Driving Circular Economy Through Collaboration and Innovation

Q4 Network Meeting participants engaging during the Producer-Led Innovation Session.

On Wednesday 3^rd December we hosted our final CIRCULÉIRE member networking session of 2025: Producer Responsibility as a Driver of Circular Innovation Across High-Impact Sectors.

Co-hosted in partnership with WEEE Ireland, this collaborative session explored how producer responsibility (through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes or voluntary initiatives) can drive circular value within organisations.  

Attendees examined successful practices across sectors, identified barriers to circular activities like repair and reuse, and uncovered opportunities enabled by improved design, data, and partnerships. Through examples and a 1-hour innovation session, attendees reflected on lifecycle challenges and considered collective approaches to reduce risks and costs.  

The session aimed to enhance understanding of circularity opportunities and inspire future collaboration for sector-wide impact.  We were really delighted with the outputs! 

The transition to a circular economy is truly accelerating across multiple sectors, driven by regulatory changes, consumer awareness, and the urgent need for sustainable practices. Attendees from across supply chains, agri-food, construction, electronics, and manufacturing highlighted both progress and challenges in this journey. 

1. Market Dynamics and Economic Incentives 

Demand for second-hand materials is growing, but cost competitiveness with virgin materials remains a challenge. Policies and incentives are essential to stimulate investment and innovation in reuse and recycling. 

2. Cross-Sector Collaboration 

Opportunities for collaboration between sectors such as WEEE and plastics management are emerging. Shared infrastructure and coordinated efforts can unlock efficiencies and scale solutions. 

3. Agri-Food and Packaging Innovations 

Material reduction and lightweight packaging are advancing, driven by internal goals, customer demands, and regulatory targets. However, multiple standards across markets and excessive plastic variety complicate recycling. Moving toward mono-material packaging and limiting plastic types can simplify processes. 

4. Design for Reuse in Construction and Furniture 

Designing products with reuse in mind (modular, easy to disassemble) can significantly reduce waste. While green procurement policies are pushing sustainability, high costs and customer preference for new products remain barriers. 

5. Built Environment and Infrastructure 

Customer interest in recycled content is growing, but regulatory burdens and high recycling costs hinder scalability. Streamlining recycling schemes nationally could reduce complexity and costs. 

6. Electronics and ICT 

Battery recycling infrastructure is strong, and professional equipment recycling is effective. However, high costs, lack of standardized certifications, and poor product design for recycling pose challenges. Opportunities include creating certified repair hubs and leveraging circular economy regulations. 

7. Batteries and Take-Back Initiatives 

Ireland has robust collection systems for WEEE and batteries, but poor data capture and regulatory grey areas limit reuse. Expanding marketplaces for reused products and improving data systems can unlock new opportunities. 

8. Cross-Sectoral Manufacturing 

Public awareness and regulatory frameworks like the Circular Economy Act and Deposit Return Scheme are driving change. While regulatory complexity and corporate complacency remain challenges, the economic potential of job creation and value retention is significant. 

Initiatives like CIRCULEIRE exemplify how collective action can drive meaningful progress. Collaboration, innovation, and policy alignment are key to overcoming barriers and unlocking the full potential of the circular economy.