Search Results

63d81167-45f8-4294-8bc6-b8095f5b3584 CIRCULÉIRE NON-MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: KALUNBORG SYMBIOSIS WEBSITE: SYMBIOSIS.DK SECTOR : ENERGY, CONSTRUCTION, PHARMACEUTICALS, MEDTECH, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, AGRICULTURE, AQUACULTURE PUBLISHED: 04 JULY 2025 TAGS: INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS, WASTE VALORISATION, RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, HEAT EXCHANGE About Kalunborg Symbiosis Kalundborg is a city in Denmark where big industrial companies work together across sectors to share excess energy, water, and materials, so less goes to waste. As public and private companies are physically connected, one company’s surplus of resources adds value to another. Today, more than 30 different streams of excess resources flow between the companies, creating a symbiosis of resource exchange, adding more resilience and profit to the partners. The Challenge The world population is growing, and urbanisation is spreading, hence industry is expanding. Every year, 100 billion tonnes of raw material are extracted from the earth, which is comparable to demolishing two-thirds of Mount Everest every year ( Miller, 2021). However, increased industrialisation is driving increased waste generation. The World Bank estimates that the world generates 2.01 billion tonnes of waste each year, with that figure anticipated to rise to 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050 ( Kaza et al., 2021 ). But, amongst the discarded waste are treasures for certain industries and Kalundborg Symbiosis is an example of an initiative capitalising on that potential. The Circular Solution in Practice Kalundborg Symbiosis is the world’s first industrial symbiosis (IS) initiative that has evolved over the past 50 years, with a partnership of 17 public and private companies. IS is a form of circular economy that connects businesses from various industries to increase waste valorisation, improve resource efficiency, and reduce environmental impact ( Trokanas et al., 2014 ). The Kalundborg network began in 1961 with a project to use surface water from Lake Tissø for a new oil refinery ( UNEP ). To preserve the limited ground water supply, the city of Kalundborg built the pipeline using funding from the refinery ( UNEP ). Following that, many other collaborative initiatives were established, with the number of partners gradually increasing ( UNEP ). By the end of the 1980’s, the partners realised that they had developed an IS ( UNEP ). IS provides mutual economic and environmental benefits for the partners. Some valuable initiatives include the elimination of 3500 oil-fired domestic furnaces since 1981 and distribution of heat from the Asnaes Power Station, Denmark’s largest power plant, via an underground pipe network ( Doty, 2023 ). Homeowners pay for the piping but receive affordable, dependable heat in exchange ( Doty, 2023 ). The power plant supplies cooling water to an on-site fish farm that produces roughly 200 tonnes of trout per year ( Doty, 2023 ). Asnaes also provides process steam to neighbouring companies, Novo Nordisk and Statoil ( Doty, 2023 ). Climate Impact Currently, every year, the symbiosis saves the partners and environment: 4 billion litres of groundwater by using surface water instead 586.000 tonnes of CO2 62.000 tonnes of residual materials recycled including waste, gypsum, fly ash, sulphur, bioethanol, sand, sludge, C5/C6 sugars, lignin, NovoGro 30, ethanol waste and biomass. In addition, 80% of the emissions in the Symbiosis has been reduced since 2015, and the local energy supply is now carbon neutral. While the fossil fuel industry is at the heart of the Kalunborg network, and that industry is by far the largest contributor to global climate change ( UN, 2023 ), there is still a lot to be learned from Kalundborg’s decades of experience in industrial symbiosis. Replicability The European Union has 6656 industrial facilities, with approximately 43 million alternatives for collaboration ( Quintana, Chamkhi, and Bredimas, 2020 ). As a result, there are numerous opportunities for IS, however; there are a few factors to consider for a successful project. The SCALER (SCALing European Resources with industrial symbiosis) Project 2018 report on lessons learnt and best practices for enhancing industrial symbiosis in the process industry makes three main recommendations to the business community involved in or considering IS: Leadership : There must be strong leadership and commitment from top management to shift the organisational mindset away from linear processes and towards IS. Long-term commitment is vital to under-pin IS for economic, social, and environmental benefits to be realised. Initially, synergistic initiatives need to be small scale to build capability, capacity and most importantly confidence before attempting bolder steps. Internal organisational IS structure : A dedicated organisational structure to explore and drive synergistic opportunities is required because it will deliver more rapid progress than project-based assignments. A noteworthy example of IS in Ireland is Well Spent Grain , a CIRCULEIRE New Venture, they collect brewer’s spent grain from brewers like Rascals Brewing Company and transform it into Born- Again Bites, a healthy and delicious snack. ALL CASE STUDIES

f3843591-0df6-4785-b40a-57236b472118 CIRCULÉIRE NON-MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: RECEOL WEBSITE: www.ucc.ie/en/receol/ SECTOR: WASTE ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT (WEEE) PUBLISHED: 15 MAY 2025 TAGS: ELECTRONICS, MATERIAL RECOVERY, RARE EARTH METALS About ReCEOL T he Recycling of End-of-Life Products (ReCEOL) project was a collaboration between the University College Cork (UCC) and Composite Recycling Limited , which began in 2018 and ended in 2021. The project was co-funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland, the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and the European Union ERA-MIN2 programme and was supported by Freiberg Technical University (Germany), Coolrec (Belgium), Alumisel (Spain) and Muldenhütten Recycling und Umwelttechnik (Germany). The Challenge The rise in business and consumer demand for electronics has created one of the fastest waste streams in the European Union (EU). Currently, roughly 38% of electronics that enter the market are collected; the rest are discarded ( EC, 2020 ). Electronics are a complex waste stream as they can be composed of a mix of materials from rare earths to precious metals to plastics. Every year it is estimated that around 400,000 tonnes of Printed Circuit Boards (PCB’s) are generated in the EU of which over 90% are sent to landfill or are incinerated ( Cordis, 2022 ). Many of the materials in the PCB’s are valuable, scarce and in demand, such as copper, gold, silver, solder and indium, but many are lost during the recycling and recovery process. The Circular Solution ReCEOL developed a patented recycling process to recover metals from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from PCB, Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD), batteries and Automobile Shredder Residue (ASR). The waste materials from the components described above are added to molten salt at operating temperatures of 300-450°C ( Cordis, 2022 ). The molten salt separates the metals at the bottom of the reactor, while the solid copper floats on the solder making material recovery easier ( Cordis, 2022 ). This process also enables scaling by doubling the surface area of the molten material, which doubles the throughput ( Cordis, 2022 ). Climate Impact The research carried out by ReCEOL has proven yields of 95% can be achieved for copper, steel and solder which exceeds the current industry rates of 70% to 80% ( Cordis, 2022 ). Aluminium, solder, and steel can be separated and recovered. Critical raw materials such as Indium