Will party manifestos help to deliver a circular economy?
Please note this is an internal document for Circular Communities Scotland members and board to support our policy work and is not intended to influence votes
All of the 6 political parties that are expected to be represented in the Scottish Parliament after the election on 7th May have now published their manifestos, setting out their priorities across a range of issues. The manifestos can be viewed below:
While some include positive commitments that could help to reduce our consumption of materials and keep items in use for longer, most parties fail to recognise the importance of transitioning to a circular economy or commit to the measures needed to deliver this. We also need to see a lot more detail about how the pledges would be delivered to ensure they bring the maximum social, economic and environmental benefits possible.
Pledges we particularly like
- The Greens pledges to introduce a voucher repair scheme and reuse targets
- The Lib Dems recognising that circular economy measures help address the cost of living
- Labours pledge to help businesses partner with charities to reduce destruction of unsold goods
What would bring challenges for our sector
- Reform pledging to scrap the net zero target and associated policies
- Most manifestos pledging to reduce the number of government bodies, with Labour specifying this would include climate and nature bodies
- The SNP manifesto containing no mention of circular economy
We have summarised some of the key commitments, areas that might help advance or challenge our agenda, and what this might mean for our work, below. However, it’s important to bear in mind that both government and opposition parties do sometimes adopt and promote new policies, even if they weren’t in their manifesto, and conversely the commitments that are in the manifesto will not all get addressed.
As a charity, Circular Communities Scotland is apolitical and works with all political parties to advance our cause. However, some policies we have been calling for that would help to deliver a circular economy are more likely to be supported by some political parties than others.
Specific circular economy manifesto commitments
Reform, Conservative and SNP
The Reform, Conservative and SNP manifestos do not mention circular economy, reuse or even recycling. Despite positive rhetoric on circular economy in the previous parliament and the recently published strategy which needs to be delivered by the next, the only SNP pledge related to circular economy is to establish a £2.5 million bike repair scheme to enable over 33,000 people to get supported with repair costs up to £75 – but no detail on whether the third sector would be supported to deliver this. This lack of focus on circular economy specially means we will have to focus on wider, connected issues as ‘ways in’ to appeal to MSPs in these parties.
Labour
The Labour manifesto includes pledges to build “a more circular economy” by:
- “Working with local authorities to improve recycling rates and reuse facilities, learning from best practice and ensuring more recycling is processed in Scotland” – this may connect to our work on local authority reuse partnerships and learnings on the opportunities and barriers to this
- “Reducing the destruction of unsold goods, helping businesses to partner with local charities and distribution services like Multibank so goods help those in need” – this is positive, especially that the role of charities is recognised – and we could play a role to provide these connections.
Lib Dems
The Lib Dems would “embrace the circular economy and reduce waste” and “cut down on our throwaway culture” by:
- “Phasing out non-essential single use plastics”
- “Support initiatives to extend life of products and help cost of living through repair, reuse and repurposing”
There is no further detail about either of these, but they could be positive. Both Labour and Lib Dems also commit to delivering the (UK wide) deposit return scheme, and to introduce charges for coffee cups.
Greens
In a dedicated circular economy section, the Greens pledge to:
- “Scale up reuse, repair and remanufacturing through national reuse targets, repair vouchers and dedicated funding for community repair hubs, and provide transition funding to enable successful reuse organisations to scale without being crowded out by the private sector” – this directly relates to the asks in our Reuse Manifesto and it is positive to see the recognition of third sector support needed. It was also very welcome to see Ross Greer, Green party co-leader, visit our member the Stirling Reuse Hub to promote this pledge.
- “Require some product manufacturers to take back used products, such as mattresses and textiles, at the end of their life, and extend the scope of Extended Producer Responsibility Schemes so that items can be repurposed or fully recycled” – this must be delivered in a socially responsible way that maximises reuse, but there are no further details at this stage.
- “Pilot a Scot Repair Voucher scheme which would allow a discount on repair of household goods by participating manufacturers and retailers” – this directly relates to the ask in our Reuse Manifesto, although doesn’t specify the role of third sector in this
- “Implement regulations to ban the destruction of unsold consumer goods in Scotland” – this would be welcome and is stronger wording than the similar Labour pledge
Additionally, in the Green’s tax section there are a couple of other circular economy related pledges – to increase standard and higher rates of landfill tax and reopen Scottish Landfill Communities Fund if revenues are sufficient and ensure that aggregates and landfill tax are well aligned, rapidly reducing construction waste and meeting circular economy objectives.
In general, across most of the party’s economy chapters there is a lack of focus on social enterprises, the third sector, and the role they play in delivering jobs and a just transition. Instead, the focus is often on attracting large businesses to Scotland and a few high-profile industries like oil and gas. The Green party manifesto is the exception to this, recognising the value of circular economy jobs “that sustain communities while cutting emissions and waste” but that these are “too often fragmented, undervalued or dominated by insecure work”. They would “prioritise circular enterprise – reuse, repair and remanufacturing” and “invest in circular industries anchored in Scotland.”
Other relevant content that provides an opportunity or challenge
Whilst several manifestos lack any content about circular economy at all, or enough detail about their policies on this, the manifestos do cover many areas which relate to circular economy and the work of our members. These provide potential ways we can make connections with MSPs that are elected.
CLIMATE ACTION
Reform
On climate action, Reform UK are firmly opposed to the legal target to reach net zero emissions by 2045, pledging to re-allocate £1bn spent on ‘ideological net zero projects’ to cutting income tax.
