SCOTTISH island communities are set to benefit from a £2 million programme of locally-led green projects designed to help support their economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Scottish Government’s Islands Green Recovery Programme is split into four stands and managed by four partners – delivering investment in low carbon transport, food sustainability and zero waste projects.
£300,000 of the funding will be used to help independent food retailers and businesses introduce packaging-free shops and remove the need for disposable packaging, in a Zero Waste Scotland led project.
Islands minister, Paul Wheelhouse, said, “We know that Covid-19 has had, and continues to have, a profound impact on our island communities. We want to use the learning from impacts encountered and solutions that have been identified during this pandemic to build the resilience of our island communities. The Islands Green Recovery Programme will stimulate new economic activity across our islands, helping businesses recover from the impacts of the pandemic and creating new, quality jobs.
“We know being environmentally responsible and mitigating the effects of climate change can be more expensive for people living on our islands. This investment will also help reduce that financial burden and back projects that support sustainable, on-island employment.”
The £2 million is shared between:
Zero Waste Scotland fund – £300,000 to introduce packaging-free shops
Energy Saving Trust fund – £300,000 to support carbon neutral initiatives
Inspiring Scotland fund – £900,000 to support community recovery projects
Highlands and Islands Enterprise fund – £500,000 to support green economic recovery
