creating jobs by turning what we might otherwise throw away into valuable new products and services.
“This Circular Construction Hub pilot helps to progress actions from our 2030 Route Map – by helping to tackle construction waste, which accounts for up to 50% of all waste in Scotland. It will also secure supplies of critical construction materials and help construction businesses save money by keeping construction materials in use for longer.”
The EU-funded project will run to December 2027, with Zero Waste Scotland undertaking feasibility studies and sector engagement before developing a workable model.
