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Tuesday 8th April, IMR Mullingar, Co Westmeath CIRCULÉIRE members and staff gathered for the special visit Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), as Secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE, was delighted to welcome Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Circular Economy,   to their Mullingar RD&I Lab to showcase CIRCULÉIRE services and members’ circularity in action. Award winning enterprise and industry representatives from a cross-sectoral cohort of circular businesses and innovative circular solutions were on hand to talk about their circular impact and the benefits membership has delivered. CIRCULÉIRE Cross-Sectoral Membership & Impact The ICT/WEEE sector was represented by IQuTech ( RDS 2025 Circular Economy Award Nominee ), Green IT and WEEE Ireland. Plastics, packaging and print were represented by Novelplast, Rebox ( RDS 2025 Circular Economy Award Nominee ) and iSupply ( 2025 PWC/Business Post Sustainable Small Business of the Year ). Alumni from CIRCULÉIRE’s Circular Ventures Accelerator including HaPPE Earth ( 2025 HIHI awardee ), BladeBridge ( CEIG 2024 awardee ), shareclub and Eriu were on hand to highlight their circular journeys and efforts to scale. Decotek, an automotive business, elaborated on their circular practices, while past and present CIRCULÉIRE Industry Steering Group members also attended to round out representation from the Built Environment and Financial Services sectors. Comments About the CIRCULÉIRE Member Showcase Minister Alan Dillon said “I am impressed with the scope and scale of the circular business models and practices on display here today.  I have heard from pioneering cross-sectoral enterprise on their journeys to put circular design principles into practice. I thank IMR and CIRCULÉIRE members for a very insightful and hands-on showcase of circularity in action” . Minister Alan Dillon TD (left) and CIRCULÉIRE member Sarah Fliessbach (right) of Shareclub Barry Kennedy, IMR CEO, said “ We are delighted to welcome Minister Alan Dillon, here today.  IMR partners with industry to demystify emerging technologies, derisk adoption, and deliver real-world impact - helping businesses scale and innovate with confidence . CIRCULÉIRE, our national platform for circular innovation, is at the forefront of driving carbon emission reductions by mainstreaming circular business and events like this today are important to put a spotlight on this very important work to protect our climate”. Dr Geraldine Brennan, Head of Circular Economy at IMR and CIRCULÉIRE lead , said,  “Established in 2020, IMR has co-developed the first large-scale industry and enterprise focused platform to deploy circular economy design principles and methodologies in Ireland’s industrial base and we are proud to have the opportunity to showcase CIRCULÉIRE members’ impacts so early in the Minister’s tenure. As we embark on the pathway to 2030, IMR is committed to working with stakeholders in Ireland’s circular ecosystem to realise our shared ambition to make Ireland a leading testbed for circular innovation”.

A day of circular innovation at the Q2 CIRULÉIRE member network meeting on Wednesday 11th June hosted at The Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun.    Kicking off with a tour of the centre (and former district heating boiler house), members witnessed the circular opportunities in our everyday lives, from bike repairs to upcycled lamps and paint to reupholstered and revamped furniture. The centre showcases citizen circularity in action and was a fitting venue to inspire our group to forge ahead with CIRULÉIRE‘s innovation sprints.    Delivered by IMR’s Circular Economy Policy & Innovation Lead Sophie Reynolds in partnership with Laura McDermot from Colectivo, the day was designed to embed the RD&I and collaboration opportunities posed by addressing circularity challenges.       Dr. Geraldine Brennan IMR Director of Circular Economy & Innovation welcomed the group and Fiona Hill, CE Strategic Policy Unit, DCEE gave an update on the Public Consultation for a ‘National Policy Statement & Roadmap on Circular Textiles’ that is open until the 7th of July.  Fiona noted that the second ‘Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy’ was being finalised and would be open to public consultation in the coming weeks; the ‘Circularity Road Map for the Construction Sector’ will go live in Q4; and the fourth call for the ‘Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme 2025’ will go live in September.  Finally, we were advised that DECC is now the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment DCEE with Martina Hennessy appointed as Assistant Secretary for the Circular Economy.    To set the scene, we heard from Angie Nagle, CEO of BladeBridge on their approach to innovation. BladeBridge is circular by design repurposing wind turbine blades for use as components in bridges, bike sheds, EV car charging units etc.  Angie called out the need for ongoing market validation in tandem with solution design.    Peter Mooney from Dawn Meats, a seasoned innovator, gave a captivating presentation, highlighting the no nonsense approach to achieving project go ahead using the analogy of ‘show me the baby’ to refer to key leadership questions like ‘What do we have to do?   How much will it cost?   What are we getting out of it?  While detailed research is needed to get to this point, without the answers to these questions, a project will never get the go ahead.    An outdoor ‘Innovation Bingo’ session allowed all participants to learn about the challenges other members are tackling and helped identify potential partnerships and collaboration opportunities.     Members were then guided through the first divergence and convergence steps of the problem definition phase by Sophie.  Laura explored personas and some interesting new AI solutions and primed the group for the deeper dive that will follow to explore, prototype, test and iterate solutions.    Thanks to all the cross sectoral member companies who took part in workshops. It was glorious to be outdoors for some of the sessions.    Finally, a big thank you to IMR’s Kevin Fraser for presenting to members on the opportunity posed by the upcoming SustainFit Programme.    Don’t forget, our next in person invite only member event will be held in Glasgow on the 9th and 10th of September. Our collaboration with Zero Waste Scotland will involve multiple site visits and CE innovator exchange. Watch this space!