and Tantalum can be recycled. This recycling process developed by ReCEOL can recover metals from low value PCBs. The process has several benefits over existing alternatives, including eliminating the need for shredding plus a low capital cost, given its established nature. The project also contributes to environmental preservation by efficiently extracting raw materials from WEEE, preventing them from being lost in landfills or incinerated, and reducing dependency on virgin-metal mining. Replicability A printed circuit board recovery (PCBRec) plant’s Internal-Rate-of-Return (IRR) is projected to be more than 15% for low value Waste Printed Circuit Boards (WPCBs) and 80% for medium value WPCBs ( Cordis, 2022 ). These IRR amounts do not account for the recovery of precious metals such as gold or silver ( Cordis, 2022 ). Moreover, significant regulatory drivers, such as the WEEE Directive, exist in the EU to stimulate the future development of PCBRec technology and the circular economy in the electronics industry. Because the technology is modular, capacity may be increased in a systematic manner ( Cordis, 2022 ). ReCEOL’s process is reproducible and cost effective because it uses existing processes from established industries. A few Irish companies of note in the WEEE recovery industry include: Votechnik , a CIRCULÉIRE member, develops a series of deep technologies from lab to market in the space of circular economy for LCD and flat panel display (FPD) recycling. KMK Metals Recycling , a CIRCULÉIRE member, provides environmentally sound management of waste metal in all forms. They collect and process 75% of Ireland’s WEEE. ALL CASE STUDIES

317ac204-3b93-4fd3-bf12-e450a03785a2 CIRCULÉIRE MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: USEDFULLY WEBSIT E: TEXTILEREUSE.COM SECTOR: TEXTILE PUBLISHED: 24 APRIL 2024 TAGS: TEXTILE WASTE, CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODEL The Challenge Textiles are an essential aspect of daily life, encompassing a diverse range of products ranging from clothing, footwear, towels, bedlinen, and upholstery to healthcare items and industrial materials. The existing textile production, distribution, and use system is linear, with most textiles being used for a limited time before ending up as waste, which is often disposed of in landfills or incinerated. Currently, less than half of all used clothing is collected for reuse or recycling, while only 1% is transformed into new clothing ( Guillot, 2023 ). Furthermore, the fashion industry is estimated to contribute 10% of global carbon emissions, which is more than international flights and maritime shipping combined ( Guillot, 2023 ). Ireland generates approximately 170,000 tonnes of post-consumer textile waste per year ( EPA, 2021 ), corresponding to about 35 kg per capita, which is greater than the reported European Union (EU) average of 26 kg per person per year ( EPA, 2021 ). The Circular Opportunity In the process of road construction, natural cellulose fibres (made from wood) are commonly added to asphalt mixes to minimise binder drain-down ( Aljubory et al., 2021 ). Binder drain- down occurs when the asphalt separates from the aggregate particles and flows downward when exposed to high temperatures during the mixing and laying processes. This can affect the overall performance and durability of the road. In the textile industry, a significant amount of cellulose is wasted in the form of used cotton clothing, sheeting, and towels. Using this source of cellulose for road construction reduces the quantity of textile waste going to landfill, saves funding, lowers carbon emissions from cellulose importation, and decreases deforestation. About UsedFully UsedFULLY develops industrial scale textile waste-to-value solutions. The fully scalable technology converts large volumes of waste textiles into higher value products through proprietary processes and formulas that utilise continuous, solvent-free ambient-temperature methods. UsedFULLY’s flagship product is StrengthTex®, a fit-for-purpose cellulose replacement product for roads and the construction industry. UsedFULLY successfully utilised StrengthTex® in May 2022 on a central city road in Wellington, New Zealand. In another use for textile waste UsedFULLY, in partnership with Moral Fibre and Air New Zealand, created recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from polyester clothing. PET is a recyclable plastic commonly used to produce disposable beverage bottles. They transformed the Air New Zealand staff uniforms into recycled PET which can then be used as a raw material for products from furniture to keyboard keys thereby reducing the need to produce plastic from virgin materials. UsedFULLY also offers additional services including: A platform that generates data on the environmental and financial impacts of clothing at end-of-use for optimal resource management. Textiles and clothing are registered on the platform, and when garments are decommissioned, the UsedFULLY platform connects these resources to their solutions generating metrics on volumes reused and the associated environmental impacts. Fibre scanning equipment that uses spectroscopy to validate the composition of textiles, using a handheld scanner. This small device can test, validate, and provide reports on the composition of textiles and fibres. Replicability Each year, 99% of used clothing goes to waste representing a loss of more than USD $100 billion in resources (UNEP, 2023). Shifting to circular business models is critical for reducing the environmental and climate change impacts of textiles saving on raw materials, energy, water and land consumption, emissions, and waste ( EEA, 2022 ). Other Irish company’s making a business from used textiles include: Cirtex , a CIRCULEIRE member producing thermal and acoustic insulation, bedding and furniture padding, water retention growth pads, and flooring and carpet underlay from used mattresses. OCEANR , an Irish company that manufactures clothing out of plastics collected from the ocean. Titanic Denim , based in Belfast, creates luxury bespoke garments using reclaimed denim and textiles. ALL CASE STUDIES

6e96babb-4ff6-4283-bfea-ea288304e089 CIRCULÉIRE NON-MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: LOGITECH WEBSITE: LOGITECH.COM SECTOR : ELECTRONICS PUBLISHED: 16 OCTOBER 2025 TAGS: DESIGNFORCIRCULARITY, EWASTE, RIGHTTOREPAIR, PRODUCTDESIGN, SUSTAINABLETECH, LIFECYCLEASSESSMENT, CONSUMERELECTRONICS, CIRCULARDESIGN The Challenge Consumer electronics are traditionally designed to meet the immediate needs of the user by making life simpler or more convenient. However, this approach has contributed to a growing global problem: electronic waste, or “e-waste”. Electronics are among the fastest-growing waste streams globally. Since 2010, the amount of e-waste created per year has risen by 82% ( UNITAR, 2024 ). In 2022, the world generated a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste, which would fill 1.5 million 40-tonne trucks, roughly enough trucks to form a bumper-to-bumper line encircling the equator ( UNITAR, 2024 ). Modern electronics are often designed with complex, miniaturised components and composite materials, making disassembly and recycling difficult ( UNITAR, 2024 ). Most products lack design features that support recyclability, especially for rare and critical raw materials. As a result, valuable elements like lithium and neodymium are frequently lost during processing ( UNITAR, 2024 ). Research shows that extending the use of electronic equipment has clear environmental benefits. Extending the life of phones, for example, from 2 to 3 years reduces their carbon footprint by between 23 and 30 per cent, depending on whether repairs are required or not ( Cordella et al., 2021 ). A UK study revealed that extending the life of devices (such as phones, tablets and laptops) by 50% would reduce the amount thrown