Search Results

Jackie Rafferty (HPE) welcoming and hosting CIRCULÉIRE members and team during their visit to the HPE facilities on Erskine Ferry Road, Bishopton, Scotland, on on 9th November 2025. Irish Manufacturing Research, in our capacity as the secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE in collaboration with Zero Waste Scotland, curated a multi-sectoral circular innovation exchange in September 2025 for our industry members which included multiple site visits to Scottish circularity pioneers.     During this international trip we visited HPE’s Technology Renewal Centre in Erskine, where they are redefining how we view aged IT such as laptops and servers - treating used technology not as waste, but as a valuable resource. Through their Technology Renewal Centres, HPE extend the lifecycle of equipment, unlock funds from existing technology and return that value to their customers.       Why does this matter?   E-waste is no longer just a waste management problem.  It is a strategic, economic, and environmental challenge. According to The Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 , the world generated 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2022, an 82% increase since 2010 and is on track to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030. Despite Europe having the highest collection rate globally (42.8%), over half of e-waste still escapes formal systems, resulting in lost critical raw materials and avoidable emissions.      The problem to solve    Much of today’s discarded IT equipment such as laptops, desktops, monitor and servers still hold significant economic and functional value. Premature disposal leads to resource depletion, increased demand for virgin materials, and escalating CO₂ emissions from manufacturing new devices. In Ireland, per capita e-waste generation is among the highest in the world (20,6 kg per person), yet collection rates remain under 50% .      Circular strategies: a better way forward    Recycling alone cannot close the gap. Circular strategies and practices like as-is reuse, refurbishment, and remanufacturing can keep ICT products in use for longer, extending life-spans and reducing the need for virgin resource extraction.     Reuse ensures devices find a second life through redeployment or resale as-is.   Refurbishment inspects reported faults with a view to restoring equipment to a high-quality for resale / extended life.   Remanufacturing goes further by rebuilding products to a guaranteed to perform “as new” standards whilst saving costs and related emissions.     These circular strategies offer measurable business and environmental benefits, including lower total cost of ownership and reduced Scope 3 emissions.  Over the past 3 years, HPE returned 9.5 million IT assets (including laptops, servers) to use achieving a 96% resale rate for laptops and 84% for servers.  Interestingly what is key to HPE’s takeback and resale success is the financing they provide companies to rekit their new products whilst taking back their outdated ICT – an approach that could be replicated by others.    Irish Context - Role of EPRs & Public Procurement as a Catalyst   In an Irish context, WEEE Ireland , one of the two national e-waste Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance schemes, is moving beyond a recycling-first approach to embrace as-is reuse, repair, refurbishment, and remanufacturing initiatives to co-develop the Irish circular electronics and IT ecosystems required to keep products in use for longer and unlock greater value from recovered materials.      Ireland’s Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria for ICT (2024) include clear requirements for the supply of refurbished or remanufactured equipment, enabling the Public Sector to lead by example, embedding circularity into procurement frameworks, setting market expectations, and stimulating demand for circular business models.       What can you do?     Whether you’re in the public or private sector, now is the time to reimagine your IT asset strategy: think beyond traditional ownership, explore leasing and as-a-service models, integrate remanufactured and refurbished equipment into your procurement and IT Asset Disposition  strategies. This strategy defines how an organisation securely, responsibly, and efficiently manages end of life IT assets. It covers data sanitisation, reuse, refurbishment, resale, recycling and compliant disposal to minimise data risk, reduce environmental impact, and maximise recover value.    By giving ICT technology a longer use-life, we can protect critical raw materials , reduce emissions, and unlock value, demonstrating that waste can be transformed into a resource.   IMR are proud to be leading the Irish pilot of the Interreg NWE CircularShift project which seeks to accelerate the transition to a circular economy by scaling up circular procurement practices for frequently purchased public-sector products such as phones, laptops, and workwear across 5 regions Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Ireland.     In 2026 IMR will reach out to organizations across Ireland's public procurement landscape and value chain partners to understand training needs and unlock new opportunities. We will also establish a dynamic working group centered on a procurement pilot for laptops or phones and host an innovative "Meet Your Supplier" event.  Watch this space for details as plans take shape!   🔗 Learn More     CIRCULÉIRE (2024) Remanufacturing Insights Report    CIRCULEIRE (2022) Circular ICT /EEE Good Practice Sectoral Guide   CIRCULÉIRE Member Case Study – Green IT

