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In Ireland, there are an estimated 500,000 used mattresses sent discarded every year. CIRTEX, (co-founded by Rick Earley and David Garland) were the successful recipients of grant funding through the 2022 CIRCULÉIRE Innovation Fund call. This funding from The Department of Environment Climate and Communications enabled CIRTEX to conduct new product development aimed at preventing the incineration of the estimated 500,000 mattresses discarded every year. The outcome is the creation of a product range that uses previously unrecycled materials from the discarded mattress to make new products, which in turn can be upcycled multiple times. The innovative upcycled products created by this project makes CIRTEX Irelands only upcycling textile company of its kind, meeting all regulatory and industry standards, with the capability to upcycle soft cushioning material, foam, fibre, shoddy, and coverings which were previously either incinerated or landfilled. CIRTEX also won the National Enterprise Green Sustainability Award. “This was a great example of the power of partnership” says Co-Founder, MD David Garland.” It was a collaboration between CIRTEX, with manufacturing equipment, expertise in new product development, and extensive experience in the bedding and furniture recycling industry; combined with Interior Creations trading as Caffrey’s Furniture Ireland (a mattress manufacturer and retailer that also provides a take-back scheme and was a buyer for the new products being developed); Tipperary County Council (who operate municipal recycling centres), and Textile Recycling Limited (TRL trading as Clothes POD) the largest operator of clothing bins in Ireland. They were greater active collaborators in this important innovative project proving that you can develop a smart business model that has a positive environmental impact.” Speaking on the potential to scale this business, CIRTEX co-founder and CEO Rick Earley commented: “Through the Demonstration Project, CIRTEX has developed a green business model, proving that sustainability practices are more effective and efficient and make good business sense while helping to improve the state of our planet. Our experience combined with our innovative unique processes make us Ireland’s only upcycling textile manufacturer. We are proud that after just two years of operation, over 250,000 people are sleeping on mattresses with CIRTEX products. As we scale, we have the potential and capability to divert up to 10,000 tonnes of waste mattresses from landfill and incineration, reducing Ireland's carbon footprint and conserving natural resources. But accessing a sustainable supply of these thousands of discarded mattresses is crucial for us to sustain this circular mode “. Speaking on the impacts of this pilot Dr Geraldine Brennan Head of Circular Economy Irish Manufacturing Research and CIRCULÉIRE Project Lead said: “The CIRTEX upcycled Insulation project demo project has successfully validated the company's technology, business model, and market potential. With its strong financials, growing customer base, and sustainable practices, CIRTEX is well-positioned to scale up operations and become a leading provider of recycled components for the mattress and furniture industries. The company's contributions to the circular economy are demonstrable and it’s scaling up will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the environment and the Irish economy.” Commenting on the visit minister Smyth commented: “As Minister for Circular Economy, it is great to see that CIRTEX is putting the material from discarded mattresses to good use, making new products from old and keeping valuable materials out of the waste stream’. ABOUT CIRTEX Based in Co. Longford, CIRTEX is one of Irelands leading upcycling companies and a member of CIRCULEIRE the first cross-sectoral industry led network committed to accelerating the net-zero carbon circular economy in Ireland. CIRTEX manufacture an extensive range of technical non-woven wool, fibre, and foam mix products for multiple applications by upcycling textiles. One of the many benefits of upcycling is that it reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions while also boosting Irelands local industries and businesses. www.cirtex.ie

On Friday 2nd February, CIRCULÉIRE welcomed the programme board of the D UTCH TECH ZONE - a delegation of approximately 25 people to CIRCULÉIRE member N ovelplast t o showcase Circular Innovation and to stimulate discussions on opportunities for further collaboration and networking with Dutch Companies, in the wider European manufacturing and CE Ecoystem. The delegation, comprised of regional government, higher educational institutions and eight cross sectoral companies working in the built environment, plastics, recycling and waste treatment space were given a tour of N ovelplast by Founder and CEO Neil Skeffington and engaged in presentations from CIRCULEIRE members Kevin Cronin COO F reefoam b uilding products and Paul Farrell CEO F arrell Furniture who highlighted both the process and impacts of their Circular Economy pilot demonstrations funded by CIRCULÉIRE through the P ower of Many and Do More with Less projects. There are clear synergies between the aims of the DTZ and CIRCULÉIRE in stimulating the manufacturing industry and catalysing collaboration between educational institutions and research centres and public bodies to harness and apply the latest technological developments. The delegation visited both Dublin and Belfast meeting with The Netherlands Deputy ambassador N ora Dessing and visited other Irish manufacturing companies who are contributing to the local economy in the field of Sustainability and Circular Economy A ndor Technologies and E xact Group. This marked the first of an ongoing knowledge sharing partnership with the Dutch Tech Zone and their wider stakeholders. ABOUT The Dutch Tech Zone The Dutch TechZone is all about stimulating the manufacturing industry and promoting excellent craftsmanship in the Borger-Odoorn, Coevorden, Emmen, Hardenberg and Hoogeveen region. Their main goal is to create a fertile environment in which companies, educational institutions and government agencies work together to strengthen each other and promote craftsmanship.

