-
Vegware
Vegware supplies the food industry with compostable, plant-based packaging and disposables as well as operating a composting collection service and an environmental consultancy, winning over 60 awards for sustainability - twice winning the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. This success has led to the company frequently featuring as one of the UK’s fastest growing, with regular reports of double digit turnover growth. Read More >> -
Carbogenics
Every year Britons have to bin 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups because the plastic coating that stops their precious brew leaking out also makes the cups impossible to recycle. Now, thanks to research at the University of Edinburgh and a new start, spin-off business called Carbogenics, we could soon see a complete reversal. The company has discovered a process that uses pyrolysis – decomposition through high temperatures – to turn mineral-rich organic waste, like disposable coffee cups and paper waste sludge – into high-value carbon composite materials. Read More >> -
The Edinburgh Remakery
The Edinburgh Remakery is a perfect example of the circular economy in action – and all the bene-fits that virtuous cycle can bring. This social enterprise, Edinburgh’s first ‘re-use hub’, is part of a drive by Zero Waste Scotland to transform the scale and economic impact of re-use shopping in Scotland and enable more people to learn key repair skills. The Edinburgh Remakery aims to create jobs, help reduce landfill and help cut the city’s carbon footprint, while upskilling and providing some of the Capital’s most vulnerable citizens with free resources. Read More >> -
Intellidigest
An innovative business that aims to transform the way we manage food waste believes commercial funders should be bolder in backing commercial spin outs born from Scotland’s world-class university biotechnology research. IntelliDigest, spun-out by academics from Heriot Watt University, is itself going through a funding process to get its ground-breaking work to full commercialisation by this time next year. The company has tackled a major issue. Currently, we only recycle 43-44% of our food waste, leaving over 6 million tonnes to rot, and emitting Greenhouse gases. Read More >> -
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh has made a strategic commitment to embrace the circular economy alongside its goal to become zero carbon by 2040. With a staff and student community of over 50,000, a turnover of nearly £1bn and extensive property, investments and purchasing, the University is well-placed to use its scale and influence to drive innovation in the circular economy. Circular economy thinking and practice is already happening at the University, across research and enterprise, learning and teaching and operations (in areas such as procurement, waste management and estates development). Read More >> -
The Incorporation of Goldsmiths
When it comes to knowing how to create value while looking after the interests of consumer, no-one has been doing it longer than the Edinburgh-based Incorporation of Goldsmiths. Zero Waste Scotland’s Circular Edinburgh Report found that Edinburgh’s expanding technology and communications sector provides significant Circular Economy opportunities including for the jewellery sector. Reclaiming precious metals and materials from obsolete stock can be achieved through the use of cutting-edge technology and processes that reduce environmental impact. Read More >> -
Ostrero
Ostrero, which works across public and private sectors to promote engagement with the Circular Economy, runs an educational project called “Making Circles”, a series of workshops across Scotland that open up creative solutions to the question of waste reduction and elimination. Read More >> -
IndiNature
IndiNature has developed a bio-based construction system, using materials from traditional crops combined with cutting edge biotech science, to create super-efficient and insulating materials. Read More >> -
Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management
Keeping resources in high-value use is key to circular economy success in the same way that minimising waste from systems is one of the key components to circular economy success. Where there is waste, the facilities management industry is keen for organisations to design it out. Read More >> -
Scottish Rugby
The introduction of reusable beer cups means supporters’ cups can be reused at each game – supporters pay a £1 deposit and can return the cup at the end of the day and collect their deposit or take the cup home. Many are choosing to keep the cups. Read More >> -
Move on Wood Recycling
Move On Wood Recycling (MOWR) collects, re-uses and recycles wood waste from trade and domestic customers and in the process helps save money and reduce carbon at every turn. In addition, the company is creating job, training and volunteering opportunities. Read More >> -
Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP
Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP (WJM) first engaged with the Circular Edinburgh team when Karin-Charlotte Rietdijk, Office Manager for WJM’s Edinburgh office, attended one of the Circular Edinburgh lunchtime seminars as part of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. Read More >> -
Cyrenians
Through its Food Education project, Cyrenians are educating people in reducing household waste by teaching them the skills to cook healthy meals with food that would otherwise be disposed of, contributing towards their wellbeing, food insecurity and social isolation through cooking classes within communities. As part of the course, participants are taught to budget in addition to a section on saving energy and the resultant costs. Read More >> -
Turing Trust
It’s not hard to compute – the work done by the Edinburgh workshop of The Turing Trust is playing a significant part in creating a circular economy that benefits people and the environment. The Trust supports education by providing reused computers to schools and improving teacher training. It also provides skills development in the UK while reducing waste and contributing to an environmentally friendly society. And it does this by extending the life of computers, giving them up to five more years of useful life providing essential education for young people at home and abroad, and saving the technology from ending up as expensive and useless waste. Read More >> -
Bare Branding
Bare Branding was set firmly on the path of playing its part in creating a sustainable, circular economy twelve years ago when challenged to help a client reduce landfill waste. Read More >> -
Kenoteq
Heriot-Watt University spin-out business Kenoteq manufactures ground-breaking building products for the construction industry. The company’s first product is an unfired brick called the K-Briq, made from over 90% recycled demolition and construction waste material. Read More >> -
Eden Locke
You could be forgiven for thinking, as you relax in the tranquil and stylish surroundings of Eden Locke aparthotel in the heart of Edinburgh, that this luxury must come at a heavy price to the environment. Read More >> -
Wetsuit Takeback Scheme
I am working hard to implement a wetsuit takeback scheme. This involves customers returning old and unusable wetsuits, in return for a discount on a new wetsuit. My plan is to rework the old wetsuit into a new product which can then be sold on and given a new life Read More >> -
Scotland’s Lilypads tackles African period poverty through reusable campaign
A business with its origins in tackling the devastating impact of period poverty on girls attending school in rural Kenya is now making its mark on the UK market – and it is doing so in Circular Economy style. Read More >> -
Reath's Drive for a Virtuous Circle
An Edinburgh based technology business is on a mission to empower thousands of companies and organisations to embrace the circular economy. Read More >> -
Scottish and Scandinavian Can-Do Attitude
Scandinavian know-how allied to Scotland’s new can-do attitude to tackling the issue of drinks containers is set to help take a big step forward in our quest to become a Circular Economy. Read More >> -
Sisaltech
The company is breaking new ground in creating a natural, environmentally-friendly insulation material to keep homes warmer (and quieter) in a way that does not add to the production and use of plastics. Read More >> -
Covid Recovery must be Circular
As we say goodbye to a difficult 2020 and look ahead to what, we hope, will be a better 2021 then thoughts turn to the shape of our future, and in particular the shape that our economic recovery will take. Read More >> -
Leading the way to a Circular Economy
Creating dog leads from old climbing ropes is proving to be so popular that the company plans to introduce new products to its range in the near future Read More >> -
Balfour Beatty
Leading international infrastructure company Balfour Beatty is helping lead the charge to a new age of smart construction – increasing customer choice and reducing its carbon footprint in the process. Read More >> -
Almaborealis
Almaborealis, a Lothians’ based business, is bringing circular economy thinking to the world of children’s fashion and textiles with the tagline “create think play learn grow”. Read More >>