CIRCULÉIRE members and team visiting Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE‑ST) on Watt Place, Glasgow, Scotland, on 10th November 2025. Irish Manufacturing Research, in our capacity as the secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE in collaboration with Zero Waste Scotland, curated a multi-sectoral circular innovation exchange in September 2025 for our industry members which included multiple site visits to Scottish circularity pioneers.     Whilst in Glasgow in we visited with two organisations who have been rolling their sleeves up on how best to direct cutting-edge circular innovation practices to transform the construction sector. Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) is Scotland's national innovation centre for construction and the built environment which is also home to the Mass Timber Centre of Excellence – a centre which exists to redesign Scotland’s approach to delivering the built environment to meet the demands of climate change and the housing crisis and also lead the neighbouring Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre.     The background   The construction sector’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions account for  approximately 40% of global GHG emissions   – about one-third from the construction phase, and the remaining two-thirds from buildings in use ( WEF, 2021 ). Here in Ireland, we are simultaneously facing a severe shortage of housing. Recent Housing Commission estimates find underlying shortages range from 212,500 to 256,000 homes ( Social Justice Ireland, 2024 ).     Reducing the emissions and environmental footprint of the sector - whilst steadily meeting the scale of demand - requires innovative ways to build more sustainable, low-impact and affordable housing at scale and speed.     At BE-ST, we spoke with Hannah Lundstrom, Impact Manager, who highlighted the significant impacts of the built environment on people and planet: the UK construction sector contributes 45% of emissions, 50% of waste, and 60% of material consumption. BE-ST seeks to transform the sector, focusing on circular economy projects, off-site manufacturing, sustainable, bio-based materials (like cross-laminate timber and hemp insultation) and retrofits. Key achievements to date include generating £1.8 billion in additional revenue and launching 386 new products, including a brick made from recycled construction waste.    The promise of these solutions is clear. Take for instance the Nest House prototype - a sustainable, quick, and efficient timber modular housing solution – which can be fully fabricated for around £70K in under three days. The prototype is the result of a partnership with Social Bite, a charity with a mission to end homelessness, which partnered with Ecosystems Technologies to create an innovative housing solution for their Social Bite Villages. In early 2026, one such ‘Recovery Village’ will be created in Dundee Village, offering fifteen houses, a communal community hub to support people struggling with homelessness and addiction.      The homes are net-zero carbon and built with local, sustainable materials, supporting both the environment and local economies. While still niche, this approach presents a blueprint for how we might tackle homelessness - by providing affordable housing rapidly, integrating circular innovation, local supply chains, and minimal on-site disruption. The villages also offer a holistic housing-first type solution for those facing homelessness and addiction, by creating a communal support system, including skills training and recovery services. Social Bite plans to expand with new villages in Dundee and South Lanarkshire by 2026.    Just a couple of hundred metres away, we visited another lighthouse example of circular construction in practice - Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre. Also led by BE-ST and supported by the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund, it offers a fabric-first approach using natural, locally sourced and sustainable materials alongside modern construction methods. The Centre is poised to tackle yet another major barrier facing the sector – the shortage of skilled labour. Parallels with the challenges facing us here in Ireland are evident here too: we will needs thousands of workers to be trained with retrofitting skills to hit our 2030 targets of upgrading 500,000 houses to a B2 Building Energy Rating (BER) or better . The Centre offers apprenticeships, trainings and a learning hub to equip a new generation of workers with the necessary skills to future-fit our homes.     Our recent trip demonstrates the value in ongoing learning and exchange with our international neighbours about novel and holistic approaches to meet the scale of the challenges ahead and IMR is poised to collaborate with key ecosystem stakeholders like Irish Green Building Council, WoodConnect, Construct Innovate and Mount Lucas Training Centre to further the deployment of circular practices in the construction sector.       🔗 Learn More     CIRCULÉIRE Circular Construction & Built Environment Good Practice Guide     For great examples of CIRCULÉIRE members pioneering built environment solutions, take a look at our case study on BladeBridge and Arcology .