On Tuesday 23rd of January 2024, the CIRCULÉIRE delivery team (led by Dr Geraldine Brennan and Ana Santos) hosted an insightful webinar where we demonstrated the findings of CIRCULÉIRE's cross-sectoral good practice guide ' Towards a Circular Economy of Water in Ireland ' (CEW). The CEW was launched at the All-Ireland Water & Waste Water Expo in November 2023. This webinar explored the current landscape of circular economy in water across multiple industries, countries, and sectors. Attendees were guided through the findings from the sectoral guide along with Industry driven case studies. If you missed this webinar you can catch up with the below links: ➡️ Webinar Recording ➡️ Slide Deck ➡️ Towards a Circular Economy of Water ' Sectoral Guide About CIRCULÉIRE CIRCULÉIRE is a public-private partnership co-created by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) , together with industry partners, CIRCULÉIRE aims to assist manufacturers and their supply chains to switch from linear to circular business models. In November 2022, DECC announced €1.5m continuation funding for CIRCULÉIRE in 2023. Read more about CIRCULÉIRE here .

An effective # ESG strategy can show that an organisation is reducing risks, bringing the potential to achieve business growth whilst benefiting the community and environment. The E nvironment Ireland # ESGForumIRL explored what ESG will mean for organisations and the benefits it can bring for both the private and public sectors. Addressing delegates at the ESG forum on 29th February, D r Geraldine B rennan – Head of Circularity at I rish Manufacturing Research and project lead at CIRCULÉIRE provided a clear and concise overview on how combining circular strategies can be transformational in determining # ESG impact and outcomes and describes how the adoption of Circularity is an opportunity for ESG within the regulatory environment. She addressed the key themes of EU Taxonomy, the challenge of Double materiality and EU Twin Transition: Green and Digital from a Circularity Perspective to highlight these opportunities. CIRCULÉIRE is a private public network funded by the D epartment of the Environment, Climate and Communications with over 50 Industry members who are dedicated to closing the " Circular innovation gap" in Ireland. In line with its mission to support Irish Industry to capture Circular advantage through knowledge share and best practice, Geraldine also highlighted several case studies from CIRCULÉIRÉ funded innovation pilots as demonstrations of how Irish organisations are successfully adopting Circular business models to drive impact. R ead More About CIRCULÉIRE CIRCULÉIRE is a public-private partnership co-created by  Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR)  and   Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) , together with industry partners, CIRCULÉIRE aims to assist manufacturers and their supply chains to switch from linear to circular business models. In November 2022, DECC announced €1.5m continuation funding for CIRCULÉIRE in 2023. Read more about CIRCULÉIRE  here .

Dublin 5th March - Guinness Enterprise Centre. CIRCULÉIRE this week partnered with Dublin City Council Economic Development office at the S o Circular event designed to shine a light on the Circular and Social economy as part of Local Enterprise Week. This fun and lively gathering of over 100 delegates highlighted CE trends and updates and showcased real examples from circular economy enterprises who shared their insights and experiences. Geraldine Brennan described how to get back to basics regarding CE, demystifying the challenges and opportunities and hosted a panel with five entrepreneurs at different stages of their CIRCULAR journeys. Colette Van Jaarsveld – Founding Executive Director A rcology System is a pioneer in the field of sustainable interior construction. Arcology System is a circular kit-of-parts approach to interior construction that uses lightweight, post-consumer recycled aluminium profiles to create a "smart grid" that can integrate various interior components (doors, walls, ceilings, lighting), allowing for easy adaptability and upgradability of the space. W ell Spent Grain - Award Winning Dublin-based Irish start-up founded by Sunkyung Choi and Patrick Nagle in March 2022. W ell Spent Grain collect Brewers Spent Grain, ( by product of the brewers process ) upcycle it and create tasty snack bites – aptly named Born Again Snacks. Just last week Listed by Spark Crowdfunding in the top100 Most ambitious companies in Ireland. Read Case Study C IRCULÉIRE (circuleire.ie) Mary Fleming – CEO C hange Clothes Crumlin •Change Clothes Dublin works to tackle clothing waste, provide reuse solutions for clothes at all lifecycle stages and build a creative community of clothes swappers, borrowers, up-cyclers and menders. Brian Kellard - Commercial Manager of WALK and The Green Kitchen & Garden Shop. This is a social enterprise that partners with WALK, a charity that provides education, training and employment opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities, autism and other barriers to employment. Paul Mc Quaid – Founder The Good Bike project. P aul is a former competitive and international cyclist who established this venture which refurbishes bikes and supply them to refugees in need. Paul has been constantly scaling his business from providing bikes to front line workers during Covid to donating over 2,000 upcycled to Ukrainian families in Ireland. Paul has developed his business model through the rental market and leveraging the partnerships nationwide e.g.: via national men's shed networks for wider distribution Interesting Insights emerged from delegates who stressed the importance of c ollaboration, a nd a wareness generation as well as funding and regulation as key enablers to scale Circular Economy businesses. CIRCULÉIRE is a private public network funded by the D epartment of the Environment, Climate and Communications with over 50 Industry members who are dedicated to closing the " Circular innovation gap" in Ireland. In line with its mission to support Irish Industry to capture Circular advantage through knowledge share and best practice. CIRCULÉIRE Circular Venture Programme 2024 opening soon. Check out the the profiles from our 2 1 Alumni Ventures 'A bout CIRCULÉIRE

