Legacy of COP26 under Scotland’s feet

As the world evaluates the legacy of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the work has just begun for a team based at COP26, who are focused on ensuring the Conference brings value to communities across Scotland.

Event Cycle, working with MJ’s Events Services and Spruce Carpets are collaborating to ensure as much of the flooring materials as possible are reused. At the heart of this work will be lifting 15,000sqm of carpet from the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and donating it to social enterprise Spruce Carpets. As Scotland’s only flooring re-use charity, Spruce Carpets will ensure that over the next few months the flooring finds its way to organisations and households who can really benefit from it.

Austin Hardie, CEO of Spruce Carpets, commented: "This is a unique opportunity for Spruce. Our social enterprise is focused on working to help the community and the environment. The two are not mutually exclusive. With the world’s attention focused on Glasgow, this arrangement with The UK Government and Event Cycle allows us to bring the legacy of COP-26 to the households and community organisations of Scotland who really need support. We will be storing the high-quality carpet and fitting it into low-income homes across the country as part of our on-going work. One of our guiding principles is to provide opportunities for people who have been excluded from the labour market so there are benefits for so many levels of society. At a deeper level, Spruce relies on collaboration. This work shows just what can be achieved by working together with partners. A classic example of ‘think global, act local!"

Chantal Kerr-Sheppard, Director, Event Cycle, commented: “We're thrilled to be included as part of the legacy work from COP26 after setting up Event Cycle to tackle the challenge of sustainability in one industry and create positive social impact in another. We're so happy that we can benefit organisations all across Glasgow and continue to do so after the event has been and gone.”

Jennifer Bishopp, COO of MJ’s Event Services commented: "As a fully sustainable flooring supplier to the events and exhibition industry, MJ’s have been engaged since the inception of this project in finding the most sustainable outlet for all the flooring products used. The choice by the organiser to use a residential carpet at COP 26 immediately led us to engage with Spruce to repurpose as much of the carpet as possible. We hope that this carpet will make a difference to low-income households and perhaps add a little warmth to people’s homes this Christmas."

Spruce Carpets is a supplier on Scotland Excel’s award-winning domestic furniture and furnishings framework that allows its members to buy a range of domestic furniture and furnishings, enabling people to live independently or to be supported in temporary accommodation via the Scottish Welfare Fund.

Julie Welsh, Scotland Excel’s Chief Executive said: “I’m delighted that Spruce Carpets are reusing the carpet from COP26 to furnish low-income homes across Scotland. We have a long relationship with them and other social enterprises through our frameworks and this is another great example of the benefits to society when sustainable procurement is embedded in contracts.”