Valentina Rangel Leon and Sophie Reynolds at EU Green Week From the 3rd to 5th of June, CIRCULÉIRE participated in EU Green Week 2025, Europe’s flagship event on environmental policy. This year’s edition focused on the “Three Cs” – Clean, Competitive, and Circular  – and made a strong case for placing circularity at the heart of Europe’s environmental, economic and social transformation.    The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, civil society, and circular economy practitioners to discuss and showcase how circularity can drive the EU’s strategic autonomy, resilience, and innovation. The message was clear: circular economy is no longer niche- but remains fragile without stronger market signal and systemic support.      Key highlights included the forthcoming Circular Economy Act  (2026), which aims to level the playing field for secondary raw materials, harmonise end-of-waste criteria, and boost demand through green public procurement. There was a resounding call for smarter regulation that supports SMEs, incentivises recycled content, strengthens local and regional ecosystems and advance material use targets.  Importantly, it was noted that identifying new gaps and barriers is a sign of progress – it shows we are moving forward in the transition, even if not fast enough.    Sessions spotlighted circular opportunities in sectors like bioeconomy and construction, with concrete case studies from across Europe. The role of skills, innovation, and early collaboration featured prominently, alongside the need to scale successful pilots into investable, market-ready solutions.    Sophie Reynolds, IMR CE Policy & Innovation Lead and Valentina Rangel Leon, IMR CE Policy Officer also attended a side event hosted by the European Bioeconomy Bureau, focused on   discussing upcoming European Bioeconomy Strategy and discussing how to scale bioeconomy innovation pilots to industrial level. Key messages included the need to reduce fossil-based material dependency, improve biowaste collection, and align policies to foster nature-positive development.    Looking ahead, the European Commission announced that the public consultation on the Circular Economy Act   will open soon. CIRCULÉIRE will be reaching out to our members to gather insights, best practices, and feedback to help shape this pivotal piece of legislation.    Stay tuned – and let’s ensure Irish voices and solutions are part of Europe’s circular future.

Paul McCormack-Cooney at Manufacturing and Supply Chain Expo On May 29th, at Ireland’s National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference, IMR and CIRCULÉIRE presented the findings of our latest sectoral guide, ‘Unpacking the Circular Innovation Opportunities for Ireland’s MedTech Sector’ . The key message is clear: while Ireland is a global leader in MedTech, our reliance on a linear, single-use model presents a critical risk—and a significant opportunity. This article unpacks the core findings of that guide, exploring the environmental cost of the current model and the clear, actionable pathways towards a more resilient, profitable, and circular future. Ireland’s MedTech Sector: A Global Powerhouse Ireland’s MedTech sector is a big player on the global stage. As one of the top five global MedTech hubs, we export to over 100 countries and are the third-largest exporter of medical devices in Europe. ·       80% of the world’s stents and 50% of the world’s ventilators are manufactured here. ·       We are the largest global exporter of contact lenses. ·       14 of the top 15 global MedTech companies have operations in Ireland. ·       The sector employs over 50,000 people and its exports are worth €14.9 billion annually, representing 8% of all national exports. And of course, the profound benefits of these technologies to human health and wellbeing cannot be measured in economic terms alone. The Hidden Environmental Cost However, this success comes at an increasing environmental cost. If global healthcare were a country, it would be the world’s fifth-largest CO₂ emitter, surpassing the aviation and shipping sectors (MedTech Europe, 2024). The MedTech industry is a major contributor. According to the Boston Consulting Group (2024), MedTech products contribute about one-third of healthcare’s carbon emissions and most of its waste . This is the result of a linear, single-use-heavy model that consumes vast amounts of energy and finite materials, only to generate significant waste and emissions at a product's end-of-life. The Challenge of Single-Use by Default The MedTech sector is unique in its reliance on single-use devices, a practice driven by crucial patient safety concerns regarding infection and cross-contamination. This trend accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing the sector's dependence on virgin plastics and other materials. The waste is significant. Single-use devices constitute up to 90% of medical device waste  (Health and EY, 2024). The HSE’s Green Healthcare programme found that at least one-third of waste disposed of as "healthcare risk waste" is misclassified, costing the country €1.3 million annually . A further €500,000 per year  is lost by discarding recyclable materials into general waste. The Global Consequences of a Linear Model This reliance on single-use has consequences that extend far beyond clinic waste bins. The continuous extraction and processing of raw materials is a primary driver of the triple planetary crisis. The UNEP’s 2024 Global Resources Outlook reports that this process is responsible for: 60% of climate change impacts. 