Scotland’s cabinet secretary for the environment, Roseanna Cunningham, today (8 August) highlighted the importance of reuse of products and materials to keep them out of landfill and in high-value use for longer.
Ms Cunningham’s comments came as she visited Scotland’s first re-use hub, Blythswood Care in Dingwall.
It was also announced today that there are now “100 quality-certified re-use stores and three flagship superstore hubs” in operation in Scotland.
The three large-scale re-use superstores are: Blythswood Care in Dingwall, the Edinburgh Remakery, and the first online hub, ReStyle Argyll in Argyll and Bute – which received its formal launch today.
A spokesperson for Zero Wate Scotland said: “These largescale hubs have big ambitions to present re-use as a quality, attractive and good value shopping experience for customers, and drive up rates of re-use and economies of scale for retailers.”
Ian Gulland, chief executive Zero Waste Scotland with cabinet secretary Rosanna Cunningham
Ambitious
Speaking at the announcement, Ms Cunningham said: “In Scotland we are working towards ambitious targets on waste, with no more than 5% of all waste to go to landfill and 70% of waste recycled or prepared for reuse by 2025.
“Re-use and repair superstores like Blythswood Care’s here in the Highlands, and ReStyle Argyll in Argyll, are at the forefront of those ambitions by making it easier for people to donate and shop for second-hand items. By shopping at these hubs, and other stores across Scotland with the Revolve logo, customers can be confident they have access to high-quality products which offer good value and support local communities through jobs and volunteering opportunities.”
Landfill
Zero Waste Scotland said that every year, thousands of re-usable items “needlessly end up in landfill in Scotland, including around 125,000 sofas and around 365,000 TVs. By choosing to buy from or donate to re-use stores people can help keep valuable products and materials in use for longer – saving money, supporting local communities, and protecting the environment in the process.”
The 100 individual stores across Scotland are now certified with the national Revolve standard, a quality kitemark which aims to let shoppers know they are buying high-quality goods from a reputable retailer and can expect an excellent customer experience.
And, Zero Waste Scotland reported that Scotland’s Re-use Line has just recorded its highest ever number of donations in a single month. The phone and online service, through which people in Scotland can have unwanted furniture and white goods collected for re-use for free, achieved a record high of 928 items – or 30 tonnes of household goods – referred in July.
Recognition
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Scotland has a strong profile as a circular economy leader and has achieved global recognition for its vision and achievements.
“It’s clear both consumers and businesses are waking up to the scale of opportunity in re-use and repair, as shown by Scotland’s first re-use hub in Dingwall, which is going from strength-to-strength, and the exciting latest hub, ReStyle Argyll, which I’m sure will attract lots of customers with its innovative online ordering system. The extent to which the Revolve brand has grown – with over 100 stores now certified, including the first private sector organisations earlier this year – clearly demonstrates strong support for a more sustainable, more circular economy in Scotland.”
Blythswood
Ian Matheson, head of operations, Blythswood Care, said: “Blythswood is delighted to be part of such a landmark moment for Scotland’s circular economy. This milestone demonstrates the number and quality of Revolve-certified stores with a range of attractive, good value pre-loved goods available to the Scottish public.
“Zero Waste Scotland exists to create a society where resources are valued and nothing is wasted. Our goal is to help Scotland realise the economic, environmental and social benefits of making best use of the world’s limited natural resources. We are funded to support delivery of the Scottish Government’s circular economy strategy and the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy.”
Related links
Revolve quality standard
Scotland reuse line
Zero Waste Scotland
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