Youtube Video: All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025 Highlights, 27th November 2025. For our closing round-up of the 2025 All-Island Circular Venture Awards, we present our highlights video showcasing all the elements of a successful event -  speeches from Minister of State with responsibility for Circular Economy, Alan Dillon TD and Micheal Cassidy IMR CTO; all the shortlisted companies, expert judges, ESB’s fantastic venue, circular award fabrication, the audience, award giving by Martina Hennessy, Department of Climate, Energy & the Environment (DCEE) and a collective team effort!   Congratulations again to our winners Mary O´Riordan and Lisa O´Riordan from  HaPPE Earth  with their transformation of single-use PPE into a circular solution, replacing plastics with compostable materials, converting waste into fertiliser, and delivering ESG insights cutting costs, carbon, and complexity. Having seen their sharp, passionate and precise pitch, we were thrilled that the judges chose HaPPE Earth to take the award home! HaPPE Earth embodies   circular innovation, excellence, execution strength, commercial viability, and a persevering, pioneering vision.   Congratulations to Adam Hankin from  Gemell  Technology, first finalist with their digital solution for the textile sector to reduce unnecessary sample waste through data driven 3D visualisation and analytics.  Gemell   Technology pioneers digitally based technologies that make it easy for actors and supply chains to reduce waste and scale sustainably. We were delighted Adam’s engaging presentation about Gemell’s digital twins of fibre, yarn and fabric earned the venture second place!   Congratulations to Lavanya Bhandari   from  Ecoroots , second finalist with its data-driven compostable mycelium packaging.  Ecoroots’ holistic circularity story exemplifies the systemic level of change required to bring the circular economy to life. We were extremely happy to see how Lavanya’s visually stunning presentation connected with the audience and gained Ecoroots third place.   We look forward to the 2026 All-Island Circular Venture Awards! Keep an eye on our socials for updates.

Geraldine Brennan (IMR/CIRCULÉIRE), Gareth McAllister (Ahascragh Distillery), Daina Vaz (IMR), and Colm Martin (SEAI) at IMR’s Network Symposium on 20th November. Industrial heat is the backbone of manufacturing, powering everything from food processing to metal production. In the month of November, CIRCULÉIRE held Enabling Circularity in Energy Systems , a webinar about Power to Heat (P2H) and Thermal Storage (TES) as a route for decarbonising energy in Irish Industry, which evidenced how the conversation around decarbonisation of heat is shifting toward heat electrification.  Co-authors of the guide and IMR’s Sustainability and Energy Researchers,  Elahe Bolhasani , and  Davis Rusmanis , offered an overview of the seven available technologies to implement P2H and TES solutions to maximise resource efficiency, cut emissions and reduce costs within the Irish landscape. The overview included case studies where these technically and commercially viable technologies have been deployed in Ireland and other countries in Europe.   Ireland’s strong pharmaceutical and food industries make it an ideal candidate for heat electrification. However, adoption here trails behind Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, where public-private collaboration and knowledge sharing have accelerated progress.  Diana Vaz , co-author of the guide and IMR’s Senior Programme Manager, concluded the session with current barriers and next steps for the Irish context, where electrification of heat continues to be a decarbonisation gap.    Vaz explained the areas of focus to close this gap, such as reducing electricity costs and improving grid access, strengthening technical support, aligning incentives, and building industry capacity through pilots and staff training. She also outlined steps for industrial sites to adopt P2H and TES solutions, including mapping heat demand, assessing feasibility of mature solutions or exploring onsite renewables options.   Vaz ended the session inviting attendees to take part in a  collaboration survey  aiming to develop practical methodologies and tools for identifying the best electrified heat solutions for industry. The conversation was chaired by Circular Economy Best Practice and Toolkits Lead, Paul McCormack Cooney, who opened the event with a brief introduction about Circular Economy and CIRCULÉIRE´s publicly available range of sectoral guides .   Geraldine Brennan (Director of Circular Economy Innovation, IMR/CIRCULÉIRE) presenting the 11th Good Practice Guide during IMR’s Network Symposium on 20th November. The webinar provided some insights from CIRCULÉIRE’s 11 th  Good Practise Sectoral Guide,   Industrial Power-to-Heat: Enabling Circularity in Energy Systems ,   which was also discussed and launched at the discussion panel Electrification of Heat: Strengthening Energy Resilience and Sustainability  during IMR’s Network Symposium on 20 th  November, with the participation of Dr Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at IMR and editor to the guide; co-author of the guide and IMR’s Senior Programme Manager, Diana Vaz; Manager of EXEED Program at SEAI, Colm Martin; and Founder & Managing Director at Ahascragh Distillery, Gareth McAllister.