90% of land-related biodiversity loss and water stress. 40% of health-related pollution impacts. The effects are already here. The IPCC (2021) links rising CO₂ concentrations to more frequent and intense heatwaves and droughts. The WWF (2024) has recorded a 73% average decline in wildlife populations since 1970 . And in Ireland, air pollution contributes to 1,700 premature deaths annually (Irish Heart Foundation, 2023), as 99% of the world’s population breathes air that exceeds WHO safety guidelines. The Circular Economy: A Systemic Solution Much of the sustainability focus to date has been on decarbonising our energy supply. While vital, this only addresses 55% of global emissions. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2021) highlights that the remaining 45% of emissions come from how we make and use products and materials . This is where the circular economy provides the solution. By designing products and materials to be reused, repaired, and remanufactured, a circular economy decouples economic activity from the consumption of finite resources. It is the essential strategy for tackling the 45% of emissions that energy efficiency alone cannot solve. Circularity: The New Direction of Travel The transition to a circular economy is no longer optional. It is a core component of the EU Green Deal and is described in the EU Circular Economy Action Plan as ‘a prerequisite to achieve the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality target and to halt biodiversity loss.’ For businesses, this is becoming a hard-coded requirement. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) includes the E5 standard for ‘Resource use & Circular Economy,’ which requires in-scope companies to report on their circularity policies, material flows, and financial risks and opportunities. Investors are increasingly using this data to assess a company’s long-term resilience. (Note: The scope of the CSRD is currently being debated under an Omnibus Simplification Package). Key Barriers to Circularity in MedTech Our research identified six key challenges the MedTech sector must overcome: A Culture of Single-Use:  Overcoming a culture where single-use is the default, driven by legitimate patient safety concerns but hampered by a limited awareness of circular benefits. Navigating Regulatory Compliance:  Managing stringent and sometimes overlapping regulations across healthcare, environmental protection, and safety standards. Complex Global Supply Chains:  Tracking materials responsibly and developing reverse logistics for material recovery across globalised supply chains. Economic and Financial Hurdles:  Securing the significant upfront investment required for circular product design, infrastructure, and costly re-certification processes. Technological & Material Limitations:  Addressing technical challenges in meeting stringent biocompatibility and sterility requirements with recycled or bio-based materials. Restrictive 'Waste' Classification:  Overcoming broad hazardous waste classifications that prevent the recovery of high-value materials that could be safely recovered post-sterilisation. Recommendations for a Circular MedTech Sector Our guide provides a detailed roadmap for the sector. The key strategic recommendations are: Adopt Circular Design from the Start:  Embed eco-design principles early in product development to optimise for reuse, repair, and sustainable materials. Advocate for Supportive Policy:  Collaborate to create clear, harmonised standards and embed circular criteria within public and private procurement. Explore Financial Incentives:  Leverage available grants and funding from bodies like Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and Horizon Europe to de-risk innovation. Foster Circular Leadership:  Appoint Circular Champions and set measurable KPIs to embed circularity into corporate strategy and culture. Deepen Collaboration:  Strengthen partnerships across the value chain, academia, and government to share knowledge and accelerate adoption. Invest in Circular Skills:  Work with universities and training bodies to equip the next generation of designers and engineers with circular economy expertise. Implement and Scale Circular Business Models:  Pilot innovative models like Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) to retain material value and create new revenue streams. Establish Robust Metrics:  Implement systems to measure material flows, track progress against KPIs, and report transparently under frameworks like the CSRD. The Time to Act is Now The Irish MedTech sector is at a crossroads. Continuing with a linear, resource-intensive model is a path of increasing cost, risk, and environmental impact. The alternative—a circular economy—offers a pathway to enhanced resilience, innovation, and long-term value creation. The transition requires bold leadership, strategic investment, and deep collaboration, but the tools and strategies are available today. To explore these findings in greater detail and begin charting your organisation's circular journey, download the full report here .

