EPA Circular Economy Conference & Whole of Government CE Strategy Consultation Launch

Rebecca Wilson (Rediscovery Centre), Elizabeth O’Reilly (WEEE Ireland), David Fitzsimons (European Remanufacturing Council), Katharina Schlegel Thummer (Plastics Europe), and Geraldine Brennan (IMR), speaking at Session 2 of the EPA Circular Economy Conference 2025.

The recent EPA Circular Economy Conference was an inflection point for the next phase of circular economy implementation in Ireland.  Minister Alan Dillon TD launched the consultation on the second Whole of Government CE Strategy with significant state investment planned.  While we heard about the green shoots of progress made by companies, opportunities for collaboration, information sharing, business model innovation and wider harmonization need focus. 

Laura Burke, EPA Director General reminded us that Ireland is facing a growing waste crisis, with excessive waste generation across municipal, packaging, and construction sectors. EPA data shows recycling rates are stagnating, and Ireland is on track to miss key EU targets. Ultimately, producers must design more durable, repairable, remanufactured and recyclable products, engage with circularity and support take-back schemes. 

Later in the day, Dr. Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at Irish Manufacturing Research chaired Session 2 dedicated to Producer Responsibility in Priority Sectors with a stellar cross sectoral panel spotlighting plastics (Dr. Katharina Schlegel, Plastics Europe's Circularity Director), remanufacturing (David Fitsimons, Director, European Remanufacturing Council), electronics and batteries (Elizabeth O’Reilly, WEEE Ireland, a  CIRCULÉIRE Founding member) and Local Circular Solutions (Rebecca Wilson, Director of Research Policy and Education, Rediscovery Centre). 

David Fitzsimons, European Remanufacturing Council, emphasized the challenges of building a circular economy amid global economic pressures that favor cheaper, large-scale production. He highlighted the need to shift remanufacturing from business-to-business (B2B) to business-to-consumer (B2C), showcasing companies like Orbitex, Cordon Group, and D&B Audiotechnik as successful examples.  Here in Ireland we have notable examples such as Iqutech and GreenIT (CIRCULÉIRE Members). Fitzsimons warned that EU policies must accelerate to compete with U.S. tariff-driven growth in circular industries. He urged Irish innovators to focus on enabling technologies and praised Ireland’s leadership in green procurement. Finally, he called for balanced EU policy that supports product life extension – noting the friction between ensuring repair incentives do not disincentivize design for remanufacturing alongside recycling, stressing the urgency of coordinated action. 

The Whole of Government CE Strategy will drive this coordinated action.  This statutory, action-focused plan aims to increase circular material usage by two percentage points annually and embed circularity across sectors. Key initiatives include expanding the Circular Economy Innovation Grant, piloting a repair voucher scheme, establishing circular hubs, a national communications platform and a National Centre of Excellence for Circular Economy Innovation.  

By promoting shared economies, reverse logistics, and collaboration across government, industry, and academia, the strategy aims to reduce resource loss, support job creation, and end our throwaway culture.  

Industry and public input is vital to shaping this transition and ensuring Ireland becomes a European leader in circularity, sustainability, and green innovation.   

Anyone can have their say here until the 5^th of November.  

A reminder too that CIRCULÉIRE will facilitate sectoral workshops for members to co-ordinate responses to the strategy which are taking place week commencing the 20^th of October.   

#LetsGetCircular