away by 24%, over ten years ( Lysaght, 2023 ). Recognising this, policymakers are beginning to act. The European Union’s 2024 Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation requires manufacturers to ensure products are more durable, repairable, and recyclable. This signals a shift from conventional design, which prioritises only the first user, toward circular design, which considers the needs of multiple stakeholders: initial users, second-hand buyers, repairers, recyclers and more. By extending product lifespans and reducing material and energy use, circular design tackles waste at its source. Importantly, this approach also aligns with consumer expectations. Surveys indicate that 70% of consumers are interested in buying durable, maintainable products ( Capgemini, 2021 ). Spending on sustainably marketed products is rising rapidly. Over the past five years, sales of such products have grown by 28%, compared with 20% growth for products without sustainability claims ( McKinsey, 2023 ). Consumers also increasingly value repairability. More than half (54%) of consumers say they would prefer to repair their electronic equipment rather than replace it ( Bruce, 2021 ). However, the cost of repair is the biggest deciding factor ( Higginbottom, 2024 ). If the repair is just as expensive as the new item, then why bother? This underscores the need for repairs and aftermarket parts to be affordable and accessible. Taken together, these factors highlight that e-waste is not merely a by-product of technological progress; people want change. Advancing circular design is therefore essential to minimise waste, conserve resources, and respond effectively to both regulatory pressures and evolving consumer expectations. The Circular Solution Logitech is a global manufacturer of computer peripherals, such as mice, keyboards and headsets, shipping around 3 million products per week to over 100 countries ( O’Mahony, 2021 ). Its products are used by 71% of the world’s 500 largest companies, and feature in one in three meeting rooms and desks worldwide ( Logitech, 2025 ). When operating at such a scale, circular solutions can offer huge positive impacts. Logitech recognises that many of the most effective opportunities to reduce a product’s environmental impact occur during early-stage development, when fundamental design and material choices are made. Consequently, the company has integrated circular design principles across its entire product development process ( Logitech, n.d. ). Logitech achieves this through a deep understanding of its products and their impacts. Teardowns are performed to analyse each part, the materials used and how these parts are assembled ( Logitech, 2025 ). Insights from these analyses feed into life cycle assessments (LCAs) ( Logitech, 2024 ). This is a systematic analysis of a product’s material sourcing, production, distribution, use and disposal to understand and quantify the carbon emissions associated with each step. Currently, 84% of Logitech’s products have independently verified LCAs ( Logitech, 2025 ), providing detailed insights into their environmental impacts. This drives data-driven decision-making to target the most impactful hotspots ( Logitech, 2024 ). Logitech's Product Teardown Process Logitech has also developed an internal Circularity Assessment Tool. This measures the comparative circularity of product designs while aligning with stakeholder views, regulatory trends, and industry best practices ( Logitech, 2024 ). This uses a semi-quantitative scoring system to evaluate factors like longevity, reuse, and recyclability, which helps development teams identify improvement opportunities and implement more sustainable solutions ( Logitech, 2024 ). This evidence-based circular development has driven several tangible outcomes, including: Materials: 78% of products now use post-consumer recycled plastics ( Logitech, 2024 ). Manufacturing: the MX Creative Console replaces painted finishes with microtextures, improving recyclability while giving a premium surface finish ( Logitech, 2024 ). Product Design: Steel reinforcing plates have been removed from keyboards to reduce carbon-intensive material use ( Logitech, 2023 ). End of life: In the US, Logitech has partnered with Staples to take back end-of-life products in exchange for a 25% discount voucher ( Logitech, n.d. ). These circularity initiatives both complement and enhance the user experience. Logitech aims to foster emotional attachment between users and their devices so they keep them for longer and repair them when they break ( Logitech, 2024 ). Transparency is another key aspect: LCA results are displayed on Logitech’s product packaging, empowering consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions ( Logitech 2025 ). Logitech is advancing design for repair. For example, the G733 headset features detachable ear pads and headband strap with easily replaceable internal parts such as battery and microphone ( iFixIt, n.d. ). The Logitech Repair Hub , developed in partnership with iFixIt, provides multilingual step-by-step repair guides for common problems on 20 popular products and offers direct sales of replacement parts. For the G733, replacing the battery for €25 ( iFixIt, 2025 ) instead of the entire product for €160 exemplifies how repair can extend product lifetimes while saving costs. By making repairs accessible and affordable, Logitech is reducing barriers to circular product use and empowering consumers to participate in the circular economy. Climate Impact The data-driven decision-making in Logitech is having a positive impact on their products. For example, the second generation of the Wave Keys keyboard implemented post-consumer recycled plastics, a redesigned circuit board, a redesigned frame, paper packaging and was manufactured with renewable energy ( Logitech, 2025 ). These steps reduced the second generation's emissions by 37% compared to the first, which equates to 310 tonnes of CO 2 per 100,000 units ( Logitech, 2025 ). Logitech’s emissions are highly dependent on its manufacturing and material suppliers. More than 99% of Logitech’s emissions are Scope 3 ( Logitech, 2024 ); 60% of which are from materials and manufacturing, and a further 25% are from the use of the products (i.e. the energy consumed by the devices) ( Logitech, 2024 ). The direct contribution of the different carbon reduction initiatives can be quantified. The transition to renewable energy of their suppliers saves 79 thousand tonnes of CO 2 emissions per year, post-consumer recycled plastic saves 25 thousand, and low-carbon aluminium saves 13 thousand( Logitech, 2024 ). Of all the materials used in their products and packaging, about one-third contains recycled content, and a further quarter is renewable natural materials ( Logitech, 2024 ). Across all programs, this saved roughly 140 thousand tonnes of CO 2 emissions in 2023 ( Logitech, 2024 ). You would need a forest roughly four times the size of Killarney National Park to capture a similar amount of CO 2 (Based on 3.5tCO 2 sequestered per hectare of native woodland per year ( Teagasc, 2025 ) and area of Killarney National Park = 10,236 hectares ( Discover Kerry, n.d. )). Logitech highlights how data-driven decision-making in product development enables lower impact and more circular products. Replicability Shift produces modular, easy-to-repair devices such as smartphones and speakers made with circularity in mind. Fairphone creates phones and audio devices that are easy to repair and built to last. iFixIt is spearheading the right-to-repair movement and is working with major tech manufacturers to improve the repairability of their devices. They also provide repair guides, parts and tools to break down barriers to repair. Refurbed offers a range of refurbished technology, such as mice, keyboards and headsets, giving them a second life. Google’s Pixel Watch 4 is assembled with screws and seals instead of glue, making it more repairable. iFixIt rated its repairability a 9/10 and called it “the first mainstream smartwatch to make repairability cool.” ALL CASE STUDIES

