Remanufacturing: a "key area with momentum in Scotland"

AYLESBURY, U.K. - March 6, 2015 - PRLog -- This week Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead unveiled a report, Circular Economy Evidence Building Programme: Remanufacturing Report, which examines just how valuable the remanufacturing industry is to Scotland.

“Remanufacturing – where we restore and extend the life of a product – is a key area with momentum in Scotland," said Mr Lochhead.  "The figures speak for themselves and it is clear that creating more opportunities in this area will be a huge benefit to the economy – in fact by 2020 remanufacturing activity in Scotland could grow by up to £620 million, and bring up to 5,700 new jobs to the country, which is just fantastic for the sector," he added.

The report was commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland and Scottish Enterprise from the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse (operated by research consultants Oakdene Hollins), Carbon Trust, Knowledge Transfer Network, High Speed Sustainable Manufacturing Institute and Coventry University.  It identifies four major areas of Scottish remanufacturing activity: aerospace, automotive, energy and rail.  ICT and medical equipment could also support significant remanufacturing activity in Scotland.

Scotland’s Economic Strategy, launched earlier in the week, emphasises the importance of remanufacturing for a variety of existing sectors.  The Environment Secretary told the Conference that the challenge is to ensure that support is in place to enable a move towards a more circular economy, in which products and materials are kept in high value use for as long as possible.

Meanwhile, Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, commented: “This report, commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland, is a landmark in providing evidence of the fantastic economic potential of remanufacturing in Scotland.”

The report and its supporting case studies are available from www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/remanufacturingreport

To find out more about Oakdene Hollins, visit our website www.oakdenehollins.co.uk

Oakdene Hollins runs the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse; an independent organisation internationally renowned for its work in the UK consulting, promoting and encouraging remanufacturing and reuse.  Visit www.remanufacturing.org.uk for more information.