Earlier this month, the WCEF2024 brought more than 1,500 frontrunners of circularity to Brussels, Belgium. The event was followed online by almost 8,000 people around the world from 158 countries. The forum, which took place in Brussels 15-18 April 2024, highlighted the importance of the EU’s role in accelerating the transition to a circular economy globally. A delegation from CIRCULÉIRE lead by Dr Geraldine Brennan Geraldine Brennan, PhD with Paul McCormack-Cooney Valentina Rangel Leon Agnese Metitieri on behalf half of IMR and CIRCULÉIRE members were present across the week. As one of a selected 40 exhibitors at the WCEF Expo the team engaged with European counterparts for a week of knowledge exchange sharing insights and case studies on best practice for how circular innovation is progressing among CIRCULÉIRE members in Ireland. We forged relationships to nurture current and future opportunities for European collaboration for our members. We were particularly delighted to welcome Ireland’s Minister for the Circular Economy Ossian Smyth to our #WCEF2024 Expo stand to discuss the opportunities for further collaborations for Irish Industry across the international Circular Economy Ecosystem. The Macro View The macro messages from CE experts highlighted the importance of a pan European approach, global collaboration and strong regulatory frameworks. The time for talking is over and today, the implementation of circularity is crucial for securing economic prosperity and unlocking well-being by reducing the overuse of non-renewable natural resources. There is a firm belief that : “Developing the EU’s single market to support circularity would create new business opportunities, jobs and security for all Europeans. This would strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy and competitiveness. It would also send a powerful signal of a predictable investment environment,” as outlined by Atte Jääskeläinen , President of the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, the initiator of the WCEF. For Ivonne Bojoh, CEO of Circle Economy Foundation, Radical global collaboration was cited as“ fundamental in driving the transition at the speed and scale necessary ” . Indeed, the need for collaboration between the global North and South was emphasized by various speakers. Climate change is a universal challenge, and the regulatory initiatives undertaken by Europe will have far-reaching implications across the entire value chain, with repercussions extending to Southern Hemisphere nations. Ali-Hamndou Dorsouma, Division Manager, Climate Change & Green Growth, African Development Bank Group (AfDB) reflected on how they are going “ … beyond mainstream lending practices to foster circular implementation across the continent through a comprehensive package policy support, finance support, technological support through the African CE Facility… ” he also highlighted that the AFDB recognise the importance of supporting circularity in an integrated way cross-sectorally. Moreover, there was recognition that whilst implementation supports are crucial, bilateral knowledge sharing and learning from indigenous communities with deep-rooted insights into circular economy practices are essential to ensure implementation is context-attuned and doesn’t create or contribute to negative unintended consequences . In terms of policy, the message resonated clearly: Europe has set an ambitious circular economy policy framework, and now it's time for its implementation and enforcement. In this next phase, industry engagement along with robust support mechanisms to facilitate the transition is essential to set new rules of the game. Day 1 – Replacing the linear growth model with circular models. Day#1 of  World Circular Economy Forum WCEF  opened with the stark reminder from  Janez Potocnik ,  International Resource Panel (IRP)  that unsustainable resource  use is driving the triple  #planetarycrisis  (climate, biodiversity and pollution) and that our economies were invented to serve humans not the other way around. Watch here Turning circular visions into actions - WCEF2024 The International Resource Panel (IRP)  launched the Global Resource Outlook #2024 -that highlighted that based on current trends, world consumption is predicted to increase by 60% by 2060 compared to 2020 levels. Hence the urgency to accelerate efforts to use circular economy  to decouple resource use from wellbeing, economic activity and environmental pressures and impacts. This breakthrough report from the UNEP-convened International Resource Panel shows that it is possible, and profitable, to decouple economic growth from resource use and the environmental impacts they cause. The report stressed “ We are talking about replacing the prevailing linear growth model with sustainable and circular