Circular Economy Route Map

In our world today, we take materials from the Earth, we make products we often use once, and we throw them away as waste. This a throwaway, linear process. It creates waste and pollution, reduces Earth's resources and makes climate change worse.

We need to move to a circular system, where materials and products never become waste. Instead, they keep being used, and nature is revived. By changing the way we make, buy, use, and re-use products, we can reduce waste and pollution, and help improve people's lives. The circular economy gives us tools to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. It can support Glasgow towards its journey to becoming a fair and inclusive, climate resilient and net zero city.

The transition from a linear economy to a circular is complex. It requires collaboration and systemic change that in many cases needs to be addressed at global scale. However, cities play a leading role and can positively influence the development of circular economy.

Glasgow City Council recognised this and published a Circular Economy Route Map in 2020 with the aim to enable Glasgow to embrace a circular and sustainable future. After the first five years of implementation, we have undertaken a review.

The Circular Economy Route Map for Glasgow 2025-2030 provides an update on our Route Map published in 2020. It also integrates the Plastic Reduction Strategy and Action Plan.

It celebrates the great examples and progress whilst highlighting the need to push forward and stimulate further action. It builds on existing activities and initiatives and drives progress towards an equitable circular city. The Action Plan, included in the Route Map, is a plan of how the council, businesses, communities, people and the entire city will work together to help Glasgow become circular. It supports the city to tackle challenges in a way that is fair to all Glaswegians.

An update on the progress towards the circular economy transition is reported to Glasgow City Council's Committee on an annual basis.

Let us know if you have a circular project you would like to talk to us about. Email us at sustainability@glasgow.gov.uk.