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.

(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.

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; 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 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

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!

On the 6th of March 2025 the 26th Annual Irish Waste Management Association’s Conference 'Breaking down the Barriers to the Circular Economy' was held in the Aviva Stadium. Key speakers at the conference included Minister Alan Dillion of the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications, Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, and Zoe Kavanagh. Minister Alan Dillion at IWMA Conference Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State for the Circular Economy, reflected on the urgency of stronger collaboration across government, industry and enforcement bodies to accelerate Ireland’s circular economy transition. Innovation, including new technologies adoption, policy alignment, and infrastructure development are needed to meet national and EU sustainability goals. Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea Director in charge of Circular Economy, European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment referred to the geopolitical tensions impacting European supply chains and the need to address price imbalances between raw and secondary materials. To tackle these challenges, the EU is committed to scaling circular economy efforts, improving policy coherence, and addressing challenges like resource security and market imbalances. It encourages Irish stakeholders to engage in consultations to shape future regulations. Zoe Kavanagh from Repak presented on the implications of the new Plastic & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), a far-reaching regulation that will drive circular innovation in B2B and B2C packaging placed on the market. She also emphasised the importance for transparency in recycling outcomes to build public trust and highlighted the importance of educating businesses and consumers on proper waste sorting and recycling.

On November 27th 2024, the Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) facility in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, was abuzz with energy as leaders in sustainable innovation, policy, and industry gathered for CIRCULÉIRE’s Annual Conference: “The Future of Business is Circular” to mark this national flagship initiative’s 5th year in operation. With over 115 stakeholders in attendance, the event showcased Ireland’s circular economy journey, offering insights into decarbonisation pathways, market-building opportunities, and innovative cross-sectoral industrial circularity solutions. Below are the highlights as well as key note speaker slides and video recordings for full recap: Keynote Speakers Niall McLoughlin (Principal Officer, Circular Economy Strategic Policy, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications) Niall McLoughlin delivered the opening keynote with a deep dive into Ireland’s Circular Economy Strategic Policy. He highlighted the crucial role of robust frameworks and cross-sectoral collaboration to achieve Ireland’s ambitious 2030 targets and the significance of the strategic partnership with CIRCULÉIRE to demystify, derisk and deliver circular innovation in Ireland. Link to Niall's Presentation: Watch Niall's presentation here Iain Gulland (CEO, Zero Waste Scotland) Iain Gulland, brought an international perspective sharing insights from Zero Waste Scotland’s 10 year journey to enable circularity and called for the urgent need to rewire the economy to make circular economy the new norm. He showcased Zero Waste Scotland’s new Corporate Strategy underpinned by an ecosystem approach to empowering businesses and communities to deliver disruptive innovation, localised solutions, and a resilient circular economy. Link to Iain's Presentation: Watch Iain's presentation here Dr Sarah Miller (CEO, The Rediscovery Centre) Sarah Miller shared insights on consumer behaviour and the barriers to circular economy adoption – highlighting that the Rediscovery Centre’s most recent tracker with Behaviour & Attitudes shows that 55 per cent of the Irish population are now aware of the circular economy. She called for scalable circular business solutions to address cost and accessibility challenges for Irish citizens, emphasising Ireland’s "moral duty to future generations" to drive change. Link to Sarah's Presentation: Watch Sarah's presentation here Rasmus Jørgensen (Circularity Lead, Danfoss) Rasmus Jørgensen outlined Danfoss’s groundbreaking remanufacturing journey. He shared success stories like remanufactured hydraulic pumps—a cost-effective, low-emission product—and highlighted how Danfoss use circular business revenue as an internal metric for circularity stressing the importance of how circular business metrics and strategic partnerships drive circular innovation. Link to Rasmus' Presentation: Watch Rasmus' presentation here Martijn Lopes Cardozo (Partner, Regeneration VC) Martijn Lopes Cardozo, industrialist and ex-CEO of Circular Economy, addressed the untapped potential of circular economy investments, stating unequivocally, “There is no net zero without the circular economy.” He highlighted that circular economy as having an ‘outsized impact potential with Ireland being no exception’ and called for increased funding in design and use phases, showcasing showcased ventures like Cruise Foam and Tulu as examples of transformative circular solutions. Link to Martijn's Presentation: Watch Martijn's presentation here Circular Venture Speakers The conference spotlighted CIRCULÉIRE’s 2024 Venture Cohort, each presenting innovative solutions that exemplify the potential of circular business models: HaPPE Earth Revolutionising single-use PPE with a circular-product service system for , bio-digestible alternatives tailored for healthcare, food, and biopharma sectors. Watch Mary O'Riordan's pitching session here Rezero Transforming cigarette waste into “Re-fil” materials for diverse applications, from fashion to construction. Watch Johnnie Bell's pitching session here Finline Furniture Pioneering sustainable manufacturing with their “Made to be ReMade in Ireland” ethos and circular sofa take-back scheme “Revive” which gives Finline pieces a second-life. Watch Vanessa O'Rourke's pitching session here Shareclub Tackling single-use plastics with reusable packaging solutions and real-time impact tracking for corporate events and canteens. Watch Sarah Fliessbach's pitching session here BladeBridge Repurposing wind turbines into pedestrian bridges and other infrastructure, showcasing circularity in the built environment. Watch Angie Nagle's pitching session here Exhibitors The event also featured an impressive line-up of exhibitors sharing their circular journeys and expertise: IQUTECH - Showcasing remanufacturing in action AIB - launching their 2024 Manufacturing Outlook spotlighting circularity BiaSol X Aryzta – Showcasing their collaboration utilising Brewers Spent Grain as a flour substitute GreenIT - Showcasing their remanufactured laptops Lough Ree Distillery - Showcasing their ecoSPIRITS Circular Economy distribution system for spirits NSAI - Highlighting the ISO circular economy standards ISO 59004, 59010 and 59020 launched in 2024 EPA Ireland - Spotlighting the Food Waste Charter SOLAS - Spotlighting their suite of Circular Economy training courses like 'Circular Economy in the Workplace' Enterprise Ireland - Showcasing grants available through The Green Transition Fund. Their displays highlighted practical applications of circular economy principles across diverse sectors, from manufacturing to education. Closing Reflections Maurice O'Connell (COO, IMR), Dr Geraldine Brennan (Head of CE, IMR), Niall McLoughlin (PO, DECC), Barry Kenney (CEO, IMR) The conference’s success lay not only in the inspiring talks but also in the dynamic conversations and connections forged. Delegates departed with actionable insights, from policy developments to venture innovations, ready to accelerate Ireland’s circular economy transformation. A special thanks to keynote speaker Dr Andy Kerr from EIT Climate-KIC for his dinner address at the CIRCULÉIRE Conference Stakeholder dinner, which underscored the urgency of continuing to invest in and scale circular economy innovation to support greater resilience and competitiveness in the face of anticipated supply-chain shocks. Moreover, he stressed the importance of understanding the multitude of interconnected EU regulations driving the interdependent climate-circular economy agendas - from CSRD to ESPR to Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CABM), Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR)) in addition to the “Competitive Circularity Act” anticipated in 2026. To all who attended—your participation drives the collaboration and innovation needed for a circular future. We look forward to seeing the impact of these discussions unfold. Let’s make circularity the cornerstone of Ireland’s economy. IMR Circular Economy Team: (Back Row) Valentina Tarasco, Valentina Rangel Leon, Yi Liu Chen, Agnese Metitieri, Leanne Conroy (Front Row) Marianne Dorney, Sophie Reynolds, Daniel Whelan, Dr Geraldine Brennan, Eluise Vaz, Paul McCormack Cooney

