CIRCULÉIRE/IMR at the Environment Ireland Conference 2025
- Circuleire IMR
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
We were delighted to sponsor the Environment Ireland Conference on October 9th with IMR’s Sophie Reynolds, Senior Programme Manager CIRCULÉIRE taking to the stage to talk about ‘Delivering on Circularity's Transformational Potential’.
Sophie explained that the linear economy of ‘take, make, waste’ is a mindset and system which has enabled growth in the past, however, it has also created many of the most urgent sustainability and resource crises faced today.
Outlining Ireland’s over dependence on virgin materials and resulting increased exposure to price and supply chain shocks, Sophie noted construction’s dominance in material use and waste with agri-food and materials production sectors next in line. Sophie identified the need to meet demand while reducing emissions as a challenge facing industry, asserting that this can only be achieved by decoupling economic growth from material use through circular, low-impact innovation, then moving on to highlight the circular innovation services offered by CIRCULÉIRE.
Three key articles published in the Circular Economy Chapter of the Environment Ireland Handbook give excellent updates on the policy landscape, our cross-sectoral circular innovation and collaboration approach, as well as our Venture Accelerator.
See links below.
Now back to the events of the day!
The Circular Economy & Resource Management Session chaired by Claire Downey, CEO of the Rediscovery Centre also featured speakers from Repak, The European Environment Agency and Northern Ireland’s Strategic Investment Board.
Repak Chief Operations Officer Tom Gaynor outlined the company’s role in packaging, waste and the circular economy. Members’ fees support household and business recycling, bottle banks, and civic amenities, while Repak leads the efficient collection and recycling of packaging waste through support and guidance on packaging design and promoting the circular economy through reduce, reuse, refill, and recycle activity. It collaborates with the EU to design and implement legislation while meeting challenges and managing the implications for Ireland; and develops and implements plans to educate and encourage consumers to recycle.
Ioannis Bakas, Circular Economy Monitoring Expert at the European Environment Agency, is focused on accelerating the circular economy in Europe. In the context of resource extraction and processing accounting for 55 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions; 90 per cent of total global biodiversity loss and water stress; and 50 per cent of total particulate matter pollution, Bakas outlined what must be done to accelerate the circular economy in Europe: Firstly, resource use must be reduced and a move towards a less material-intensive European economy must be prioritized. Secondly, to maximize the utility of existing products, we need to significantly increase the intensity of use per product and achieve much longer product lifetimes. Thirdly, for circular economies to achieve large-scale success, substantial quantities of high-quality secondary raw materials must be returned to productive use; and finally, a robust global governance framework on resource use is essential.
Heidi Redmond, Circular Economy Adviser at the Strategic Investment Board spoke about developing a circular economy for Northern Ireland and outlined the circular economy policy goals of the Department for the Economy NI. Put simply, they aim to invest in innovation, skills and R&D; maximise the value of resources locally; design out waste; collaborate for system change; and stimulate funding and incentivize investment.
This was a really enjoyable session - we look forward to many more! See more below from colleagues who attended other elements of the day
In the opening session, Timmy Dooley TD, Minster of State with responsibility for the Marine at DCEE, emphasized the development of Ireland’s Marine Strategy under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, aiming for clean, healthy, and sustainably used seas. He announced forthcoming legislation for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to safeguard habitats, support biodiversity, and facilitate offshore renewable energy, including plans to deliver 20GW of offshore wind by 2040.
Julie Thompson, Deputy Secretary of Environment, Marine & Fisheries Group, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (N.I.), outlined the region’s environmental priorities. Central to this work is the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), built around six outcomes covering air and water quality, biodiversity, sustainable production, waste reduction, and climate action. Other priorities include peatland restoration, the Farming with Nature Programme, and circular economy measures such as deposit return schemes and extended producer responsibility.
Vernoica Manfredi, Director, Zero Pollution, Water Resilience & Green Urban Transition, DG Environment, EC, highlighted the EU’s continued commitment to its Zero Pollution Action Plan, launched in 2021 under the European Green Deal. Upcoming reviews of the Zero Pollution Action Plan and new strategies for chemicals, circular economy, and water resilience will focus on implementation, innovation, and simplification.
Prof. Robbie McDonald, Chief Scientist and Chief Insights Officer, Office for Environmental Protection, UK, gave a blunt assessment of the current state of water quality and environment in Northern Ireland. The OEP’s mission is to protect and improve the environment by holding government and public bodies account, focusing on four key areas: scrutinizing environmental improvement plans, monitoring environmental law, advising government, and enforcing compliance.
Levent Ergin, Chief Climate, Sustainability & AI strategist at Informatica, emphasized the critical role of data as the foundation for both sustainability reporting and AI deployment in public and private sectors. He highlighted the growing regulatory landscape which will require detailed supply chain and environmental data. Ergin also addressed AI, particularly agentic AI capable of autonomous decision-making, noting that 80% of projects fail due to siloed deployment and insufficient controls. To succeed, organisations must implement cross-functional AI committees, risk assessment, and change management frameworks, with strong foundations in data cataloging, quality, master data management, and governance.
Laura Morrison, Head of Responsible Business, Business in the Community Ireland, focused on developing sustainable supply chains, emphasising the social and human rights aspects alongside environmental concerns. Morrison stressed social due diligence is more than compliance; it requires companies to assess where people may be at risk, engage with suppliers proportionately, and take tangible actions to mitigate harm. She noted the importance of integrating internal practices with supplier engagement, as poor purchasing behaviors (short-term contracts, cost pressures) can exacerbate social risks and that education and training would be beneficial in reinforcing that sustainability success requires both data and human-centric engagement across the supply chain.
Lisa-Nicole Dunne, CEO of Mantra Strategy, spoke about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), underscoring that social justice is inseparable from environmental and economic sustainability. Drawing on her experience as a neurodivergent leader, she highlighted how structural barriers, from recruitment bias to inflexible workplaces, continue to exclude many groups, particularly women, disabled people, migrants and those from lower-income or minority backgrounds. Her conclusion was that sustainable progress depends on integrating environmental, social and governance goals, ensuring that diverse voices are central to decision-making.
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