1. Yooz, Bellshill North Lanarkshire, Scotland
Yooz is an award-winning social enterprise that provides an environmentally and socially responsible way to keep good, reusable construction and landscaping materials from landfill. Filled to the brim their warehouse is full of used, new and surplus building, DIY, landscaping and office furniture materials. You can buy reclaimed materials including bricks, slate and timber.
With over 80% of their stock being sold, only 20% needs to be recycled and a tiny fraction (about 1%) is sent to landfill. Also, all of Yooz’s profits are reinvested into their charity Active4All, which offers tailored work and training opportunities for unemployed people with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds.
2. MakeWorks
Make Works is an open access directory of fabricators, material suppliers, workshops and manufacturers. They range from individual craftsmen to large manufacturing companies; working on bespoke commissions to large production runs. By working with a local supplier you will be reducing the carbon footprint of your pieces.
3. Edinburgh Scrap Store, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Scrap Store is a unique resource, where scrap materials can be donated, stored, collected by members and re-used. You can find recycled textiles, wood, paper, card, wire, buttons, thread, wool, tiles, chalk, crayon, paint, frames, tape, boxes, medals etc.
The scrap store is hidden inside a shipping container and single decker bus on the Meanwhile site located in the Fountainbridge area of Edinburgh. Unwanted materials can be accessed by anyone with a membership, enabling scrap to take on new life and to be used in an infinite amount of ways. This charity promotes creativity and environmental awareness whilst diverting unnecessary waste from landfill. The Edinburgh Scrapstore is supported by Fountainbridge Canalside Inititaive, Vegware Community Fund, Edinburgh Council-Waste Action Grant and EDI.
4. Borders Scrapstore, Selkirk
For 23 years, the Borders Scrapstore charity supplies schools, nurseries and community groups right across the Borders, Edinburgh and the Lothians. Members can buy reclaimed fabric and textiles, wool, sewing materials such as zips, binding, knitting and sewing needles, buttons, beads, paper and card as well as art and craft material
5. The Library of Sustainable Building Materials, Glasgow
This library offers visitors a chance to explore and analyse a wide range of sustainable building materials. Opened by Architecture and Design Scotland, at The Lighthouse, Glasgow, to encourage innovation in construction in Scotland using indigenous resources. Visitors have the opportunity to experience real samples of natural building materials and products at a variety of scales – from small samples to full-scale mock-ups
6. Salvage Yards
Salvage Yards are the perfect place to discover recycled materials and reclaimed materials. Scotland has lots of great salvage yards, including Glasgow Architectural Salvage, Steptoe’s Yard in Montrose and Sam Burns’ Yard, Prestonpans.
Stay Tuned!
Next up in the Make it Green blog series is Don’t Dump It! 10 Ways to Dispose of Excess Craft Materials in Scotland…
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Join Green Crafts Initiative today and start making Scotland that little bit greener. The Green Crafts Initiative is a nationwide accreditation scheme created by Creative Carbon Scotland & Craft Scotland. It is designed to provide Scottish-based makers and arts organisations with the advice, support and tools they need.