models: systems that keep materials, once extracted, in use for as long as possible by rethinking how we design and deliver goods and services. Circularity and more sustainable and resource-smart ways of provisioning basic services are needed in the areas of housing, food and mobility, among others. If we do this, we can create new business models, reduce environmental impacts and slash resource use in wealthier countries “ . READ HERE Global Resources Outlook 2024 | UNEP - UN Environment Programme One of the primary challenges for establishing a circular economy is mobilising capital fast enough to halt the triple planetary crisis. At the 2023 World Circular Economy Forum in Helsinki, a working group comprised of senior representatives of the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) was established to explore how we can rise to that challenge. The role of the MDBs is to invest public money, prioritising development over profit. The MDBs prioritise investment where the private market is failing. The MDB working group will focus on: Strengthening internal capacity to continue our demand-based support to circular economy approaches, both within our lending and our advisory activities. Exploring methodologies to demonstrate how circular solutions can generate economic value while fostering a just and inclusive sustainable development. Enhancing resource efficiency considerations within our operations across sectors Facilitating the exchange of knowledge with the private sector, civil society, and local, regional, and national authorities. At the Shaping a global vision for circular finance session, senior representatives from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Inter-American Development Bank Invest (IDB Invest) and the World Bank, came together to launch A Shared Vision For The Circular Economy. Watch Here European and global perspectives on policy, investment and innovation - WCEF2024 Day 2 – Designing peaceful global partnerships. Day#2 saw another stellar line-up & thought provoking kick-off by  Olivia Lazard ,  Patrick Schröder ,  Emily Barran ,  EDNA KAPTOYO  &  Slendy Díaz ’s in the opening plenary “Ensuring a Peaceful Circular Economy transition”, which stressed the need for partnerships between Global North & South to be intentionally designed to “remove the underlying structures and systems which contribute to local conflict” and “intentionally create more distributive systems which learn from indigenous  communities”. Watch Here Ensuring a peaceful transition - WCEF2024 Hannah Ballard Director Sustainable Change Studio and Peter Schmidt NAT Section President European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) closed the conference on an optimistic note with some key takeaways for policy makers, industry and CE investors. Have candid conversations with startups and investors on how Circular Innovation and entrepreneurship can be accelerated. Address new economic models & invest in system change. Continuous conversation and collaboration Watch Here Rethinking our futures - WCEF2024 So what’s next … Jutta Urpilainen EU commissioner for International Partnerships announced the establishment of the EU Circular Economy Resource Centre to facilitate peer-to-peer exchanges and partnerships between EU and third-country stakeholders, fostering the uptake of sound circular economy policies and business models worldwide. The centre will be operational by the end of 2024. Alongside the centre, the EU also announced a five-year initiative “SWITCH to Circular Economy in East and Southern Africa”. With funding of €40 million euros, it will focus on promoting the transition to circular economies in the regions. A list of 30 European companies, unveiled at the World Circular Economy Forum 2024 in Brussels, shows how circular solutions can tackle biodiversity loss and unlock new business opportunities. Alongside the list, the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra released a first-of-its-kind handbook for developing circular economy business models to deliver on nature targets. READ MORE The World Circular Economy Forum 2025 will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to 14 May 2025. It will be the first time the forum enters Latin America, where the climate and biodiversity negotiations between 2024 and 2025 will also take place, offering an opportunity to strengthen global collaboration and get businesses onboard to build a circular economy future. The WCEF2025 will be hosted jointly by the Federation of the Industries of the state of São Paulo (FIESP), the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI) and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, the initiator of the forum. Key Links The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF)  creates a new economy, businesses and jobs, by leveraging circular solutions to solve the planetary crises. Since 2017, the forum has gathered forward-looking thinkers and doers to showcase and enact the world’s leading circular economy solutions. WCEF is a global initiative of Finland and Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund. WCEF2024 is organised by Sitra and produced with Circle Economy Foundation (programme partner) and the International Resource Panel (science partner), in close collaboration with international partner organisations. The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra is an active fund for the future. It aims to create a fair and sustainable future and work with partners to ensure that Finland can lead the way in the transition