Convenience channel chiefs react to DRS blow
CONVENIENCE leaders have expressed their sympathy after Circularity Scotland (CSL) went into administration, resulting in 34 immediate redundancies.
The future of the company, set up to run Scotland’s deposit return scheme, was thrown into doubt when DRS was delayed until at least October 2025 – in line with a UK-wide go-live date.
The Scottish Retail Consortium, British Soft Drinks Association, British Beer & Pub Association and Natural Source Waters Association then said “political uncertainty” meant they didn’t have the confidence to continue funding CSL.
Scottish Grocers’ Federation chief exec Pete Cheema said: “I have sympathy with the situation that CSL is faced with regarding going into administration.
“It is disappointing that the Scottish Government did not intervene and support CSL to prevent administration, given that it was them who wanted to introduce DRS in Scotland.”
His sentiments were echoed by the Fed’s national vice-president and Blantyre c-store retailer Mo Razzaq.
He said: “We have enormous sympathy for the people who left other jobs to join CSL and who now face an uncertain future.
“Looking to the future, we feel there is a compelling case for one organisation to run a scheme for the whole of the UK.
“If each of the four nations has its own organisation, the system is likely to be more complex, bureaucratic and expensive for retailers, drinks producers and consumers.
“All of this will get in the way of our shared objective of a successful DRS curbing litter and waste of the planet’s resources.
“It would be helpful now for Scotland to review the strengths and weaknesses in the planning for its own system so that we can help shape the creation of a stronger system for the UK.”
Administrators Interpath Advisory said on 21 June that four CSL employees would be kept on for a short time to assist with administrative requirements.
