How to close the loop with composting for a circular economy
The Scotsman Sustainable Scotland podcast in association with Vegware
If net zero emission targets are to be met, it is vital for a circular economy model to be embraced, according to experts. This approach involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible.
An Edinburgh-headquartered company committed to playing its role in circularity and promoting the bioeconomy - the use of biotechnology and biomass in the production of goods - is Vegware. Vegware is a Scottish plant-based compostable food service packaging firm that also provides the Close the Loop composting collection offering to help clients achieve their sustainability goals.
In the latest episode of The Scotsman’s Sustainable Scotland podcast, in association with Vegware, the concept of how circularity and the bioeconomy work in practice is explored, as well as how organisations can get on board.
Taking part in the podcast are: Dr Jen Vanderhoven, chief operating officer of the Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA); Phoebe Russell, waste management consultant for Vegware; and Andy Stahly, environment manager at St Andrews University.
Dr Vanderhoven explained that BBIA is a trade association for those working within the bio-economy. It has 60 member organisations, representing thousands of people across the UK working to produce bio-based materials and chemicals.
She said: “The bio-economy is nature's way of recycling useful materials. “The main hurdles are around collecting materials used by humans and converting them back into natural materials.”
She added: “Compostables are vital for the future.”
In terms of how Vegware is rising to this challenge, Russell said: “We produce compostable, food service packaging. That could be anything from your takeaway coffee cup to chip cartons. Everything is plant-based and made from renewable materials and designed to be industrially composted together, including food that might be left inside the packaging.”
Focusing on Vegware’s Close the Loop consultancy service, Russell said this increases access to compostable collections for businesses.
“We believe Close the Loop is unique. We don't know of another compostable packaging company that's doing the same and that has a team of expert waste consultants.”
A customer of Close the Loop is the University of St Andrews, and Andy Stahly said: “In Scotland we have a ban on single-use plastic items, such as disposable cups and food containers. Vegware and compostable packaging provide a solution to this. So it's partly driven by legislation. But it's also driven by the university's wider sustainability goals to reduce waste and carbon wherever possible.”