Agnese Metitieri at the Manufacturing and Supply Chain Expo Ireland’s circular economy is poised for a transformative shift, with remanufacturing emerging as a key driver of sustainability and industrial resilience. Last week Agnese Metitieri , IMR Circular Economy Ventures Lead presented the latest findings from the CIRCULÉIRE 2024 Remanufacturing Insights Report, at the Manufacturing and Supply-Chain Conference. Agnese highlighted how remanufacturing isn’t just a circularity trend—it’s an innovation-led approach that preserves value, strengthens supply chains, and reduces environmental impact.  At its core, remanufacturing goes beyond repair or refurbishment, fully restoring products to their original performance  while cutting costs by 40-65%  compared to new production. By reducing resource extraction and waste disposal by up to 80% , remanufacturing aligns with Ireland’s ambitions under the EU Green Deal , Circular Economy Action Plan , and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation .  Agnese explained in the presentation how despite its benefits, barriers remain— regulatory uncertainty, logistical challenges, market perception, and technological constraints  can slow progress.   To overcome these hurdles, the report identifies  key insights for Irish businesses , including embracing product design for remanufacturing , leveraging  service-based models , and providing strong warranties to improve consumer trust .  Public sector support is critical, and Ireland is leading the charge with initiatives such as the EPA-led National Repair & Reuse Network  and the 2024 procurement framework for remanufactured laptops , a €30 million commitment that sets a precedent for Europe.  With projected growth to €90 billion by 2030 , remanufacturing in Ireland can revolutionize the automotive, aerospace, electronics, and medical devices industries. By scaling remanufacturing effectively, businesses can reduce dependence on raw materials, mitigate supply chain risks, and drive long-term sustainability . The future is circular—and Ireland is ready to lead.  Want to dive deeper?   Access the full CIRCULÉIRE 2024 Remanufacturing Insights Report  here.

2024 Cohort of CIRCULÉIRE Circular Venture Accelerator Programme with Agnese Metitieri (Circular Economy Venture Lead, IMR) CIRCULÉIRE is Ireland’s first industry-led Circular Innovation Network.   Our mission is to demystify, derisk, and deliver circular business model innovation by unlocking the value that resides in the Irish circular economy.  Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) (Secretariat) in conjunction with three public sector Strategic Partners (Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC); the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EIT Climate-KIC ) and 25 Founding Industry Members (MNCs and SMEs alike) soft-launched the programme in January 202O as a pilot initiative.   Building on the impacts delivered by the CIRCULÉIRE pilot initiative over 2020-2022, CIRCULÉIRE was awarded continuation funding by The Department of Environment, Climate & and Communications to continue scaling industry-led circular innovation while leveraging existing expertise and activity within the national circular innovation ecosystem.  Now in its’ 6th year of operation, CIRCULÉIRE works across multiple Industry sectors stewarding over 50 organisations and their supply-chains on a journey from linear to circular business models.    1: CIRCULÉIRE’s Circular Ventures Accelerator    1.1: 2025 Cohort - Programme Objectives  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 supporting circular economy innovators (that have developed and tested services or products) who wish to avail of highly specialized circularity mentorship and business acceleration support.   The Programme will provide participants with the knowledge and tools to help their circular solutions make a systemic impact at an environmental, economic and social level and drive Ireland’s transition to net-zero carbon circular economy. Participants will have access to workshops, training sessions, knowledge sharing activities and mentoring centred around:      Systems thinking  for circular value chains and supply chains;    Circular business / revenue models development and customer discovery;    Leveraging multiple funding streams to support business growth;      Measuring impact and communicating circularity performance;    Perfecting the pitch and selling the circularity story.    Our preferred sectors  for programme participation include (but are not limited to):   Manufacturing  Food, Drinks and Agriculture  Pharma & Chemicals  Medtech  Consumer Goods  Plastics & Packaging  Built Environment  ICT & Electronics  Textile  Automotive    1.2: Eligibility Criteria  The company/business solution must  be centred on/implementing or enabling the “circular economy” e.g. “Circular Manufacturing” “Circular Production Systems” “Circular Supply Chains”, “Circular Products”; “Circular Reverse-Logistics”;    The Enterprise must ideally be incorporated  in Ireland for a minimum of 2 years;   T he 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 Ventures Accelerator and outline how they will leverage the following to scale their business:  Build relationships with representatives from sectors leading the Circular Economy in the CIRCULÉIRE Members Network;  Integrate system thinking and design strategies into business models;  Learn how to get funding ready to accelerate their journey;  Measure impact data and circularity performance;  Demystify upcoming regulations and understand implications for Irish companies;  Access knowledge and build networks.    