a07b0cfe-6da8-4cbf-9ea5-b5b19b22683e CIRCULÉIRE NON-MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: HEALTH BEACON WEBSITE: HEALTHBEACON.COM SECTOR : HEALTHCARE, MEDTECH, PHARMACEUTICALS PUBLISHED: 14 JULY 2025 TAGS: REUSE, RECYCLING, MEDTECH, PHARMACEUTICALS, MEDICAL WASTE, HAZARDOUS WASTE The Challenge Approximately 16 billion injections are administered globally eac h year ( WHO, 2024 ). Unfortunately, not all needles and syringes are properly disposed of ( WHO, 2024 ), posing a danger of injury and infection as well as potential reuse of an unste rilised product. Single-use products, such as injection needles and syringes, are popular due to the risk of transferable / infectious diseases plus the high cost and time-consuming process of sterilisation ( Collier, 2011 ). However, massive amounts of plastic packaging, single-use tools, and diagnostic devices emit greenhouse gases (GHG) when incinerated or while decomposing in landfills and oceans ( Greene, Skolnik & Merritt, 2022 ). In fact, healthcare systems are responsible for 4%–5% of the emissions of GHGs worldwide ( Rodríguez‐Jiménez et al., 2023 ). The Circular Opportunity Single-use medical supplies account for roughly 80% of the industry’s carbon footprint in terms of production, transport, usage, and disposal ( Greene et al., 2022 ). Medical supplies, like many other common household items, were made of reusable metal, fabric, and glass in the past, with little to no plastic used in their production or packaging ( Johns Hopkins, 2023 ). Currently, almost all medical supplies, including surgical masks, syringes, and surgical tools, are wrapped in or made of plastic ( Johns Hopkins, 2023 ). As a matter of fact, 85% of global medical waste is comprised of discarded materials that are disposable rather than reusable, despite only 15% of it being hazardous ( Greene et al., 2022 ). A sustainable healthcare system is one in which products are developed for longevity and circularity while also ensuring device reliability and patient safety. The Circular Solution in Practice HealthBeacon is an Irish digital therapeutics company that develops products for patients to manage injectable medications at home. The HealthBeacon Injection Care Management System monitors medication adherence and persistence by providing medication management reminders, safe and sustainable sharps disposal devices, educational resources, and artificial intelligence (AI) operated data analytics. The company is presently operating in 17 countries, primarily across Europe, North America, and the United Kingdom. Peer reviewed evidence published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy revealed that patients using this technology improved injectable medication adherence by up to 26% (Glynn, 2020) . HealthBeacon and Novartis Ireland are collaborating to use the HealthBeacon Green Labs to develop a platform that will offer quick and easy innovative sustainability solutions for Novartis patients ( Novartis Ireland, 2022 ). The first step of this partnership is supplying reusable sharps bins to rheumatology, dermatology, and neurology patients. Smart technology reminds patients to take their medication and alerts them when their sharps bin is almost full. The full sharps bin is then collected from the patient’s home, sanitised, and returned to the patient for reuse, ensuring an environmentally friendly and safe service for patients ( Novartis Ireland, 2022 ). Replicability According to a report by Grand View Research, Inc., the global home healthcare market is estimated to reach USD 747.b billion by 2030 ( GVR, 202 4 ). From 2022 to 2030, the market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.21% ( GVR, 2022 ). The increase of chronic illnesses such as respiratory diseases, kidney disorders, and diabetes is driving up demand for home therapeutic devices. HealthBeacon has an excellent opportunity to capitalise on this thriving market and expand its business. The collection and sustainable disposal of injectable sharps is a significant step towards tackling the global challenge of sustainably managing medical waste and assisting pharmaceutical companies in adopting more sustainable waste management practises. A few initiatives worth noting in the circular medical devices sphere include: Tympany Medical, a CIRCULÉIRE new venture, is a Galway-based medical technology company that produces reusable endoscopes. The ReMed project, a collaboration between Loughborough University and the University of Leeds, aims to identify the barriers to the circular use of medical devices and develop sustainable solutions. ALL CASE STUDIES

a5b70e0a-7b0b-46bb-a0ec-f139d0268178 CIRCULÉIRE MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: VOTECHNIK WEBSITE: VOTECHNIK.COM SECTOR : ELECTRONICS PUBLISHED: 24 APRIL 2024 TAGS: WEEE, CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS About Votechnik Votechnik developed a series of cutting-edge innovative robotic technologies for Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) recycling. LCD is an electronic display that is found in smartphones, tablets, televisions, and many other electronics. Votechnik’s robotic technology removes components containing hazardous substances from LCDs (e.g., mercury-containing lamps), and prepare non- hazardous materials for recycling. The Challenge The electronics industry is one of the top eight industries responsible for more than half of the world’s total carbon footprint. In 2020, the equivalent of 580 million metric tons of CO2 were emitted by Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) ( Singh and Ogunseitan, 2022 ). That is more than the emissions generated by Canada in a year (525 million metric tons) ( World Bank, 2023 ). LCDs have become the dominant technology in devices that contain displays. The rate at which people replace their devices every year results in an avalanche of discarded electronic waste. In fact, only about 38% of electronics that enter the market are subsequently collected; the remainder are discarded ( European Commission, 2020 ). LCD monitors are among the most dangerous electronic devices to discard because they contain toxic metals, including mercury, which can harm both humans and the environment. LCDs also contain rare earth metals, such as indium, which is one of the earth’s least prevalent minerals ( Royal Society of Chemistry, 2023 ). If Indium recovery is not increased, reserves may become smaller, affecting the supply chain. The Circular Opportunity Votechnik emerged from the University of Limerick, backed by the European Commission, and supported by world- class industrial players such as Siemens and KUKA . Votechnik has spent the last 10 years developing, testing, and operating their technology to the highest industry standards. They are certified compliant with the European Standard EN50625 for WEEE treatment, and their business model is specifically designed to address the EU legislative WEEE Directive. Votechnik offers a wide range of LCD recycling technologies, one of them being their Indium Recovery System, which is designed specifically to extract indium from WEEE glass panels. Their indium recovery technology is called IND2000 and is supplied as a machine to recyclers who run the process with Votechnik’s support. Votechnik’s technology is used to release and capture indium from the glass panels, achieving high extraction rates and minimizing waste. Purification techniques are used to refine the extracted indium, ensuring its quality and suitability for reuse in various applications. Furthermore, clean glass fractions are generated from the process, which can be reused in the production of the new glass products. The Indium Recovery System is designed to comply