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.

Katyln O’Riordan (CEO & Co-Founder of Kinset), Richard Brennan (CEO, Evolve Automotive), Michelle Lee (Head of Innovation & Sustainability), and Valentina Tarasco (Circularity Assessment & Metrics Lead CIRCULÉIRE/IMR) at the ESG Autumn Summit 2025. A big thank you to CIRCULÉIRE members  Kinset , Evolve Automotive and General Paints Group  for sharing their circular stories with Valentina Tarasco IMR Metrics & Assessment Lead at the ESG Summit on the 20 th  of November.   Katie O’Riordan CEO of Kinset, a green tech circular start-up, highlighted the fact that most products lack accessible data, making reuse and recycling nearly impossible. In fashion, 64% of textiles end up as waste, and only 1% is recycled. Furniture faces similar issues, with 10 million tons discarded annually due to poor repairability. Beauty packaging accounts for 72% of sector waste, while paint and chemicals create challenges when product details are lost. Digital Product Passports (DPPs) can transform circularity by reducing compliance admin by 70%, enabling transparency, and meeting upcoming EU regulations requiring DPPs for garments by 2028. With accurate data, businesses can unlock reuse, recycling, and new value streams across industries.   Richard Brennan , CEO of Evolve Circular Automotive, shared his journey of transforming Ireland’s automotive sector through circular practices where data quality and availability are critical enablers of circularity.  Starting as a regional business, he scaled nationally to Evolve by merging with GTE Recovery, creating a model that manages vehicles from end-of-life to reuse. Their approach includes recovery, repair, redistribution, and resale, prioritizing green parts to reduce carbon impact. Despite challenges, partnerships with both Allianz and Axa and the Garda fleet have driven adoption. With legislation abroad and growing demand for sustainability, Evolve champions collaboration, data-driven traceability, and innovative solutions like a feasibility study for use of second-life EV batteries as energy storage solutions.   Evolve’s green parts strategy focuses on creating a circular automotive ecosystem by reusing high-quality components from end-of-life vehicles instead of relying on new parts. Vehicles are dismantled responsibly, and reusable parts are harvested, graded, and quality-checked. Green parts are supplied to body shops and repair centers, reducing costs and carbon emissions. Data-driven systems track parts from donor vehicles to ensure transparency and compliance.  The impact is clear. Reusing parts avoids emissions from manufacturing and global shipping of new components.  It anticipates EU directives promoting green parts before new parts. Evolve’s focus on partnerships has allowed them grow and their digital focus not only serves customers’ carbon data but their own stock optimisation. Michelle Lee , Head of Innovation & Sustainability at General Paint Group (GPG) referred to GPG’s ESG strategy being guided by the B Corp framework . Certification in 2024 was not a revenue-driven exercise but rather adopted as a blueprint for impact, aligning with pillars of workers, environment, customers, community, and governance. For GPG circularity drives innovation through sustainable formulations, recyclable packaging, waste reduction, and design for longevity. Collaboration with suppliers and networks like CIRCULÉIRE accelerates progress. For GPG, cultural change was key.  ESG projects now shape the company’s goals, training, and daily operations, fostering innovation and resilience helping them deliver their mission to create products that benefit people, planet, and communities.   It was great to have such diverse circular businesses represented at this very well received Deep Dive Session. Thank you all again!   #LetsGetCircular #CircularEconomy #ESGSummit2025 #Sustainability #Innovation #ResponsibleBusiness #GreenTech #ESGLeadership #CIRCULÉIRE #IrishManufacturingResearch