1.3: Programme Format   6 months hybrid (online and offline), part-time (approx. 6h per week)  Regular 1-to-many training sessions   Regular 1-to-1 mentoring sessions  Peer-to-peer calls, events and forums  Networking opportunities with CIRCULÉIRE industry members, and representatives from policy, corporate and investment sectors    1.4: Accelerator Benefits  Participants will benefit from:  -> € 5,000 Equity-Free Funding     -> Coaching & Capacity Building   Engage with national and international cross-sectoral CE & Entrepreneurship experts on circular systems thinking, business modelling, customer discovery, communications and pitching.     -> Circularity Mentoring    Experience cross sectoral 1:1 and Group Mentoring from circular practitioners, industry reps and founders.    -> Circular Business Supports   Product Market Fit Validation  CE Impact & Metrics Training  Investment Supports including readiness workshops and VCs/fund/investor contact sessions     -> CIRCULÉIRE Network Membership   Complimentary 2025 membership providing access to:  - Ireland’s first industry network dedicated to circular innovation   - Regular in-person network meetings and capacity building activities   - Relationship building with circular economy ecosystem actors  - Irish Manufacturing Research’s RD&I facilities/expertise (if appropriate)    2: Application Evaluation Criteria  Applications will be evaluated based on the degree to which they meet the following criteria:    Alignment with CIRCULÉIRE’s Accelerator objectives:  Track record of business performance over the previous 3 years including evidence of circular economy implementation;  Evidence of strong founders in the business fully committed to the Accelerator and the ideals of Circular Economy practices;  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;  Evidence of understanding target market/s and marketing strategy;   The financial strength to fund and sustain the circular venture through the " Valley of Death ". Ability to commit 1 day/week for the duration of the Accelerator.  3: Timeline Date    Description of Activity    28/03/2025   CIRCULÉIRE 2025 Circular Ventures Accelerator – Call for Applications Launch    28/04/2025    Zoom Information Session     Master Deck of the 28/04 Info Session   Recording of the 28/04 Info Session   21/05/2025    EXTENDED Deadline for submission of completed applications 23/05/2025   Shortlisted applicants Notified   26/05/2025    Evaluations & Pitches for Short Listed Applicants (Online)    28/05/2025    Awardees Notified    04/06/2025   Deadline for Acceptance & Contract Signed    06/06/2025   Announcement of 2025 Cohort   11/06/2025    Accelerator Commences    4: Application Process  Applicants must submit their completed application forms no later than Wednesday, the 21st May 2025.    The email should be addressed to the following email:  circuleire@imr.ie , adding in copy agnese.metitieri@imr.ie .   The subject of the email should be: ‘ Application for CIRCULÉIRE 2025 Circular Ventures Accelerator ’.  Additional Information On Monday 28th of April we held a virtual information session on the 2025 Circular Venture Accelerator Programme, if you were unable to attend this session you can recap through the below Slide Deck and Session Recording: Information Session Slide Deck Information Session Recording

(From left) Sadhbh Wood, Geraldine Brennan, Narina Mnatsakanian, Colette van Jaarsveld On Wednesday 30th of April  Geraldine Brennan, PhD  Head of Circular Economy at Irish Manufacturing Research  chaired Stream 2 of the ESG Spring Summit which explored how we redefine business models through circularity.    Opening with an exploration of CE, Geraldine mapped Ireland’s path to a circular economy, highlighting both the policy levers and innovation gaps we must navigate.    Narina Mnatsakanian  Partner and Chief Impact Officer at Regeneration.VC  delivered the keynote stating that 'Circular models are not just environmentally necessary - they are financially strategic'.     While the circular economy has been consistently underfunded, Narina's organisation is focused on investing in companies and brands innovating in the space via ecodesign, novel material use and products as a service. In terms of outlook Narina believes that #circularbusinessmodels  drive efficiency and therefore profitability; regulation is forcing focus on circularity and finally consumers and capital markets are demanding it.     Of the four companies showcasing circularity innovation case studies, two of the four were CIRCULÉIRE  members and former accelerator alumni. Colette van Jaarsveld  ( Arcology System )  and Mary O'Riordan  ( HaPPE Earth )  spoke about their circular innovations and value propositions in the built environment and biomaterials sectors with Mary then running off to the official unveiling by Minister of State Alan Dillon of their world first compostable PPE & food waste medicalized biodigester.   Sadhbh Wood  from Bean Around  spoke about her coffee repurposing company with Heidi Hooper  from Irish Rail outlining their very practical circular strategies to reduce, reuse, repair and refurbish helped by procurement and material reduction initiatives.     