to a fair and competitive carbon-neutral circular economy – a new society in which our everyday lives and well-being are no longer based on excessive consumption and fossil fuel use. Sitra was founded in 1967 and is an independent public fund operating directly under the supervision of the Finnish Parliament. The International Resource Panel  was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2007 to build and share the knowledge needed to improve our use of resources worldwide. The Panel consists of eminent scientists with expertise in resource management issues. It studies key questions around global resource use and produces assessment reports that distill the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic findings to inform decision-making. Circle Economy Foundation  is a global impact organisation with an international team of passionate experts based in Amsterdam. We empower industries, cities and nations with practical and scalable solutions to put the circular economy into action. Our vision is an economic system that ensures the planet and all people can thrive. To avoid climate breakdown, our goal is to double global circularity by 2032. SHARE ' About CIRCULÉIRE

Now in it's 5th year of funding, CIRCULÉIRE’s Circular Venture Programme is the first of its’ kind in Ireland, dedicated to supporting late-stage circular economy ventures to scale. We are committed to support circular economy innovators with well developed and tested services or products who wish to avail of highly specialized circularity mentorship and business acceleration support. Information Deck HERE The programme will provide the cohort of participants with key knowledge and tools to help their circular solutions make a systemic impact on both economic and social level and drive Irelands transition to net-zero carbon circular economy. Participants will have access to workshops, training sessions, knowledge share activities and mentoring centered around: System thinking and design strategies for circular value chain and supply chain Customer discovery for circular business development Leveraging the funding landscape to support business growth Measuring impact and communicating circularity performance Perfecting the pitch and selling the circularity story Eligibility Criteria The company/business solution must be centred on/implementing or enabling “circular economy” e.g. “Circular Manufacturing” “Circular Production Systems” “Circular Supply chains”, “Circular Products”; “Circular Reverse-Logistics”; The Enterprise must be incorporated in Ireland for a minimum of 2 years; The solution must be at an advanced technology readiness level (TRL6-8) i.e. a validated technology, close to market or recently launched on the market. Applicants must demonstrate how their solution/business will benefit from the CIRCULÉIRE circular venture programme and outline how they will leverage the following to scale their business: Build relationships with representatives from sectors leading Circular Economy in the CIRCULÉIRE Members Network; Integrate system thinking and design strategies into their business models; Learn how to get funding ready to accelerate their journey; Measuring impact data and circularity performance; Demystifying upcoming regulation and understanding implications for Irish companies; Accessing knowledge and building networks. Programme Benefits The programme will offer participants added value with: Equity-free funding for your new venture: € 5,000 Coaching & training from national and international cross-sectoral experts on Circular Economy and Entrepreneurship 1-to-1 and 1-to-many mentoring by practitioners, industry representatives and experienced founders from a variety of sectors Validation of product/technology and market and finding product-market fit Access and learnings from MNC and SME supply-chains through CIRCULÉIRE’s network Sessions to get investor ready, exploring potential contacts with investors & VCs/funds Access to and opportunity to engage in wider CIRCULÉIRE Industry Network meetings and activities Chance to leverage the R&D potential of Irish Manufacturing Research (secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE) Opportunities to build relationships across the Island of Ireland CE ecosystem Application Evaluation Criteria Applications will be evaluated based on the degree to which they meet the following criteria: Alignment with CIRCULÉIRE’s Programme objectives. Track record of business performance over the previous 3 years including evidence of circular economy implementation. Evidence of strong founder in the in the business fully committed to the Programme and the ideals of the Circular Economy. Strong leadership team with a track record of skills/capabilities to make the new venture succeed. Strong Value Proposition/s encapsulated in a well-designed business model which will deliver growth and profitability through circular economy principles. Strong prospect of generating defensible IP. Evident understanding of the target market/s and the marketing strategy that is to be employed. The financial strength to fund and sustain your circular venture Programme Timeline Application Process Download and complete this form: Circular Venture Innovation & Mentoring Programme 2024 - Application Form Applicants must submit their completed application by EOD Wednesday, the 26th June 2024 via the following email: circuleire@imr.ie If you have any queries regarding the Circular Venture Innovation & Mentoring Programme please reach out to Agnese.Metitieri@imr.ie directly.