Representatives from the CircularShift consortium, including IMR’s Patrick O’Donnell and partners from across Europe, gather in Mechelen for a three‑day project meeting on advancing circular procurement. From December 1-3, Patrick O'Donnell from Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) attended the Interreg NWE CircularShift project meeting in Mechelen, Belgium. He represented the wider Irish consortium, which includes the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Sandyford Business District, and WEEE Ireland as associate partners. The CircularShift project aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy by scaling up circular procurement practices for frequently purchased public-sector products such as phones, laptops, and workwear across 5 regions Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Ireland. This twice-yearly gathering brought together all partner organizations and selected associate partners to review progress across the three work packages and plan for the coming six months. Patrick was joined by Fernanda Pinto Godoy from Sandyford Business District , who presented their work on the Circular PsP project and the AI tool they're developing to help public organizations draft tenders for circular procurement. Day One: Decision Making Framework and Dashboard The morning started with a masterclass from Nyenrode Business University on decision-making for circular procurement. They outlined two approaches for making better procurement decisions: The Structural Path The structural path uses regulations, frameworks like the Digital Product Passport, and established best practices. While these will be essential tools once legislation is fully operational, that will take time. The Behavioural Path The behavioural path focuses on motivating people to engage with the challenges of circular procurement. Using the FOGG behavioural model, it explores how prompts can encourage people to ask the right questions of the right people, driving motivation and building capability. Breakout sessions then tackled three sectors: workwear, laptops, and phones. Participants identified key stakeholders and KPIs important for the project, along with the risks and opportunities that could either hinder or enable behavioural change. They also examined how ESPR criteria could guide procurement choices. In the afternoon, Anusha Mascarenhas from Nyenrode explained how a decision-making framework can help shift from quick, intuitive thinking to more deliberate analysis. Patrick then presented a prototype of the Decision Making Framework, followed by discussion of its proposed elements. Saul Morais from Nyenrode led a workshop where participants applied the framework to a sample tender for modular phones. Groups of procuring organizations from different regions tested the framework phases and provided feedback. Fernanda wrapped up the day with an overview of the Circular PsP project, explaining how their AI tool could assist in creating tenders. She invited all partners to follow the project and potentially test the tool in future. Day Two: Needs Assessment The morning masterclass, delivered by Joan Prummel and Mervyn Jones from lead partner Rijkswaterstaat , focused on changing mindsets to change behaviour. Their key message was that mindset operates at the individual level, not the abstract organizational level. To create change, you need to find people with the ability, influence, and interest to make it happen, understand what barriers are holding them back, and address those barriers. These stakeholders will vary across organizations and procurements. Successful needs assessment means finding the right people at the right time and asking them the right questions. It's crucial to enable individuals to lead on areas they're passionate about. Joan Prummel's work on the Green Deal illustrated how networking and building collaboration are essential for developing new ideas. A workshop then showed partners how to map stakeholders based on their interest and influence to identify those who can drive the biggest change. The afternoon session, led by Patrick and Wouter Reekers from the City of Almere, began with an overview of the needs assessment requirements for training. An open discussion identified key stakeholders—both internal and external to procurement organizations—who need to be interviewed. Once the stakeholder types were agreed upon, a proposal for conducting interviews in partnership with Anusha was presented and accepted. Partners then identified stakeholders within their networks who could be interviewed. These will be mapped on a matrix to identify gaps, allowing partners to seek out any missing stakeholders. Day Three: Value Chain Collaboration and Pilots Jukie Poppe and Peter Verswijvel from the City of Mechelen ran a workshop to help partners develop ideas for potential pilots. Three breakout groups each focused on one sector: laptops, phones, or workwear. Using the R-Strategy table from Circular Flanders (outlining five goals and various strategies to achieve them) groups identified possible strategies and actions for each sector that could be included in future procurements. They then explored the barriers and enablers to