Conservatives
Although they accept that climate change is real, the Conservatives also state that action in Scotland can’t change its course. They would keep trying to address the 2045 target but drop any related policies imposing costs on households.
Lib Dems
The Lib Dems recognise that “climate change is the defining challenge of our generation”. They would establish national and local citizens assemblies to “ensure that the public are fully engaged in finding solutions to the greatest challenges we face” – although they don’t specify these would be for climate.
SNP
The SNP pledge that Scotland will “play its full part in tackling the climate and nature emergencies” with two principles around this – fairness and energy security. However, their climate section is fairly narrow, focusing on renewables, just transition, nature and sustainable travel and it does not mention circular economy or the need to reduce emissions that relate to material use.
Labour
Labour say they would take the action needed to achieve the 2045 net zero target and develop a “clear and realistic route map” – which sounds like a reworking of the recently published Climate Change Plan would be on the cards.
Greens
Similarly, the Greens would deliver their own “coordinated climate action delivery programme to ensure targets were met”. They would also enable citizens and organisations to sue the government if they failed to meet targets and set up a standing national climate assembly which could mean the public get more of say, if the outcomes were acted upon.
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL DEMOCRACY
On communities and local democracy, all parties commitments talk about shifting power more locally and ensuring local authorities have what they need to deliver public services.
Reform
Reform list “community cohesion” as a priority and it’s included in the manifesto strapline (Family, Community, Country). The main commitment in relation to this is requiring a local connection to apply for housing. They state a desire to “restore civil pride in towns and cities by creating vibrant community hubs for Scots to live in harmony and cohesion” – such as through more say in design of communities and review of planning laws. They also support greater decision making for local authorities. Reform also intends to simplify the planning system for hydro, thermal and open cast coal mining, “while retaining protection for Scotland’s invaluable natural beauty and taking into account local communities”.
Conservatives
The Conservatives don’t have a strong focus on building stronger communities but do pledge to increase funding to local authorities. They would let local communities determine if energy infrastructure projects can go ahead, with a compensation fund for those which do, but pause major applications to ensure these are delivered in a “planned, cost effective, and community focused way.”
Labour
Labour would ringfence ScotWind revenues to help fund community owned energy. They also aim to “push power out of Holyrood with a Local Democracy Act”, deliver fair funding for local services, agree a new funding formula for local government, and provide multi-year funding for the third sector and shared objectives to tackle inequality and poverty. They would also boost community wealth building by generating income from community owned assets, encourage cooperative and employee-owned models, and simplify right to buy for the benefit for communities.
SNP
The SNP pledge expanded funding to support community ownership of renewables. They commit to implement measures in the recently passed Community Wealth Building Act so that “wealth created in communities stays in communities” – but apart from a target to increase the number of employee-owned businesses there are no new measures linked to this framework legislation. They say they support community ownership to revitalise town centres and state the intention to devolve power to people and communities, seeing a flourishing third sector as “essential to the wellbeing of our communities.” Related to this, they commit to developing an agreement to strengthen the third sectors voice and improve lives, including funding on a multi-year basis. It does not specify if this will include funding for the climate hubs across Scotland.
Lib Dems
Lib Dems also mention giving “volunteering organisations the flexibility and certainty they need with longer term funding agreements”. They intend to guarantee fair funding for local authorities and would spread energy wealth from companies to communities by re-writing community benefit rules. They are the only party to mention investment in community projects to combat loneliness. They would “shift power out of Holyrood and into local hands”, but lack specific pledges to support social enterprises.
Greens
There are a huge 92 mentions of community in the Greens manifesto, intending to make communities central to actions across transport, nature restoration, the economy and health. They are the only party to set a gigawatt target for community-owned energy projects and would establish a Scottish Community Wealth Fund to deliver equitable distribution of a proportion of the wealth being generated by renewable energy resources. They would set an infrastructure levy on large property developers to fund vital community infrastructure and pilot a universal basic income. Greens would seek to rebalance power towards communities by embedding participation, transparency and local decision making at every level of government. They say communities would not simply be consulted but actively shape planning, investment and public services, including through citizens assemblies. They would provide sustained, long-term funding for community orgs and intermediaries delivering essential services, defend civic spaces and strengthen compulsory purchase to bring derelict land and buildings into use.
PROCUREMENT AND SOCIAL VALUE
Several parties have included statements on procurement and social value, some of which could provide opportunities for reuse organisations. The Conservatives pledge to end “vague commitments for social value” to be replaced with “concrete commitments to supporting jobs and skills locally.” Labour would “reform procurement rules, embed social and economic value weighting into public contracts so we buy more in Scotland and public money supports local jobs.” Greens would reform the legal basis for councils to implement ethical procurement, boycott and divestment measures. Lib Dems would “expand the market for climate-friendly products and services with steadily higher criteria in public procurement policy” and would develop and make use of social impact investments – a “new partnership model where payments are based on the results they achieve and shifting resources from crisis response to prevention.” SNP state they are “committed to ensuring that public procurement is improved to better support local and sustainable producers” – although this is in the food chapter so may not apply to other sectors.
GOVERNMENT BODIES/QUANGOS
Across most manifestos there are pledges related to reducing government bodies/quangos. Reform would “scrap net zero quangos”, Conservatives would “scrap a number” and target to reduce by at least a quarter, Labour would cut a third, including “reviewing the role and remit of nature and environment agencies”, SNP would “substantially reduce” the number of public bodies, Lib Dems would “review cluttered quango landscape”.