with international standards and regulations. Climate Impact By recovering this critical raw material from waste electronics, Votechnik’s Indium Recovery System ensures a stable and reliable supply chain for businesses, by reducing dependence on imported indium from China. It further contributes to environmental preservation by efficiently extracting indium from glass panels, preventing it from being lost in landfills or incinerated, and reducing dependency on indium mining. Replicability The electronic device industry is growing. The combined sales of smartphones, televisions, and computers in 2021 were USD$ 880 billion, with growth rates in 2022 expected to range between 3% - 4% ( Stewart and Crossan, 2022 ). Votechnik has effectively incorporated a circular business model into the booming electronics market, decreasing virgin resource consumption while assisting Ireland in meeting its WEEE collection targets. Recovery and reuse are becoming increasingly prevalent as nations strive to meet climate targets. KMK Metals Recycling , another CIRCULÉIRE member, provides environmentally sound management of waste metal in all forms. They collect and process 75% of Ireland’s WEEE. KMK Metals are partners with Votechnik on both their IND2000 technology plus their ALR4000 technology. The ALR4000 technology depollutes LCD displays, allowing them to be shredded before the secondary raw materials are recovered. ALL CASE STUDIES

3496cd27-edd3-42f2-a017-682ae4600cfe CIRCULÉIRE NON-MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: BRITISH SUGAR WEBSITE: BRITISHSUGAR.CO.UK SECTOR : FOOD & BEVERAGE PUBLISHED: 03 JULY 2025 TAGS: FOOD & BEVERAGE, INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS (IS), BIOECONOMY, CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS, NEW REVENUE STREAMS, INNOVATION, WASTE VALORISATION About British Sugar Located in Wissington, Norfolk, British Sugar is the United Kingdom’s (UK) largest sugar beet refinery. In 1912 their first factory was built in Cantley, Norfolk, and in 1936 the factories were amalgamated into the British Sugar Corporation to manage the entire domestic crop. The Challenge Industrial Symbiosis (IS) is a form of circular economy that connects businesses from various industries to increase waste valorisation, improve resource efficiency, and reduce environmental impact ( Trokanas et al., 2014 ). The gradual opening of the UK sugar market to global competition, as well as the subsequent competition with low- cost sugar produced in developing nations, contributed to a change in the global market ( Benedetti, 2017 ). The main challenge that led British Sugar to implement industrial symbiosis (IS) was the need to adapt and maintain its competitive advantage in this changing global market ( Benedetti, 2017 ). The Circular Solution in Practice British Sugar is the leading producer of sugar for the British and Irish food and beverage sectors, processing about eight million tonnes of sugar beet and producing up to 1.2 million tonnes of sugar each year. They work in partnership with over 2,300 growers. They utilise waste materials from their sugar production process, as well as certain external partnerships, to make 12 different saleable products ( EU, 2023 ). Their innovative manufacturing approach also allows them to create co-products ranging from power generation and bioethanol to animal feed and much more. For instance, the beet washing residual soil is sold under a different brand called Topsoil ( Shi et al., 2021 ). The limestone used for purification is utilised to produce a lime substance that regulates soil acidity to improve soil quality, and this business has become the primary source of agricultural lime in Britain ( Shi et al., 2021 ). They also use the highly concentrated CO2 and waste heat generated during the manufacturing process in the greenhouse to create better growing conditions for tomatoes, making them Europe’s second largest tomato supplier ( Shi et al., 2021 ). These initiatives created significant economic value by generating new revenue streams and reducing waste disposal costs ( Shi et al., 2021 ). The Wissington facility processes 3.5 million tonnes of sugar beet every year, yet less than 100 tonnes of waste is sent to the landfill ( Shi et al., 2021 ). Environmental Impact Since 2014, these processes have resulted in a 26% reduction in water usage, a 12% reduction in energy usage and a 17% reduction in CO2. The factories operate using management systems accredited to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, ISO 50001, BRC and FEMAS. Moreover, British Sugar is playing a part in meeting the industry-focused goals of the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, such as SDG9 ‘Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation’. Focusing on continuous improvement, the company supported this goal by applying a circular solution that helped reduce its end-to-end supply chain water and CO2 footprints by 30%, and by ensuring all plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable, biodegradable and / or compostable and providing access to objective scientific advice on sugar. Replicability The British Sugar case illustrates how the groundwork of Industrial Symbiosis can create opportunities for business innovation towards sustainability, by seeking opportunities to turn waste streams and emissions from core production processes into useful and positive inputs to new product lines. Replicability enhances the goal of reusing networked resources including water, energy, and materials both within a single company or industry or across multiple businesses in traditionally separate industries. Another significant IS project is Kalundborg Symbiosis , the world’s first IS initiative that has evolved over the past 50 years. This partnership of 17 public and private companies has more than 30 different streams of excess resources flowing between them. ALL CASE STUDIES

e98898ad-0e77-4354-a3e6-0bf98438432d CIRCULÉIRE MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: BLADEBRIDGE WEBSITE: BLADEBRIDGE.IE SECTOR : BUILT ENVIRONEMENT PUBLISHED: 21 AUGUST 2025 TAGS: BUILT ENVIRONMENT, CIRCULAR DESIGN, INNOVATION, SECOND LIFE, WASTE VALORISATION The Challenge Wind power has established itself as a vital cornerstone technology in the global effort to combat climate change and achieve the transition to a net-zero economy. Its environmental credentials, particularly when compared to legacy fossil fuel systems, are now scientifically robust and well-documented. On a life-cycle basis, onshore wind power has one of the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG) footprints of all energy sources. Comparing CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour (gCO_2eq/kWh): Wind power has a median estimate of 13 gCO_2eq/kWh, Natural gas has a median estimate of 490 gCO_2eq/kWh, and Coal-fired power plants have a median estimate of 1,001 gCO_2eq/kWh ( NREL, 2021 ). According to the International Energy Agency, global wind energy generation needs to increase from 2,330 Terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2023 to over 7,100 TWh by 2030 to align with a Net Zero Emissions by 2050 scenario. An approximate increase of 17% per year ( IEA, 2024 ). In terms of policy within the EU and Ireland, more wind power is the clear direction of travel. In 2022, in response to the war in Ukraine, the European Union launched the REPowerEU plan, to reduce EU dependence on fossil-fuel imports. The plan aims for 480 GW of wind energy by 2030 up from 190 GW in 2022 ( Wind Europe, 2022 ). Ireland's Climate Action Plan 2024 aims to increase the island’s share of renewable electricity to 80% by 2030, targeting 9 GW of onshore wind, and at least 5 GW from offshore wind projects ( Government of Ireland, 2024 ). With so much wind power coming online, serious consideration needs to be given to what happens to the wind turbines at the end of their life. Wind turbines are designed for a 20-year lifespan based on a set of design requirements by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) ( Wind Energy Ireland, 2021 ). Typically they last up to 25 years with some having their lifetime extended to 35 years ( Wind Europe, 2020 ). 