The panel discussion included other ecosystem collaborators and explored the challenges of unlocking business opportunities and scaling the circular economy.     Alan Wyley  from Energy Cloud spoke about using surplus renewable energy for those in poverty, Gillian Kinsella  from Pringles, showcased the project to make packaging fully paperbased and recyclable. Janet Lynch  from Arup, spoke about relationship building and talking to your value chain to make real progress. Portia Sara Quinn  from Harley & Marley called for more state support to enable innovation and Zoe Kavanagh  Repak CEO mirrored the need for stakeholder engagement, highlighted the opportunity technology presents, as well as the need for economics to work in order to scale circularity.     Circularity is no longer niche — it is a strategic imperative. Let’s build business models that regenerate, not deplete.   If you are interested in hearing more about CIRCULÉIRE  services please reach out.

National Repair and Reuse Network 2025 Meeting CIRCULÉIRE’s dedicated policy engagement leaders have been hard at work in the circular economy policy spheres across Ireland and Europe, advocating for a regulatory landscape that spearheads circular economy. Here are some highlights of key policy events in the first quarter of the year.   National Repair and Reuse Network The NRRN launched by the EPA in 2024 aims to facilitate knowledge sharing and scale reuse and repair initiatives across Ireland. The network comprises 16 members from both the public and private sectors. The NRRN held its first meeting of the year on the 20th of March 2025. IMR represented CIRCULÉIRE members and provided updates on reuse and repair-related projects and activities carried out over the past six months. CIRCULÉIRE will be submitting information on reuse and repair activities conducted with its members to support Ireland’s national reporting to the EU for 2023.      First European ESPR Working Plan Stakeholder Consultation The consultation on the 3rd March aimed to seek feedback on the products identified by the EU Commission for initial regulation under the ESPR framework. Nine CIRCULÉIRE members actively contributed their insights, helping to shape the submission. Some concerns were on whether the ecodesign requirements for intermediate products would address waste classification barriers, which can hinder recycling and the use of secondary raw materials. The Government greatly appreciated the feedback received, recognising its value in representing the perspective of Irish industry at the European level. Link to further information: Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation - European Commission   National Bioeconomy Strategy Preliminary Stakeholder Survey Hosted by DAFM, the consultation sought stakeholder feedback to inform the development of the National Bioeconomy Strategy for Ireland. IMR, on behalf of CIRCULÉIRE, submitted a response highlighting the importance of embedding circular economy principles into the strategy’s Vision, Mission, and objectives. DAFM and DECC will be engaging with CIRCULÉIRE to support ongoing collaboration with its industry members in shaping the Bioeconomy Strategy. Link to further information: Bioeconomy Policy   Stakeholder consultation with the Irish Green Building Council The consultation aimed to gather feedback on the draft Building a Circular Ireland Roadmap, an EPA-funded project led by IGBC. A submission was shared with IGBC, following two townhalls hosted on April 2nd and 3rd, which were attended by eight CIRCULÉIRE members along with representatives from DECC. Key policy recommendations included emphasise on the role that manufacturing can play in advancing Ireland’s circular transition for the construction and built environment sectors, developing of national standards for non-Portland cements as well as establishing a regulatory framework to guide the use of circular materials DECC is currently preparing the Government’s Built Environment Roadmap and will be reaching out to CIRCULÉIRE to support engagement with its industry members. Link to further information: HAVE YOUR SAY! Building a Circular Ireland: A Roadmap for a Resource-Efficient Built Environment - Irish Green Building Council Public Consultation on DECC Strategy 2025-2028 The consultation aimed to gather feedback on the upcoming Statement of Strategy for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC). IMR, on behalf of CIRCULÉIRE, submitted a response highlighting the importance of embedding circular economy principles throughout the entire strategy—reflecting its cross-cutting relevance—and called for clear objectives and targeted actions to support Ireland’s transition to a more circular economy. This included suggestions such as introducing financial incentives to de-risk investment in circular business models, disincentivising the use of virgin materials, and exploring models to help businesses navigate the regulatory landscape and eliminate barriers—such as Denmark’s one-stop-shop for new business models. Link to further information: Consultation on the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Statement of Strategy 2025- 2028   Policy Priorities for 2025? If your organisation has concerns or queries related to national or EU-level policy or legislation, we want to hear from you. Get in touch with us at circuleire@imr.ie to help shape CIRCULÉIRE’s upcoming policy agenda.

