Circular Glasgow is a joint initiative from Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Zero Waste Scotland. The Glasgow Convention Bureau, Scottish Event Campus and Major Events team at Glasgow Life are also Circular Glasgow partners.
The challenge asked citizens and companies from cities across the world how local businesses can improve the economic, environmental and social legacy of major city events and conferences.
The three winners, developed by over 60 people from 13 countries, are set to help transform Glasgow’s thriving events industry.
The winning ideas include a deposit-based reuse system for food and drink containers, circular designs for event marketing and branding, and a scheme that will repurpose organic waste into energy and fertilisers.
The SEC has pledged to continue its support of the initiative, acting as lead incubation partner in piloting the implementation of the winning solutions.
An open invitation is now being made to city venues, SMEs, entrepreneurs, consultants and investors that are interested in collaborating and sharing relevant expertise to ensure these solutions are successfully implemented.
Alison McRae, senior director of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “Glasgow is world renowned for its major events and this Circle Lab challenge has generated a number of solutions on a global platform which can benefit our business community. They are about introducing new ways of doing business – with potential to give a real competitive advantage – and are also better for our city.
“Alongside the SEC, we are inviting businesses who are involved in, or benefit from events and conferences in the city to come forward and take advantage of these open source ideas. The pace of change is daily and there is a real opportunity for Glasgow to lead the way on this.”
Iain Gulland, chief executive, Zero Waste Scotland, said: “I am delighted by the winning solutions of this unique challenge, uncovering truly circular ideas to transform the thriving events industry in Glasgow.
“Already a leading city in hosting events, these innovative solutions will help to maximising the potential of resources and could see Glasgow leading the way in developing new business models to deliver sustainable events.
“I’m delighted that our partnership with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce continues to provide a hotbed for this kind of thinking. This initiative shows that the circular economy can benefit a broad range of sectors and provide the new businesses opportunities we need as the world changes.”
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