Trade Right International - Redeem Exchange Initiative is Recognised at VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards

That the Parliament congratulates the Trade Right International – Redeem Exchange initiative on receiving praise at the recent VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards for reducing waste during the COVID-19 pandemic by collecting and refilling hand sanitiser bottles from the NHS; understands that the Greenock-based business was awarded the Product/Service Scotland Award, which recognises businesses that have developed, or are developing, a product or service that delivers environmental benefits; appreciates that for one Scottish NHS board, Trade Right International helped it reduce its carbon footprint from 69.4 tonnes to 6.7 tonnes, with a cost saving of £56,000 under the Redeem Exchange reuse initiative; notes that, through a simple collect, wash, refill, and return service for plastic hand sanitiser bottles, Trade Right International can extend the life cycle of plastic bottles by up to 50 times, helping to keep products in use for longer and reducing the amount of plastic waste going to landfill; acknowledges that Trade Right International is classified as a “supported business”, with over 80% of the workforce deemed to be either disabled or disadvantaged, and has a built-in employability programme to support individuals, including those who are experiencing deprivation, who have offending backgrounds, are in recovery, have disabilities, and are long term unemployed, by offering a safe learning environment to develop skills and confidence; notes that Trade Right International has supported three employees to engage in apprenticeship programmes to validate their skills, and has supported 82 people from the local prison service, since 2011, to begin to re-enter society and gain employability skills; commends Trade Right International for providing employment opportunities to people who often find themselves excluded from the labour market, and for its dedication to ensuring its operations are helping deliver a circular economy; hopes that this award encourages other businesses in Inverclyde and across Scotland to consider how they can take a more circular approach to their products and services, and wishes the business all the best for the future.