The Challenge

Scotland’s economy runs almost entirely on virgin materials; 98% of the materials it uses come from freshly extracted resources. In 2018, this added up to 21.7 tonnes per person, nearly twice the global average (Circle Economy et al., 2022).

This “take, make, dispose” approach is costing the planet. Worldwide, the extraction and processing of materials account for half of all greenhouse gas emissions and over 90% of biodiversity loss and water stress (UNEP, 2019). The situation is getting worse; in 2018, 9.1% of materials were recirculated globally (Circle Economy, 2018), but this figure has since fallen to just 6.9% in 2025 (Circle Economy, 2025). Scotland contributes to this impact; it imports significant quantities of materials and goods while also extracting fossil fuels domestically, which makes the country’s true carbon footprint 42% larger than what occurs within its geographic borders (Circle Economy et al., 2022).

If Scotland wants to cut its environmental impact meaningfully, it needs to rethink how materials are used. Moving towards a circular economy offers a clear path forward. Circle Economy’s 2022 Circularity Gap Report Scotland estimates that adopting circular practices in the manufacturing sector alone could cut the country’s material footprint by roughly 11% and lower emissions by nearly 5%.

The Circular Solution

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) is key to reshaping how Scotland makes and uses materials. By helping manufacturers embrace new technologies and innovate with less risk, NMIS is guiding the industry towards a more circular future. The UK government aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2045 to 2050, and NMIS is crucial to this effort.

NMIS’s state-of-the-art facility in Renfrewshire is home to their Digital Factory, Manufacturing Skills Academy and Collaboration Hub. They also operate a second site in Renfrewshire and have a presence in Sheffield and North Ayrshire. Operated by the University of Strathclyde and supported by the Scottish Government and other public partners, it serves as a meeting point where innovation and sustainability are combined.

The ReMake Value Retention Centre is NMIS’s spearhead project on developing remanufacturing solutions across industries. This £10+ million project focuses on sectors critical to national infrastructure, such as aerospace and power generation, and aims to keep products at their highest value instead of sending them to landfill.

Since its opening, NMIS has supported over 700 research and development projects and engaged with more than 2,000 small and medium-sized enterprises. They have also delivered over 365 free training opportunities to help businesses build the skills needed to decarbonise the economy (HVM Catapult, n.d.).

Climate Impact

Around 70% of direct industrial emissions come from the extraction and processing of the basic raw materials (Bashmakov et al., 2022). By remanufacturing parts to their original, or even improved, performance, these emissions stay locked in, cutting environmental impact dramatically. A circular supply chain also reduces costs and lead times while strengthening industrial resilience in critical sectors. NMIS’s ReMake Value Retention Centre is helping companies make this shift to remanufacturing by addressing challenges across technology, business models, policies, standards, culture, skills, and investment.

Momentum is building with new EU rules requiring nearly all products sold in the EU to carry a Digital Product Passport (DPP). A DPP contains detailed data on materials, processes, and emissions. ReMake helps firms not only collect and manage this data but also turn it into value. With a DPP, businesses can interact more effectively with customers, sell approved spare parts, and share repair manuals or service records. ReMake is shifting the DPP from a compliance burden to a tool for monetisation and stronger customer relationships (Munawar, 2025).

ReMake also supports firms in developing new business models. Instead of one-off product sales, companies can move towards servitisation. This allows them to build long-term service relationships backed by remanufacturing and data-driven insights. This business model innovation, backed by technology, can extend product lifecycles, generate recurring revenue, and keep customers engaged (Fitzpatrick, 2025).

The National Manufacturing Institute of Scotland, through ReMake, is helping redesign the future of manufacturing in Scotland and beyond.

Replicability

• Irish Manufacturing Research partners with industry to demystify emerging technologies, de-risk adoption, and deliver real-world impact. They bridge the gap between technology and business, ensuring companies can harness the latest advancements to drive efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. They lead CIRCULÉIRE, a dynamic, cross-sectoral public-private network dedicated to advancing circularity and developing circular business models in Ireland.

  
  

• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Germany is one of the world’s leading applied research organisations. It comprises a network of 75 institutes with an annual budget of €3.6 billion, two-thirds of which is directly funded by industry. They drive the shift to a sustainable, circular economy by developing innovative technologies, strategies, and collaborative solutions that transform industrial practices and support environmental and economic resilience.

  
  

• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden is a major applied research centre for manufacturing competitiveness, sustainability, and digital innovation.