The 2024 CIRCULÉIRE Annual Conference will take place in IMR Mullingar Lab on Wednesday 27th November 2024 and we are delighted to announce the first of our Key Speakers for the event. The key focus for this event are the Pathways to 2030 decarbonisation, Building Future Markets, and Showcasing Industrial Circularity. This conference will bring together leaders in climate innovation, policy, and government to discuss circular advancement in Ireland. To support an engaging and active conversation in these areas we are pleased to present the following speakers: 2024 CIRCULÉIRE Annual Conference Speakers Announced Public registration for this conference is now open and we encourage early registration as places are limited. Click below to book your place today.

Circular Economy Hotspot Dublin 2023 Launches Programme at Mansion House Embassy ambassadors, Industry leaders and Public Representatives gathered at the Mansion House Dublin on Thursday 6th April for the official launch of a major international four day event on circular economies. Launched by the steering committee for the 2023 Circular economy Hotspot Dublin 2023, this event will set the tone for the prestigious opportunity for Dublin to showcase, promote and celebrate ground-breaking Circular economy initiatives from across the globe. Speaking at the launch, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy, said: " Circular Economy Hotspot Dublin 2023 aims to showcase how we can make Dublin a more vibrant place by adopting circular practices, inspiring individuals, businesses, and policymakers to take action towards a more sustainable future ." Commenting on the upcoming event, Dr. Sarah Miller, Chief Executive at The Rediscovery Centre said: "We are thrilled to be hosting this flagship event in Ireland for the first time. Circular Economy Hotspot Dublin 2023 presents a unique opportunity for businesses in Ireland, Europe, and beyond to learn from, connect with, and be inspired by the very best. Today as we bring together Embassies and industry leaders it is an opportunity to highlight the importance of this event and its place in international policy. The programme launch marks a crucial first step in promoting the event and building excitement for the opportunities it will provide. CIRCULÉIRE's Head of Circular Economy Dr Geraldine Brennan outlined just some of the the highlights from the packed event schedule including a matching making event to be held on May 30th in Croke park that will allow delegates to connect and forge relevant collaborative relationships to further their CE aims, deep dive workshops facilitated by top CE Experts across Europe on May 31st and a series of tours demonstrating CE in action on June 1st at the OPW, The Rediscovery Centre and Cloughjordan Ireland's first eco village. Circular Economy Hotspot Dublin 2023 will showcase, promote and celebrate ground-breaking circular economic initiatives, best practices and innovations that Dublin and Ireland have to offer. Attendees will learn about practical steps and resources to mobilise action within their respective countries, network with international stakeholders and engage in inspiring discussions. The event will revolve around three key themes: Policy in Practice, Citizen Engagement, and Innovation & Collaboration. These themes will be explored with four innovative focus areas: Social Enterprise, Design & Manufacturing, Built Environment, and Food Systems & the Bioeconomy For more information on Circular Economy Hotspot Dublin 2023, visit the website at https://www.dublincirculareconomyhotspot.com or e-mail hello@dublincirculareconomyhotspot.com About Us: The Steering Committee for Circular Economy Hotspot Dublin 2023 is a collaboration of leading organisations in the fields of circular economy and waste management, chaired by The Rediscovery Centre. The committee comprises representatives from Dublin City Council, the Eastern & Midlands Regional Waste Management Planning Office, CIRCULÉIRE and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. These experts have united to host the Circular Economy Hotspot 2023 in Dublin, with exciting events spanning over four days to raise awareness of Dublin's commitment to the circular economy. About CIRCULÉIRE Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) is the secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE – The National Platform for Circular Manufacturing which is funded by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EIT Climate-KIC . In November 2022, DECC announced €1.5m continuation funding for CIRCULÉIRE in 2023.