What a week as our founding member Freefoam Building Products Ltd played host to the CIRCULÉIRE network for another jam packed agenda full with great participation at our June Network meeting 2024. 👏 Firstly huge shout out for the warm welcome from Freefoam CEO Aidan Harte and from Kevin Cronin , Patricia Hegarty and the entire team for their time and hospitality giving us the opportunity to tour the Freefoam site. This is a fully sustainable business that demonstrates how the pursuit to eliminate waste can reduce the overall impact of their business activities on the environment by keeping materials in use for as long as possible and preserving their value. 📢 Great learnings and knowledge exchange from colleagues from Zero Waste Scotland who delivered a superb overview of the Circular interventions they plan and deliver across a mix of business, public sector, regional and citizen facing activities in Scotland. The team David Barnes , hashtag#petermccafferty , hashtag#nicolamcgovern and Laura Blair outlined to members some specific work where they delivered tailored programmes of support for Manufacturing, Construction and the Built Environment, Food, Drink and the Bioeconomy and Energy Infrastructure. 🔗 We examined the link between Lean and Green with a concise overview of lean process to drive Circularity from Gráinne Leonard from LBSPartners 📣 Our own Circuleire policy lead Valentina Rangel Leon provided members with an update on what is coming down track across the policy landscape with a particular focus on ESPR regulation and what you need to know ! 🔔 Agnese Metitieri provided an overview of from the Insights from the recent member led Thematic Working Group to demystifies the topic of Remanufacturing and Recirculation strategies and what members need to be aware of. 📱 Enya O'Connell introduced our open access  AI4CE decision support tool that demystifies the use of AI in Circularity implementation. Try out the tool here https://lnkd.in/eS25bZqJ 🌊 Paul McCormack-Cooney introduced a bespoke infographic that simplifies the topic of the Circular Economy of water - as part our quest to demystify complex subject matters into digestible information.

On Tuesday 16th of July 2024, the 5th year of the CIRCULÉIRE Circular New Venture Accelerator Programme launched with 5 participating organisations. The programme will provide the cohort of participants with key knowledge and tools to help their circular solutions make a systemic impact on both economic and social level and drive Irelands transition to net-zero carbon circular economy. After a competitive evaluation process we are welcoming Blade Bridge, Finline Furniture, HaPPE Earth, Rezero, and Shareclub to the CIRCULÉIRE Network. Each organisation will receive an equity-free grant of €5,000 and guidance and mentoring from a select panel of international experts to grow and develop their circular businesses. BladeBridge BladeBridge repurposes retired wind turbine blades into sustainable infrastructure such as bridges and e-bike charging hubs.  Wind blades are made from a composite material which is incredibly strong and durable and can be used to substitute raw materials such as steel and concrete for lower carbon & lower maintenance products. “ As three engineering founders with little marketing experience, we feel we’re NOT capturing the full value of our circular product offering across all stakeholders.   We’re excited to have access to other circular entrepreneurs and mentors through the CIRCULEIRE New Venture Programme to help us realise our market value .” – Dr. Angie Nagle CEO BladeBridge Finline Furniture Revive by Finline Furniture is an initiative that not only promotes circularity but also supports social causes and customer loyalty. This take back scheme gives old furniture a second life. We restore and resell it, reducing waste and promoting sustainability thereby making a positive impact on the environment and society as a whole. “ We want to understand how best to market The Revive by Finline Programme to our stakeholders. Gaining best in class knowledge from experts in the circular field will help us to achieve our goals of promoting this as a new business model. Being part of a network of peers that have similar objectives is important to us. ” – Kilian Finane Finline Furniture HaPPE Earth HaPPE Earth have created bio-digestible (compostable) Personal Protective Equipment, such as single use splash aprons, using sustainably sourced bio-resin. The PPE is used as before but this time, the value is recovered by using our HaPPE onsite medical bio-digester creating a pathogen safe, nutrient rich fertiliser, resin recapture or biofuel potential. “ We believe that this programme and network access from CIRCULÉIRE Circular Venture programme will help us to build a streamlined educational programme for staff to segregate healthcare waste with minimal disruption to current practice. Securing buy-in from all levels of healthcare staffing, promoting appreciation of environmental and financial targets and gains will be critical in securing a sustainable market growth for our business venture. ” – Dr Mary O’Riordan Co-Founder HaPPE Earth Rezero Rezero eliminates waste by preventing millions of unused cigarettes from being incinerated annually, addressing a global issue. By isolating cellulose acetate from the cigarette filters, Rezero manufactures sustainable products like buttons and eyewear frames, reducing reliance on virgin materials and supporting the circular economy in the fashion industry and beyond. “ We applied to this Programme to scale our capacity to recycle cigarette filters and to scale production of high-quality recycled material and products that will replace harmful alternatives in the fashion industry. We aim to be at the forefront of sustainable manufacturing in Ireland and inspire innovation in the circular economy ” – Johnnie Bell CFO Rezero Shareclub Shareclub offers innovative circular packaging solutions for events, workplaces, and takeaway services, designed to cut costs and minimise waste. Utilising QR-enabled reusables, shareclub tracks usage and impact, providing event hosts and corporate partners with quantifiable insights on their reduction of disposable items and CO2 emissions, enhancing sustainability reporting. “ We applied to the CIRCULÉIRE Circular Ventures Accelerator Programme to leverage their network and mentorship for validating our impact measurement tools and aligning with regulations. Our goal is to enhance the value of our solutions, help clients meet waste reduction targets, and contribute to Ireland’s transition towards a net-zero carbon circular economy. ” – Sarah Fliessbach Founder shareclub