85-90% of a wind turbine can be recycled as they are made of copper, steel and cast iron, however the remaining 10-15% of a turbine's mass is primarily made from composite materials used in the turbine blades, which are more challenging to recycle. ( Wind Europe, 2020 ). By 2030, it is projected that around 52,000 tonnes of wind turbine blades will be decommissioned annually in Europe ( Wind Europe, 2021) , that’s approximately the same weight as 3,700 double-decker buses. Without a circular approach to blade design, it's estimated that blade waste will grow to approximately 43 million tonnes globally by 2050 ( Liu and Barlow, 2017 ) - that’s approximately 3.1 million double-decker busses. The Circular Opportunity BladeBridge , are an Irish company and CIRCULÉIRE member, spun-out from the Re-Wind Network. The Re-Wind Network is an international research group from the Georgia Institute of Technology, University College Cork, Queen’s University Belfast, City University of New York and Munster Technological University who develop solutions to repurpose wind turbine blades at the end of their life. BladeBridge works with owners and operators of wind farms to provide them with sustainable end-of-life options for decommissioned blade material. When a blade reaches the end of its life, BladeBridge tests its strength to assess what kind of products it is suitable for, they then design innovative products to repurpose the blade for its new life. They have repurposed blades to create infrastructure such as a bridge on the Midleton to Youghal Greenway; benches, bike-parking and picnic tables on the Achill Greenway; E-bike charging hubs with ESB; furniture for a local community centre in Co Clare; and they are constantly coming up with new and innovative ideas. Wind turbine blades are getting bigger as time passes, and the decommissioning of later models brings new opportunities for new designs. BladeBridge has plans for products including office pods, shelters, and glamping pods. BladeBridge is currently the only company in Ireland repurposing turbine blades and are a pioneer in using blades for infrastructure like bridges. They have extensive experience working on pilot projects with ESB, Tidy Towns and numerous county councils. As BladeBridge’s turbine blades are used as a substitute for high-carbon virgin material, such as steel and concrete, their infrastructure designs result in 20-50% lower environmental impacts, which exceeds green public procurement initiatives. Their products also save money over their lifespan, as they require much lower maintenance versus conventional products. For local governments and communities BladeBridge offer infrastructure that shows engagement with the circular economy and comes with a great built-in story about the products history. By averaging the CO 2 saved from the use of raw materials across twelve different repurposing scenarios, BladeBridge have calculated that repurposing one tonne of wind turbine blades saves an equivalent half a tonne of CO 2. Their goal is to repurpose as much of wind turbine material as possible, diverting it from landfill or incineration, and preventing up to 900 tonnes of CO 2 equivalent emissions per year. Replicability Wind turbine blades are made to be tough and durable. They are usually a mixture of fibreglass and resin and are designed to withstand storms and wind for decades. Whilst this makes them hard to recycle, it also means they are ideal for outdoor furniture and infrastructure. Other examples of wind turbine solutions include: The Danish city of Aalborg has installed public bicycle shelters made from decommissioned wind turbine blades from a local wind farm. In the Netherlands, the company Blade-Made creates street furniture, playground equipment, and architectural features from sections of decommissioned turbine blades. The Polish company Anmet recycles and repurposes blades for various uses, including constructing small-scale bridges and city furniture. GE Renewable Energy partnered with Veolia North America (VNA) to process blades from its U.S. based onshore turbines, shredding them for use as a raw material for cement manufacturing. Siemens Gamesa has launched the "RecyclableBlade," the world's first fully recyclable wind turbine blade, which uses a new resin type that allows for the separation of blade materials at the end of life. ALL CASE STUDIES

67923338-9d95-44a5-80e3-2fb0b2337bdf CIRCULÉIRE MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: ERIU WEBSITE: ERIU.EU SECTOR : TEXTILES PUBLISHED: 24 APRIL 2024 TAGS: TEXTILES, BIOECONOMY The Challenge Sheep farming is Ireland’s fourth most important animal enterprise ( Teagasc, 2023 ). Wool is a natural, biodegradable, and renewable fibre and is abundant in Ireland due to the key role of sheep farming. Wool was considered as an agricultural product in the EU until 2002, and it was a source of income for the farmers who operated in the sector. Wool’s categorisation altered through a series of EU regulations and is now currently classified as a Category 3 waste product alongside animal carcasses (DAFM, 2022 ). Wool must now be transferred to specialised processing facilities, which means high reprocessing costs and uncertain earnings for many farmers. All treatment of recovered materials needs to adhere to the guidelines of Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency . This regulatory change, coupled with the rapid decline in the usage of natural fibres in favour of synthetic fibre production, resulted in the devaluation of wool. Farmers in Ireland are only paid 20 cents per kg ( DAFM, 2022 ), which is considerably less than the cost of shearing. This leaves farmers with no incentive to care for their wool or breed for wool quality. Currently, some sheep farmers are storing years’ worth of wool in their sheds or storage warehouses ( O’Riordan, 2022 ), which compromises the condition of the wool. The Circular Opportunity Currently, synthetic, petroleum-based polymers account for two-thirds of all textile items ( Henry, Laitala and Klepp 2019 ). Laundering synthetic clothes accounts for 35% of primary microplastics released into the environment ( De Falco et al., 2019 ). Sheep wool, on the other hand, is a natural biodegradable and renewable fibre which at the end of its life poses no threat to human health or the environment ( DAFM, 2022 ). Properties in wool also allow it to be used for purposes such as fertiliser and insulation. Wool is an excellent insulator and thermo- regulator. It responds to variations in body temperature, keeping the wearer warmer when cold and cooler when warm. It is odour and wrinkle resistant, so does not need to be washed as frequently as other fibre types, conserving water, and energy ( DAFM 2023 ). According to recent studies, regenerative wool can store carbon from the environment, thereby minimising the impacts of climate change ( Colley et al., 2020 ). The Circular Solution In Practice Ériu , a 2023 CIRCULEIRE New Venture, founded in 2021, manufactures yarn from the wool that is hand-selected, processed and designed entirely in Ireland. Ériu is the first Irish knitwear brand whose products are exclusively Irish sourced and manufactured using a ‘Farm to Yarn’ sustainable initiative. Ériu contributes to the Irish economy by sourcing wool from a trusted network of farmers around Ireland, as well as from their own farm in Wicklow. They offer farmers EUR €2.50 per kg of wool, which is more than 10 times market price. Donegal Yarns processes the wool locally, and Irish knitters in Dublin make it. Aside from local collaborations, they have established