implement these strategies. After each group shared their findings, pilot partners reviewed all three sectors to identify strategies and actions they could incorporate into future pilots. The exercise was highly successful, with pilot partners finding several strategies to test. Audrey Bonabeau from RESECO in France then presented their experience with working groups for furniture, outlining how they set them up, ran them, and what they learned. An open discussion followed, and both methods for establishing working groups were endorsed, along with the scope of pilots for work packages 1 and 3. The afternoon featured site visits to social-circular practices in Mechelen: CiLAB Collective collaborates with fashion brands, retailers, and Decathlon to repair and upcycle collections that would otherwise be discarded. They're working with social economy company Ecoso on the RegioGreentex project to develop new business models, particularly for workwear life extension. The Recupperij, Ecoso' s innovation lab, prepares laptops and smartphones from the City of Mechelen and other companies for reuse as part of digital inclusion efforts. This work is done by people who face barriers to employment. The Recupperij also sorts and refurbishes fashion items like glasses, shoes, and bridal wear, and provides laundry and repair services for workwear. Next year IMR will be reaching out to organizations across Ireland's public procurement landscape and value chain partners to understand their training needs and unlock new opportunities. We will also be establishing a dynamic working group centered on a procurement pilot for laptops or phones. As part of this collaborative effort, we'll be hosting an innovative "Meet Your Supplier" event. Watch this space for details as plans take shape!

Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), in its capacity as the secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE, and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) are delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural All-Island Circular Venture Awards held on Thursday, November 27th at ESB’s Event Space in Dublin. Open to late-stage start-ups and ventures across the island of Ireland, the Awards are designed to recognise companies pioneering the emergence of the circular economy sector by enabling or demonstrating a circular value proposition.  Minister of State with responsibility for Circular Economy Alan Dillon TD delivered an enthusiastic opening speech, saying: ‘ I am very pleased to see such strong cross-sectoral circular innovations represented at these inaugural Circular Venture Awards.  The ten shortlisted companies showcase a vibrant ecosystem and emerging circular economy sector that the Government is committed to supporting. Our 2nd Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy emphasises mainstreaming circular business models, supporting the scale-up of reuse, repair and remanufacturing, and encouraging sharing economies. By investing in innovation and infrastructure, Ireland aims to reduce resource loss, support job creation, and embed circularity across sectors.  Today, by celebrating circular innovations across the island of Ireland, we take steps to accelerate impact and accelerate our collective transition to a circular economy.  I would like to recognise Irish Manufacturing Research as a strategic delivery partner who is driving industry-oriented circularity and wish all shortlisted companies the best of luck with your pitches .’  Ten shortlisted companies, including Arcology System, Biographene Innovations Ireland, BladeBridge, Circular Food Co, Ecoroots, Gemell Technology Limited, HaPPE Earth, Harp Renewables, Integrated Materials Solutions and Kinset Limited, pitched to a high-profile audience of investors, industry leaders, policy makers, and media to compete for a prize pool of €10,000.   With representation from an extremely broad range of sectors (commercial fitout infrastructure, construction waste management, compostable PPE, biobased production and packaging solutions; repurposed wind energy infrastructure; digital enablement of circular processes; aerobic digestion, additional manufacturing for textiles; and upcycling of food residuals) the judging panel were certainly challenged. Mark Nodder, Joint CEO of Makers Alliance; Jamie Rowles, Partner at Regeneration.VC; Faye Walsh Drouillard, Founding & Managing Partner of WakeUp Capital; and Dr Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at Irish Manufacturing Research, deliberated and emerged at 5 pm with a winner and two finalists. Martina Hennessy, Assistant