These route maps highlight the journey we are on across key areas of sustainable development within the Scottish Parliament.
A circular economy favours activities that preserve value in the form of energy, labour, and materials. This means designing for durability, reuse and recycling to keep materials circulating in the economy. Follow our journey towards “circular economy thinking” and removing waste from our operations.
Review office waste and recycling systems to ensure the right bins for the right recycling streams are in the right locations throughout the building. This encourages the most amount of segregation of recycling streams.
includes removing non-recycling waste infrastructure
Reintroduce disposable cup charge for hot beverages
Identify opportunities to adopt a circular economy approach in the procurement process
Circular Economy Researcher student placement. Garima Singh created online training video and staff events with the
Promote re-useable food takeaway packaging
carried on into 2023
Review IT reuse and disposal processes
Review and further develop a circular economy approach for IT equipment
First circular economy training session for purchasing managers and contract managers
Review proposed to see how Parliament can take part or contribute to it
The Deposit Return Scheme has now been delayed until October 2025. This Parliament will revisit this work during early 2025
Sustainable Development Procurement Manager to review suppliers and contracts to identify priority areas to work on and areas of best practice
Review options for phasing out single-use plastic such as plastic drinks bottles
Establish a target and plan to reduce single-use stationery items (such as envelopes)
Second circular economy training session for purchasing managers and contract managers
Develop a programme to phase out disposable food packaging
Measures in 2024 included continuation of the disposable hot-drink cup charge to encourage colleagues to use their reusable cups.
Removal of disposable cutlery and placing collection caddies at each tea point to return metal cutlery back to the kitchen for cleaning.
There was also a campaign to encourage the use of reusable takeaway food containers.
Cut food waste by a third from 2021 (in line with Scottish Government targets)
Prepare designs for furniture that can be easily taken apart and repaired for election-planning purposes
Measures planned for 2025 include:
Actively exploring further options to support reusables and educating users on environmental benefits
Holding a stock of reusable hot drink cups for customers on a return basis
Promoting use of reusable food containers