CIRCULEIRE members gathered at the RDS Circular Economy Awards The RDS Circular Economy Awards recognise Irish businesses and entrepreneurs making a difference for our planet with circular economy innovations.   Five of our CIRUCLÉIRE members were nominated as finalists -- Rebox, BladeBridge, IQUTech, HaPPE Earth and The Factory.  HaPPE Earth  won the Emerging Business category with their full cycle healthcare bio-digestion system that turns bio-PPE and food waste into nutrient-rich fertiliser with advanced decontamination technology.  IQUTECH  came first in the SME category, as the leading returns management company for telecommunication equipment in Ireland.   The awards follow a string of wins for CIRCULÉIRE members.   Late last year, BladeBridge, rezero and The ZeroNet (all CIRCULÉIRE Circular Venture Accelerator Alumni), were successful in winning the   2024 Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme  from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communication.  Finally, we would like to congratulate three members on their recent Green Tech Health Innovation Ireland  wins. HaPPE Earth  once again received a win. Members  Offerre  & DeltaQ  (in conjunction with Envetec and Enva) won with their pitch for ‘a multi-faceted solution focused on medical waste treatment and recovery'. Health Innovation Hub Ireland will be mapping their solutions in an upcoming pilot for sustainable Irish healthcare.   Learn more about CIRCULÉIRE’s membership offerings here.

CIRCULÉIRE was delighted to feature two articles in Media Planet’s Circular Economy & Net Zero campaign in Sunday’s Business Post.   Remanufacturing Agnese Metitieri , CE Ventures Lead wrote about the benefits of remanufacturing, highlighting insights from CIRCULÉIRE’s 2024 Thematic Working Group.   Remanufacturing is recognised by the EU as central to a competitive circular economy and has cross-sectoral replication potential in Ireland.    The Remanufacturing Insights Report showcases how industry and the public sector can leverage the benefits of remanufacturing and refurbishment and provides actionable strategies and real-world case studies demonstrating opportunities for cross-sectoral replication.   One recent Irish example is Circular Computing and GreenIT (a CIRCULÉIRE network member) securing a €30m 4-year procurement framework from the Government of Ireland to supply 60,000 remanufactured laptops to the public sector under the Green Public Procurement Strategy. This initiative will prevent 19 million Kgs CO2 of emissions, preserve 72 million Kgs of mined resources and 11 billion litres of water while delivering high-performing ICT equipment.    Could your business adopt remanufacturing as business model to capture circular value?   Read the Media Planet Remanufacturing  article and if of interest then read the full Remanufacturing  report on our knowledge library. MedTech Circular Innovation Paul McCormack-Cooney , Circular Economy Best Practice & Toolkits Lead wrote about Circular Innovation Opportunities for Ireland’s MedTech sector.   The Circular MedTech Guide authored by Paul showcases actionable strategies for the sector to adopt more circular practices. These include designing reusable products, extending device lifecycles through remanufacturing, and recovering valuable materials. Case studies of companies like Stryker and Tympany Medical (a CIRCULÉIRE network member) demonstrate how circular business models can cut waste, save costs, and secure resource availability while maintaining stringent safety standards.   Read the Media Planet MedTech  article and if of interest then read the full MedTech  report on our knowledge library.