Secretary with responsibility for Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency at DCEE, announced HaPPE Earth as the overall winner, Gemell Technology Limited as the first finalist and Ecoroots as the second finalist. Micheal Cassidy, CTO at Irish Manufacturing Research; Lisa O’Riordan, HaPPE Earth; Martina Hennessy, Assistant Secretary for Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency at DCEE. Micheal Cassidy, CTO at Irish Manufacturing Research; Adam Hankin, Gemell, 1st finalist; Martina Hennessy, Assistant Secretary for Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency at DCEE. Micheal Cassidy, CTO at Irish Manufacturing Research; Lavanya Bhandari from Ecoroots, 2nd finalist; Martina Hennessy, Assistant Secretary for Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency at DCEE. Congratulating the companies, Ms Hennessy said: ‘I am delighted to represent my department at the 2025 All-Island Circular Venture Awards. The innovation witnessed today is exceptional, and I very much look forward to seeing all the companies involved going from strength to strength as we seek to grow the circular economy in Ireland . ' Congratulating the three companies, Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) Chief Technology Officer, Micheal Cassidy, said:   ‘Today IMR celebrates these pioneers, and as a strategic delivery partner to the Government, we are committed to driving industrial-oriented circular innovation with many more companies like these over the coming years.’ Referring to the winner, Dr Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at Irish Manufacturing Research, said: “The winner of the inaugural All-Island Circular Venture Awards embodies circular innovation, circular excellence, execution strength, commercial viability and system level mpact with the persevering and pioneering vision of never giving up.” Lisa O’Riordan from HaPPE Earth, winner of the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025. All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025 shorlisted ventures.

This challenge took place as part of Design & Crafts Council Ireland Irish Design Week 2025  with a programme of 70 events nationwide.    Winners were announced on 20 th  November with Change Clothes winning in the micro category and The Rediscovery Centre winning in the small category – both great examples of the circular economy in action in the consumer space!  McWilliam Bags and Gemell Technology (a finalist in the 2025 All-Island Circular Venture Awards) were runners up.  We were delighted to support our member DCCI and congratulate all the participants.  The IBDC , with sustainable design at its core, are supported by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

Karl Crowley, Senior Program Manager for RD&I Circular Economy at IMR/CIRCULÉIRE, presenting at IMR’s Network Day in Mullingar on 20 November 2025. On Thursday, 20th Novemb er, Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) hosted its Members Network Day in Mullingar. A gathering of industry leaders, technology experts and member companies, the event focused on accelerating Ireland’s manufacturing sector toward a more resilient, sustainable, and circular future.   The Circular Economy Innovation unit and IMR’s wider Sustainable Manufacturing team collaborated in two of the sessions held on the day: Electrification of Heat: Strengthening Energy Resilience and Sustainability  and R&D Funding Masterclass: From Bottlenecks to Funding Opportunities.     The Electrification of Heat  panel, with experts including Dr Geraldine Brennan (Director of Circular Economy Innovation at IMR), Diana Vaz (Senior Programme Manager, IMR Sustainability Team), Colm Martin (Manager of EXEED Program at SEAI), and Gareth McAllister (Founder & Managing Director, Ahascragh Distillery), explored how electrification can transform energy systems and reduce Irish industry’s carbon footprint. The panel offered insights pertaining to CIRCULÉIRE´s 11th Good Practise Sectoral Guide which was officially launched at this event.     The R&D Funding Masterclass , led by Kevin James Fraser (IMR EU Programme Manager), Karl Crowley (Senior Program Manager for RD&I Circular Economy), and Paul Kilroy Glynn (PRIAM Commercial Lead), provided practical strategies for unlocking innovation through funding by outlining and demystifying national and EU funding mechanisms.    The Members Network Day was an opportunity for the CIRCULÉIRE  team to share information about our services and research capabilities and connect with stakeholders committed to advancing Ireland’s circular economy.

