Campaigners call for sweeping changes to promote sustainability.
Most people in Scotland want an economy that is less wasteful and emphasises sustainability, according to a new survey,
Research for campaign group Scottish Environment Link found widespread support for a range of measures designed to reduce the use of valuable raw materials, lessen the environmental impact caused by businesses, and ensure products can be repaired rather than thrown away.
Almost nine in 10 respondents (87%) agreed that raw materials should be used “more wisely” in Scotland, with 78% agreeing that the government should introduce a target to reduce the amount of raw materials used.
The majority of people (91%) supported making products easier to repair, and 90% agreed that producers and retailers have a responsibility for the environmental impact of their products.
More than eight in 10 of those surveyed (83%) said supermarkets should be forced to report publicly on their waste, with 77% saying this should also apply to their supply chains. And three-quarters (74%) agreed that the Government should, wherever possible, only allow materials that are practicably and safely recycled to be sold in Scotland.
The survey comes as policymakers debate societal changes in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Campaigners are calling on the Scottish Government to take this opportunity to redesign the economy, extracting less from the planet, reusing wherever possible, and reducing waste.
Phoebe Cochrane, circular economy lead for Scottish Environment Link said: “The Scottish Government must ensure we put the circular economy at the heart of our post Covid-19 recovery measures rather than supporting practices that lock us into a linear, polluting and unsustainable economy.
"The results from this survey clearly show that the Scottish public is keen to see the government and businesses step up to the mark and implement practices that minimise waste and are good for us and the long-term health of our planet.
“The coronavirus crisis has brought into sharp focus, for us all, the importance of our natural environment and how much we depend on it for our wellbeing. A move towards a circular economy is pivotal in meeting our climate change obligations and ensuring a resilient economy for the greater good."
A total of 1,027 people in Scotland were polled for the survey, which was conducted by Survation.
