Research by not-for-profit environmental organisation Zero Waste Scotland, funded by the Scottish Government and European Regional Development Fund, has suggested that continuing with homeworking after lockdown would cut its carbon footprint by nearly 75 per cent because most of its emissions are caused by staff travel.
The circular economy expert revealed its findings in a press release as it urged the public and private sector to use what they’ve had to learn through lockdown on how to do business differently to help them find the best way to rebuild after the pandemic.
It said the circular approach – keeping resources in a loop of use – was the key to building back better by creating more green jobs and companies to overcome the coronavirus and the climate crisis together. In that way the environment could recover and grow in harmony with the economy, not in conflict.
Chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland Iain Gulland said: “Lockdown has given us a glimpse of a better, brighter future with clearer skies and cleaner waters as the natural world takes advantage of the respite these strange times are providing. Many people are making understandable links between all these changes and the climate emergency, which indisputably remains the greatest threat we face long-term.
“Having clear information on the practical, economic and environmental impact of this kind of dramatic operational switch is invaluable to any chief executive in Scotland making tough decisions on what they can feasibly do differently as we rebuild to recover while also delivering the greatest reduction in carbon emissions. We all have to do that to collectively end our nation’s contribution to the climate crisis by 2045 under the Scottish Government’s landmark net-zero pledge.”
Further detail on Zero Waste Scotland’s lockdown study is available here.
Source: Zero Waste Scotland