their own facility for processing wool on the farm which they intend to roll out in stages. The first stage is scouring, where they will wash the wool softly and sustainably using biodiverse methods. They already have equipment for additional stages, which will further enable an expansion of their Farm-to- Yarn networks to source and incentivise more wool collection, and create more opportunities for an expanding range of wool products. Replicability The global wool market is expected to grow from $37.06 billion in 2022 to $45.05 billion in 2027 ( The Business Research Company, 2023 ). As consumers are becoming more conscious of the environmental degradation caused by synthetic textile production there has been a rise in demand for sustainable and ethically produced textiles ( Granskog et al., 2020 ). In light of these factors, Irish wool is expected to hold significant potential for the textile sector’s sustainable transition. Ériu has an unparalleled opportunity to be at the forefront of revitalising the Irish wool market . As circularity in the textiles and fashion sector continues to be encouraged, a few companies worth mentioning include: Infinited Fiber , a Finnish company that has developed a technology that converts textile waste into a premium-quality circular textile fibre, which reduces the world’s reliance on virgin raw materials. Our Choice Fashion, based in Luxemburg, manufactures circular leather sneakers that are 100% plastic free, repairable, and recyclable. ALL CASE STUDIES

94036eb7-0636-4468-96f2-31cf79a845fc CIRCULÉIRE NON-MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: HOLCIM WEBSITE: HOLCIM.COM SECTOR : BUILT ENVIRONMENT PUBLISHED: 05 NOVEMBER 2025 TAGS: SUSTAINABLECONSTRUCTION, GREENCONCRETE, RECYCLEDCONCRETE, BUILTENVIRONMENT, EMBODIEDCARBON, CEMENT, CONSTRUCTIONWASTE, WASTETORESOURCE The Challenge Buildings account for 39% of global carbon emissions, with operational emissions related to heating, cooling, and power use contributing 28%, and embodied carbon—emissions from materials and construction—making up 11% ( World Green Building Council, 2025 ). Concrete alone is estimated to be responsible for approximately 6 to 8% of global CO 2 emissions ( World Economic Forum, 2024 ). This high carbon footprint arises mainly from the energy-intensive process of heating limestone at extreme temperatures during cement production, to make clinker, which is a primary ingredient in concrete. The built environment consumes about 50% of all extracted raw materials globally, emphasizing its significant resource demands ( European Commission, 2018 ). Concrete is the second most used material on earth, following only water in volume of use ( World Cement Association, n.d. ). Without the adoption of sustainable practices, the global consumption of raw materials for construction is projected to double by 2060, causing further environmental degradation and resource depletion ( OECD, 2019 ). A Circular Solution Holcim, a worldwide leader in building materials, partnered with Seqens - a major social housing organization in France - to give birth to Recygénie, the world's first building fully made from recycled concrete. This 220-unit social housing complex utilised Holcim's ECOCycle technology, which turns construction and demolition waste into new building materials (Holcim, n.d.). In 2021, a group of 1960s apartment buildings were torn down just outside of Paris, France. On the same site, construction began on the Recygénie complex, one year utilising demolition waste from the very buildings that once stood on the site ( Fast Company, 2024 ). This project demonstrated Holcim's ECOCycle technology platform, which enables the production of concrete from 100% recycled construction and demolition materials. The platform includes advanced crushing and processing systems that transform demolition waste into high-quality recycled aggregates, sand, and cement components. By reusing these recycled materials, ECOCycle reduces reliance on virgin raw inputs, conserves natural resources, and contributes to lowering the carbon footprint of new buildings ( Holcim, 2025 ; Holcim, 2023 ). A key collaborator on the project was the CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment), the French national organization for R&D in construction. The CSTB’s partnership was essential to monitor and validate the performance of the recycled material, as the project went beyond existing French building standards. By working with the CSTB to validate the material, the project helped create a pathway for future circular projects and challenged existing regulations that limit the use of recycled content. The circular opportunity presented by Recygénie shows that big buildings can be constructed using only recycled materials, without a compromise on quality and safety. This helps keep waste out of landfills and encourages better use of resources. It sets an example in the field of sustainable building practices that can be used around the world ( Holcim, 2023 ). Climate Impact Recygénie has significantly reduced its environmental impact. The project's primary CO 2 savings come from using recycled materials to create new clinker, a process that avoids the high-temperature calcination of virgin limestone—the main source of cement's emissions. The project also diverted over 6,000 tons of construction and demolition waste from landfills and saved an equivalent amount of natural resources by recycling materials such as cement, aggregates, and water. These efforts demonstrate the potential of circular construction practices to lower carbon emissions, reduce waste, and conserve resources ( Holcim, 2023 ). Replicability The success of Recygénie proves that fully recycled concrete buildings are feasible and scalable. Holcim is replicating this model across the markets where it operates, adapting the solution to local building norms and material availability. In 2023, Holcim has recycled nearly 8.4 million tons of construction demolition materials ( Holcim, 2023 ). Several Irish companies are making great strides in the use of recycled cement and sustainable construction practices: Ecocem Ireland is a leading sustainable cement producer specializing in Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), a byproduct of the steel industry used as a low-carbon substitute for Portland cement. Their product significantly reduces embodied carbon in concrete while maintaining high performance. Techrete are Ireland’s largest architectural precast concrete façade specialist, Techrete has launched a sustainable concrete range with a 50% reduction in embodied carbon, driven by incorporating cement replacement materials and high-performance mixes. Trinity College Dublin & FLI Precast Solutions developed a groundbreaking low-carbon concrete using biomass ash, an industrial byproduct from Edenderry Power Station, reducing carbon emissions by over 50%. Kilsaran , a longstanding Irish concrete products producer, implemented CarbonCure technology, which injects recycled CO 2 into concrete to permanently mineralize it for a reduced carbon footprint. ALL CASE STUDIES