Dr Geraldine Brennan (IMR) and Colm Munnelly (Repak) presenting at Q1 Network Meeting on PPWR On Wednesday Irish Manufacturing Research  hosted a CIRCULÉIRE X Repak collaboration event ‘PPWR as a Driver of Circular Innovation’ with over 60 grocery, retail, food, plastics & packaging and B2B/B2C companies gathering to unpack the regulations and explore innovation opportunities.   Niall McLoughlin , Principal Officer, CE Strategic Policy Unit, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications   opened the session with an overview of the strategic priorities of his unit. Key highlights included the announcement of successful CEIGS 2024 Projects (noting three as CIRCULÉIRE Circular Ventures Accelerator Alumni), the upcoming CE Strategy 2.0 Consultation, DRS scheme success at 1.2bn container returns, the launch of a study on measures to further increase recycling rates; a National Policy Statement & Roadmap on Circular Textiles and C&D Roadmap nearing completion, as well as enhanced funding for CIRCULÉIRE   in 2025.   Dr Geraldine Brennan , Head of Circular Economy at IMR, chaired proceedings, welcomed new members ( i-Supply , HaPPE Earth  and BladeBridge ), our newly appointed 2025 Industry Steering Group Members ( Donough McGrath, Rory O Dwyer, Mark O’Sullivan  and Colette Van Jaarsveld ), gave an overview of CIRCULÉIRE’s   circular innovation network, and confirmed the upcoming visit by Alan Dillon TD , Minister of State, DETE with special responsibility for Small Businesses and Retail and DECC with special responsibility for Circular Economy to IMR’s Mullingar RD&I Lab.   Colm Munnelly, Director of Regulatory Affairs at Repak delivered an overview of the regulations and highlighted the new compliance requirements and associated timeframes.  Definitions have broadened, there are new producer register requirements, packaging waste prevention, minimisation, re-use and refill targets; new recyclability of packaging and recyclability performance grades, minimum recycled content requirements, changes to compostable packaging requirements; and the need for an authorised representative for packaging and reporting of packaging data (by material type).   PPWR Workshop at Q1 Network Meeting After a restorative coffee and some enthusiastic networking, the group reconvened to engage with IMR’s Sophie Reynolds , CE policy & Innovation Lead who spoke about product, process, material and business model innovation opportunities as well as our upcoming Innovation Sprints.  To break the ice, Sophie highlighted 4 key innovation outputs from our 2021 Packaging Thematic Working Group that were most aligned with PPWR, namely: modifiable transport trays, packaging material standardisation, labelling systems, and compostable packaging.   The groups then took to their innovation challenge, exploring innovation ideas, opportunities and barriers and rounded off the session by each identifying the most important and urgent innovation ideas for their sectors.    While the exercise was very much quick dip, CIRCULÉIRE   has a range of work packages that can be used to deep dive PPWR solutions. The group are now busy responding to our next steps survey – more on this shortly!   Thanks again to Repak for collaborating with us and to all the attendees, we look forward to working closely with innovative companies to explore circular solutions.

How do we close the loop on the earth’s resources?  At first glance, the idea of a circular economy is overwhelming – it is daunting to turn our systems upside down and keep materials circulating in the human world for as long as possible.     At KPMG’s Leaders 2050 event, the audience learned what circularity looks like in practice.   The event is dedicated to young professionals leading the future in sustainability. Under the theme of ‘Circularity: The next wave in sustainability’, speakers shared how to enact circularity in a startup, at a multinational corporation and with the help of AI.     Michael Wylde, CEO of circular startup Rezero (and CIRCULÉIRE Venture Alumnus)  shared his experiences selling a circular product to the traditional fashion industry. Rezero makes buttons from cigarette filters seized by customs officials across Europe. Competing against the traditional, linear alternatives, Michael reflected on the importance of knowing your customer’s needs, and not solely relying on the environmental benefits of a sustainable product to drive sales. Circular products and solutions need a competitive edge against linear alternatives, a finding echoed by Enya O’Connell-Hussey of IMR and Aideen Doyle of construction company CRH.     Doyle shared some of the circular solutions CRH is creating in its built environment product line, as well as the importance of highlighting the durability and superior performance of recycled and refurbished products to a customer base that oftentimes associates these terms with lesser quality.      IMR's Circular Economy Project Officer Enya O’Connell-Hussey took the stage to share the results of IMR’s recent ‘AI for the Circular Economy’ project.  This two-year research project was funded by the EPA and aims to demystify AI in the circular economy by exploring its potential, barriers, opportunities and integration into Irish industry.     Like Doyle and Wylde’s insights, IMR’s research found that industry puts business needs first – and that uptake of AI4CE could be encouraged by highlighting AI’s ability to enable circular economy strategies that save businesses money and minimise waste whilst improving efficiency.     Despite the range of backgrounds, the speakers came to the same conclusion – circular solution buy-in hinges on knowing your audience. With some creativity and innovation, circular solutions can be everywhere – from tarmac, to the van on the tarmac, to the buttons on the driver’s shirt!