Do you have proven expertise in organisational Greenhouse Gas accounting, with a strong understanding of standards such as the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064? Can you critically assess methodologies for accuracy, transparency, and alignment with best practice?     If you are a skilled analyst with experience in verification or methodological review, IMR – the secretariat and coordinator of CIRCULÉIRE – wants to hear from you.    IMR is requesting applications from a suitably qualified Independent Expert  to verify the methodology used by CIRCULÉIRE to calculate GHG emissions hotspots for member organisations.    Project Aims and Background   CIRCULÉIRE’s GHG emissions hotspot analysis service helps members identify and prioritise the areas with the highest emissions, enabling targeted and impactful reduction actions. To ensure the robustness and credibility of this service, CIRCULÉIRE seeks an external expert to review, assess, and provide recommendations for enhancing the methodology.    This work will:    Confirm   alignment  with recognised GHG accounting standards.  Identify strengths , gaps, and opportunities for improvement.  Provide recommendations  for future methodological development and potential certification.    For more details about the scope of work and expected outputs, please read the full Call for Proposals document .     Applicants must send the  completed Excel Application Form  to  valentina.tarasco@imr.ie  and daniel.whelan@imr.ie  by 5:00 PM, Friday 12th September using the email Subject Heading: ‘CfP Application – GHG Hotspot Assessment Methodology Verification’.   Indicative Timeline & Budget    Deadline for Submission:  Friday, 12th September 2025, 5:00 PM  Communication of winning proposal:  By Friday, 19th September 2025  Project Kick-Off Meeting:  Tuesday, 30th September 2025    IMR Contact:  Valentina Tarasco, Circularity Assessment & Metrics Lead   E:   valentina.tarasco@imr.ie

Ireland’s Circularity Gap Report was launched by Minister Ossian Smyth at the EPA Circular Economy Conference on Wednesday, 25th of September.   Developed by Circle Economy , Ireland’s CGR report creates an important impact baseline of the country’s circularity performance, and when combined with CGR Northern Ireland, offers a valuable All-Island perspective, creating the potential for a strategic approach to public-private investment to drive circular innovation across the island.   The report outlines specific pathways to reduce material consumption by 29% and cut carbon emissions by 32%, while tripling the country’s circularity rate from 2.7% to 8.4%.   The Circularity Gap Report highlights five key pathways to closing the Circularity Gap: Build a Circular Built Environment: Material Footprint is reduced by 12.6%; Carbon Footprint is reduced by 17.3% Shape a Circular Food System: Material Footprint is reduced by 2.9%; Carbon Footprint is reduced by 1.65% Advance Circular Manufacturing: Material Footprint is reduced by 0.8%; Carbon Footprint is reduced by 0.8% Redesign Transport and Mobility: Material Footprint is reduced by 10%; Carbon Footprint is reduced by 14% Embrace Circular Consumer Goods: Material Footprint is reduced by 8.9%; Carbon Footprint is reduced by 5% We look forward to continuing to drive industry-oriented scale-up of circularity in collaboration with our members, who over the last 5 years, have been pioneers in the transition towards circularity, and who are committed to collectively accelerating a circular future for Ireland.   You can review Sectoral Guides showcasing Circular Best Practices in Construction & Built Environment, Food & Drinks, and Transport here  You can review the full Circularity Gap Report here

Autumn is when conference season really kicks off and the CIRUCLÉIRE team have been delighted to engage with key stakeholders in Ireland’s Circular Economy Ecosystem to promote the benefits of scaling circularity and showcasing our member’s circular innovation. EPA Circular Economy Conference – 25th September 2024 Members of IMR’s Circular Economy Team were on hand to talk all things circularity at our exhibition stand during the conference. At the conference we heard from keynote speaker William Neale from the EU Commission in relation to the latest CE Policy development, the shift from directives to regulation, the importance of product design and full product lifecycle impacts, the EU’s focus on stimulating demand to drive investment and competitiveness through circularity, and the forthcoming EU Circular Economy Act which will be a key priority during Ireland’s EU Presidency in 2026. On a practical level Anthony O'Dea from GreenIT gave a great overview of a recent circular public procurement contract which Circular Computing and Green IT won to deliver remanufactured laptops to the public sector. Over the next 4 years through this first of a kind procurement framework, 60,000 remanufactured laptops will be procured by the Government of Ireland saving 19mKg CO2e, 72mKg of earth minerals, 11m litres of water and all at a 15m euro cost saving. A key highlight of the conference was of course, Minister Ossian Smyth launching Ireland's