Rural and Island Circular Economy
Rural and Island Circular Economy Initiatives: International Learning and Local Case Studies
This research explores the feasibility of circular economy initiatives in a rural and island context in Scotland. It draws on a review of international case studies, work in Scotland to apply island screening, through Islands Community Impact Assessments (ICIAs), to recent circular economy consultation documents, and initial work to understand our first Scottish case study locations, the islands of Arran and Cumbrae.
What did we learn?
Circular economy initiatives are at times difficult to define but are essential to meeting national and international carbon neutrality goals. They also deliver to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and to wider agendas such as Community Wealth Building and carbon neutrality.
Island communities can be valued as 'living labs' and 'lighthouse projects' - communities that can 'show the way' for circular economy initiatives on the mainland, providing that local people are fully engaged. Other success factors might include at least some degree of island community autonomy or agency to direct initiatives, positive mechanisms to encourage increased awareness and behaviour change by households and businesses, and an exploration of alternative ownership models. However, there may be challenges encountered, including an inability to take advantage of economies of scale, higher costs of delivery, challenges around local transport provision and accessing housing and land, and a lack of local data to measure flows.
There are many international case studies and support organisations from which islands in Scotland can learn. We investigated international case studies in Vlieland, Netherlands, Islands of Samso, Denmark, Mallorca, Spain and Norfolk Island, Australia. The Scottish Government's recent island legislation, National Islands Plan and the introduction of Islands Community Impact Assessments, all encourage greater recognition of the potential opportunities and challenges of Scotland's island communities.
Early learning from Scotland: the islands of Arran and Cumbrae
In the specific case of Arran and Cumbrae, there is great interest on-island in circular economy initiatives and plenty of pilot projects underway with considerable scope for enhanced funding and support through a co-design process involving local island communities and wider regional, national and even international stakeholders.
On Arran, the major challenges experienced are access to housing and reliable ferry transportation and access to land for circular economy projects. Any future initiatives on-island must be built on and acknowledge the island's history and culture, including challenges around land ownership. Many residents are engaged in circular economy initiatives like regenerative agriculture, plastic pollution reduction and repair services. There is scope to expand local knowledge through traditional practices and to improve digital and social connectivity.
On Cumbrae, residents of Millport have much pride over the beauty of their island. They are interested in further developing the 'shared goals' for the island, combining interests for both nation-wide initiatives and local development and sustainability. The island's small size and proximity to the mainland make it a great pilot destination for circular economy initiatives. Some businesses hope to turn Cumbrae into a sustainable tourism destination. Critical to all of this, however, is that islanders' voices are heard by external organisations seeking to work with them.
What do we recommend?
From our evidence gathering we have distilled 10 key learning points for Scotland:
- The importance of local level data
- Exerting local 'control' over the products and services that come onto islands
- Islands as 'living labs'
- Rural and island skills-related issues
- A recognition of the long-standing structural challenges on islands is critical
- Promoting local understanding and awareness of what the term circular economy means and how it is relevant to everyday life
- Engaging local people in circular economy initiatives
- Joining up local, and local and extra-local activities
- Aligning with the Community Wealth Building agenda
- Linking with global organisations and initiatives.
For more information read the full report and policy spotlight below.
Authors: Jane Atterton (SRUC) and Alexa Green (formerly SRUC).
This work was supported by the Scottish Government Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Services Division (SRUC-C4-1: Building the circular economy: sustainable technologies, green skills and upscaling behaviours
