Eco Savvy and Visit Arran, together with Strathclyde University and analytics business Topolytics, have been successful in acquiring funding from Interface to model food waste streams on Arran. The project aims to help understand how, where and when food waste is generated and disposed of, and if it can contribute to a sustainable circular economy for Arran.
Interface, which matches businesses and academics for innovative research and development projects, awarded the funding after recommendations by a panel of industry experts.The funding call targeted collaborations in three sectors with specific themes in each – harnessing data (creative industries), integrity across the supply chain (food & drink) and circular economy (tourism) – with the potential to transform the sectors.
Working alongside Topolytics, a data and analytics business, they will develop innovative and sophisticated decision support models to assess the operational, environmental and economic performance of various waste processing pathways. The project will work towards developing a circular economy for Arran and contribute to their vision to become the first Scottish sustainable island.
Howell Davies, Sector Engagement Project Manager at Interface, said:
“Funding collaborations like these can bring about really positive solutions to a range of businesses, supply chains and, in this case, even a whole island, leading to positive impacts on the economy and environment. We’re really excited by these latest projects and look forward to seeing the outcomes.”
Objectives
• Eco Savvy and Visit Arran plan to work closely with Arran’s hospitality sector, as well as with householders, to gather information which will feed into a waste baseline;
• Topolytics, a data and analytics business, will use this data to map live waste streams.
• The academic partners at Strathclyde University then provide expertise on modelling of sustainable supply chains design of industrial and commercial waste, to examine the operational, environmental and economic performance of various waste processing choices.
• It is hoped that this work will provide a catalyst to change the dynamics of waste management on Arran.
This project will compliment another new feasibility study, funded by North Ayrshire Council, to look at the commercial and technical feasibility of composting green waste on the Island. Both projects are expected to kick off in March/April this year and will work towards developing a Best Practise Model of Circular Economy which other Islands and areas can look at and learn from, and contribute to the vision of Arran becoming a fully sustainable island. Arran Eco Savvy, Visit Arran and Topolytics contributions will be in-kind with Strathclyde University being awarded £10,000.
