The Circular Communities Scotland Reuse Consortium has been featured as a case study in ‘Clusters of social and ecological innovation in the European Union, perspectives and experiences’ which assesses ‘the role of clusters and similar forms of business cooperation in fostering the development of social economy’ and is published on the Publications Office of the European Union website.
This academic report identifies the model of Clusters of Social and Ecologic Innovation (CSEI) and explores their presence across the European Union.
The Circular Communities Scotland Reuse Consortium is highlighted as an example of “cooperation among social enterprises in the field of procurement and the green transition” and shares that “the consortium, currently consisting of 12 social enterprises, came about following the recognition of a market gap for high-quality used furniture to be made available to local authorities supporting low-income households in accessing essential goods” and that “the partnership between the Reuse Consortium, local authorities and Scotland Excel is resulting in a win-win for the environment, economy and local communities.”
An example of the consortium’s success was highlighted as “in 2019, Fife Council allocated 8% of their Scottish Welfare Fund budget to purchasing reuse furniture through the Consortium – around £186,000. This saved them a massive £104,000 over purchasing new items, enabling them to support around 200 more households in need.”
If you are a Circular Communities Scotland member involved in reuse furniture or white goods, and would like to be involved in our award-winning consortium, email our Reuse Consortium Coordinator Nicola on nicola@circularcommunities.scot.