Circularity Gap Report. Developed by Circle Economy, Ireland’s CGR report creates an important impact baseline of the country’s circularity performance, and when combined with CGR Northern Ireland, offers a valuable All-Island perspective, creating the potential for a strategic approach to public-private investment to drive circular innovation across the island. You can read more about the Circularity Gap Report here . Circular Economy Hotspot Cmyru - 7th – 9th October We were delighted to be invited to present at the Afternoon Breakout Sessions on the Main Conference Day of the Wales Circular Economy Hotspot. The session Circular Innovation in Business featured innovative case studies from businesses investing in driving the circular economy through innovation and partnership. Dr Geraldine Brennan joined fellow speakers; Jon Anderson (Polytag), Adam Crowe (WRAP), Simon Fleet (W. Howard Group), Rosalie McMillan (Smile Plastics), and Andrew Martin (AMRC Cymru) to share case study demonstrations of successfully embedding circular principles in everyday organisational practices. Geraldine presented on member success stories from Freefoam Building Products (CE Power of Many), Farrell Furniture (Do More With Less), Cirtex (Upcycled Insulation), and Offerre (MEDAL). WEEE Ireland Members Conference - 16th October CIRCULÉIRE team was pleased to exhibit at the WEEE Ireland Members Conference, an essential gathering for those driving Ireland’s circular economy. The event featured key industry insights, including a presentation from Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland, on a more circular approach to Extended Producer Responsibility (ERP) and raw material recovery. Rosemary Gaul from the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications outlined new battery regulations, while Jan Vlak from Stichting Foundation highlighted the Netherlands’ successful single Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) model and called for increased collection efforts and ERP financing reform. Julie-Ann Adams, CEO of the European Electronics Recyclers Association (EERA), warned of challenges in e-waste reuse and recycling, emphasizing the need for regulation, safety improvements, and collaborative action to enable a circular economy. Environment Ireland Conference - 17th October At the Environment Ireland Conference in Croke Park, Dr. Geraldine Brennan emphasized the urgent need for a swift transition to the circular economy, underscoring its role in addressing climate and environmental challenges. Ossian Smyth, Minister of State for Communications and Circular Economy, highlighted the significant "time and political capital" required to support initiatives like the EU Nature Restoration Law and Ireland’s Climate Act. Julie Thompson, Deputy Secretary of DAERA in Northern Ireland, discussed their Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2024, focusing on achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and ensuring excellent air, water, and land quality. She emphasized the need for cross-border and cross-department collaboration to meet strategic goals. Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, Director of Circular Economy at the European Commission, noted that business cycles are longer than political ones and stressed the importance of stable investment cycles to maintain progress toward the EU Green Deal and decarbonization efforts. Francesca Racioppi from the World Health Organization highlighted gaps in global health and sanitation, with 30% of EU citizens still lacking basic sanitation. She praised Ireland’s leadership in creating climate-resilient health systems. Imelda Hurley, CEO of Coillte, pointed to MEDITE SMARTPLY's innovative use of by-products from saw milling as an example of circular economy principles in action. CIRCULÉIRE were also proud sponsors of the Circular Economy Chapter within the Environment Ireland Yearbook. This yearbook is a comprehensive reference book for those interested in environmental issues in the Island of Ireland, and an excellent resource to anyone working in the environment sector. Techies Go Live Conference - 17th October 2024 CIRCULÉIRE Circular Economy Venture Lead Agnese Metitieri joined panelists Paul McSweeney (The ZeroNet), James Tombs (Vyta), and Francis O'Haire (Climb Channel Solutions) at the Techies Go Green conference in the Guinness Enterprise Centre to discuss ' How can we accelerate circular economy transformations for sustainable business success? ' The panel delved into the factors impeding the Circular Economy transition, highlighting a lack of consumer awareness and the limited capacity for organizations, specifically SMEs, to engage with regulatory changes. By showcasing innovative Irish initiatives - such as CIRCULÉIRE Accelerator Ventures - the panel highlighted the critical link between climate action and the Circular Economy, noting that designing out waste and extending the materials' lifecycle are essential for mitigating climate change and critical to implementing EU and Irish decarbonization strategy. To accelerate the transition to Circular Economy, the panel called for increased collaboration, piloting with small-scale projects that can demonstrate the viability of circular business and for leveraging the extensive grant funding landscape. ESG Autumn Summit - Croke Park 20th November 2024 Dr Geraldine Brennan spoke on the Main Stage of the ESG Autumn Summit in Croke Park in November 2024 and spoke on the urgency to scale up action in the context of climate action, biodiversity and the circular economy. At present, 45% of emissions are generated by material extraction and processing. If we take an all-island approach to collaboration, innovation and investment, thus building resilience and competitiveness in the economy, there is a projected opportunity to reach an estimated 25% circular material use rate CGR NI (2022) and CGR Ireland (2024).