RESAS 22-27: SRUC-c4-1 Building The Circular Economy: Sustainable Technologies, Green Skills And Upscaling Behaviours

The transition to a more circular economy (CE) necessitates a systemic way of thinking and acting that interconnects people and communities, industries and infrastructure, institutional and policy governance. To be able to assess progress towards the circular economy in these areas, a clear understanding of the capability i.e., willingness and readiness of people and places, infrastructure and institutions, to advance on the CE path is required. This project observes ‘living lab’ case studies in rural and island Scotland with a focus on dominant industries, analysed through an innovative blend of micro- and macroeconomic concepts and methodologies to map an understanding of circular economy drivers and barriers such as behaviours (willingness) and socio-economic capacity i.e., technologies and green skills (readiness) under alternative scenarios depicting regional CE paths. The case studies are codesigned with stakeholders and the findings shared and further evaluated through a stakeholder friendly interface (policy dashboard).