Valentina Tarasco (Metrics & Assessment Lead, CIRCULÉIRE/IMR) engaging with TY student attendees during Science Week at IMR’s Mullingar office. During Science Week Valentina Tarasco , IMR Ce Metrics & Assessment Lead co-hosted a session on sustainability and the circular economy for TY students in IMR Mullingar. Valentina highlighted why shifting to a circular model is essential to tackle the 45% of emissions linked to how we extract and process materials. She shared what a “day in the life” working in this field looks like and then allowed the students to take over. In this interactive session students became CEOs, CSOs, Procurement, Marketing and Sales for an hour, working together to redesign products to be more sustainable. It was a really rewarding day and we are proud to play a part in shaping the innovators of tomorrow through real-world learning experiences! #LetsGetCircular #CircularEconomy #ScienceWeek2025

In May 2023 the Circular Economy Hotspot came to Dublin under the leadership of the Rediscovery Centre and with the support of CIRCULÉIRE, Department for the Environment, Climate, and Communications , Dublin City Council , and the Eastern & Midlands, Regional Waste Planning Office . This week-long event, which ran from Monday 29th of May until Thursday 1st of June highlighted the ground-breaking circular economy initiatives, best practices, and innovation on display in Ireland to an international audience. CIRCULÉIRE were delighted to support the organisation of this hotspot and to participate in events and activities throughout the week. On Monday the 29th of May CIRCULÉIRE/IMR hosted a delegation of representatives from the Catalonia Government in our IMR offices in Rathcoole prior to the Dublin Circular Economy Hotspot opening ceremony in the Mansion House, Dublin. At the Mansion House delegates heard from key speakers, including The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy, Minister of State with Responsibility for the Circular Economy, Ossian Smith TD, and Owen Keegan, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council and celebrated the announcement of Slovenia as the future Circular Economy Hotspot 2025 host. On Tuesday the 30th of May an exhibition and conference was hosted in Croke Park, at this event the CIRCULÉIRE team showcased it’s services to hotspot delegates and facilitated the exhibition of four of our CIRCULÉIRE Innovation Fund Awardee Projects C-SUP by Novelplast, CESI by WEEE Ireland, MEDAL CRM by Offerre, and Circular By Design by DCCI and NCAD. Head of Circular Economy and CIRCULÉIRE project lead Dr Geraldine Brennan also presented CIRCULÉIRE’s impacts over 2020-2022 and participated in an international panel exploring how to scale-up Innovation & Collaboration for circularity alongside Prof. Andre Martinuzzi, Director of the Institute for Managing Sustainability, Associate professor at Vienna University of Economics and Business, Anna Brussa, EIT CKIC’s Industrial Value Chain Lead, and Joël Mestres Lobez, Financial Engineering Manager, CINEA. To conclude the second day of the Dublin Circular Economy Hotspot CIRCULÉIRE in association with the Dublin Chamber of Commerce hosted a ‘Circular Matchmaking’ Industry Networking event. The third day of the Hotspot was dedicated to Deep Dive Workshops, the CIRCULÉIRE team co-designed and delivered a Design and Manufacturing workshop in collaboration with Mike Townsend of Earthshine Group. This workshop was attended by over 80 international attendees from industry, policy and academia and included company case studies from businesses who are embodying circular design in their organisational plans, including CIRCULÉIRE member Kevin Cronin of Freefoam Building Products , Marion Briggs of Health Beacon , Richard Brennan of Evolve Fleet , Jean René Skjelbred of Norsk Ombruk AS , and Peter Corcoran of MBio . Expert contributions were also offered by Gwen Cunningham, NCAD + Circle Economy (Textiles); Donal Healion, NCAD (Med Tech); and Frank O’Connor, Anois (Systems Design). On Thursday 1st of June, the final day of the Dublin Circular Economy Hotspot, CIRCULÉIRE supported one of our founding members Farrell Furniture and their CIRCULÉIRE Innovation Fund winning ‘ Do More with Less ’ project partners the Office of Public Works Furniture Division (OPW), and Atlantic Technological University (ATU). This was a truly unique opportunity to get insight behind the scenes of the incredible product life extension endeavours undertaken by the OPW in collaboration with Farrell Furniture & ATU through the Do More with Less project. This was a fantastic week-long international showcase and knowledge sharing event for the circular economy industry in Ireland and we were incredibly proud to be a part of it.