CIRCULÉIRE is Ireland’s first circular innovation network and the National Platform for Circular Innovation, supporting industry and manufacturing to derisk, develop, and deliver circular business models. Led by IMR with national strategic partners, we have grown from 25 founding members to a 50+ strong Innovation Network driving Ireland’s circular economy transition. CIRCULÉIRE The National Platform for Circular Innovation Get Involved €1.5m Invested in 10 Circular Innovation Pilot Demonstrations €130k Invested in supporting 26 Circular New Ventures to date 50+ Active Members 19 Circularity Action Plans and Assessments Delivered 10 Thematic Working Groups delivered for Collaborative Knowledge Sharing CIRCULÉIRE is Ireland's First Circular Innovation Network. Our mission is to demystify, derisk, and deliver circular business model innovation by unlocking the value that resides in an Irish circular economy. CIRCULÉIRE, the National Platform for Circular Innovation, is a multi-million euro cross-sectoral, industry-led public-private partnership that provides Industry with the necessary supports and expertise to drive their systems-level circular innovation. 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 achieved by the pilot initiative from 2020 to 2022, the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications became the primary public funder of CIRCULÉIRE in 2023. This support enables the continued scaling of industry-led circular innovation while leveraging existing expertise and activities within the national circular innovation ecosystem. We work across multiple Industry sectors and are stewarding over 50 organisations and their supply-chains on a journey from linear to circular business models. CIRCULAR BUSINESS SUPPORTS We accelerate organisations’ Circular Transformation to meet ESG and net-zero goals LEARN MORE KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & POLICY ENGAGEMENTS We facilitate learning and capacity building and demystify policy and regulation to drive circular innovation LEARN MORE ECOSYSTEM COLLABORATION We are a dynamic Cross-Sectoral Industry Network committed to scaling circularity LEARN MORE Featured Case Studies Featured News Call for Proposals – Pharmaceutical Sector Expert to Co-author a Best Practice Guide on the Circular Economy Do you have deep technical expertise in the Irish and EU pharmaceutical sector, with a strong understanding of areas like green chemistry, solvent management, and GxP? Can you translate this knowledge into practical, actionable insights for a business audience? If you are a skilled technical writer passionate about advancing the circular economy, IMR the secretariat and coordinator of CIRCULÉIRE wants to hear from you. IMR is requesting applications from a suitably qualifi Feb 18 2 min read IMR’s Director of Circular Economy Innovation, Dr. Geraldine Brennan, guest speaker at HPBA’s inaugural Net Zero Construction Symposium Xavier Dubuisson, CEO of Retrokit, and Dave Garforth, Program Director at Responsible Plastics Management (RPM), and Dr. Geraldine Brennan (Director of Circular Economy Innovation at IMR/CIRCULÉIRE). On 21 st January, Director of Circular Economy Innovation, Dr Geraldine Brennan, represented IMR and CIRCULÉIRE in the Circularity in Construction Panel at HPBA’s Net Zero Construction Symposium, alongside Xavier Dubuisson, CEO of Retrokit and Dave Garforth, Program Director at Jan 27 3 min read Celebrating Circularity: Highlights from the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025 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 Dec 15, 2025 2 min read IMR’s Director of Circular Economy Innovation, Dr. Geraldine Brennan, guest speaker at HPBA’s inaugural Net Zero Construction Symposium Jan 27 3 min read Celebrating Circularity: Highlights from the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025 Dec 15, 2025 2 min read Driving Circular Economy Through Collaboration and Innovation Dec 5, 2025 2 min read CircularShift: Ireland Joins Forces to Accelerate Circular Procurement Across Northwest Europe Dec 3, 2025 4 min read Upcoming Events Members Only | Q1 Network Meeting CIRCULÉIRE & ARYZTA Thu, 26 Mar ARYZTA Food Solutions Ireland More info Details

627efed7-ef6a-4a14-ba3c-f06944ff4f80 CIRCULÉIRE NON-MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: ASBETER WEBSITE: ASBETER.COM SECTOR : BUILT ENVIRONMENT PUBLISHED: 26 NOVEMBER 2025 TAGS: CIRCULARECONOMY, ASBESTOS, SUSTAINABLECONSTRUCTION, HAZARDOUSWASTE, CIRCULARMANUFACTURING, BUILTENVIRONMENT, GREENBUILDING, WASTEMANAGEMENT, CLEANTECH, INNOVATION, CONSTRUCTION, MATERIALRECOVERY The Challenge Asbestos-cement products are one of the most persistent legacy hazards in the built environment, combining high health risks with difficult end‑of‑life management. Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring mineral fibres formerly prized for their durability and heat resistance. Throughout the twentieth century, these qualities led to the widespread use of asbestos in building materials for the likes of roofing, cladding, and pipes. ( World Health Organization, 2024 ). Exposure to airborne asbestos fibres causes fatal diseases, including lung and larynx cancer and mesothelioma, leading to over 200,000 deaths annually worldwide ( World Health Organization, 2024 ). Despite bans in many countries, global asbestos mining continues, with around 1.3 million tonnes produced in 2023 ( UNEP, 2024 ). Many countries still rely on landfilling asbestos-containing materials, which locks future liability into the ground and occupies scarce disposal capacity. Asbestos-cement products remain a persistent legacy issue in Ireland’s built environment, where many pre-2000 buildings still contain asbestos materials posing serious public health risks ( Health and Safety Authority, 2017 ). Despite being banned since 2004, asbestos fibres continue to threaten workers and residents during refurbishment or demolition activities unless tightly controlled ( OHSS, 2025 ). Ireland’s asbestos waste is classified as hazardous and requires special handling and disposal at EPA-licensed facilities. However, domestic landfill capacity for asbestos is limited, often requiring export or transfer to facilities overseas ( EPA, 2021 ). Ireland is currently preparing for the EU Asbestos Directive’s implementation in Dec 2025, which will further strengthen exposure limits, monitoring, and training requirements to improve worker safety ( EHS International, 2025 ) A Circular Solution Founded in 2018 in the Netherlands, Asbeter developed its AC Minerals process and commercialized it in 2022 to safely treat asbestos cement by alkaline dissolution ( Asbeter, 2024 ). The AC Minerals process involves breaking down asbestos cement waste by shredding and milling it into small fragments inside a sealed environment with water. The resulting slurry is then heated below 100C which creates a chemical reaction in which the asbestos fibres chemically transform until they are completely neutralized and no longer pose a hazard ( BBC Future, 2024 ). The process recovers valuable raw materials such as calcium silicate and calcium carbonate from the treated waste, which can then be reused in industries like cement and concrete manufacturing. This innovative technique aims to safely and effectively transform hazardous asbestos waste into reusable materials, addressing a major challenge in global asbestos disposal ( Asbeter, 2025 ). This approach offers a promising alternative to hazardous asbestos landfill, enabling recycling into circular construction inputs, reducing landfill reliance and health risks. Climate Impact Asbeter was issued an end-of-waste certificate by the Dutch Environment Agency ( DCMR, 2023 ) and the independent testing agency, Det Norske Veritas, also issued a verification statement confirming that their process completely dissolves asbestos fibres from asbestos-containing materials, resulting in an asbestos-free residue ( DNV, 2023 ). Asbeter plans to build a plant capable of processing 25,000 tonnes a year, growing to 75,000 tonnes a year ( BBC Future, 2024 ). By safely neutralizing asbestos fibres and producing a non-hazardous residue, the AC Minerals process eliminates the need for hazardous asbestos waste landfilling. If implemented in Ireland, a similar solution could significantly reduce the environmental risks associated with asbestos disposal while keeping valuable mineral materials in circulation. Moreover, by making the waste safe, it could substantially lower the high shipping and remediation costs currently required to transport hazardous asbestos waste off-island for disposal, leading to economic and environmental benefits through more local processing and circular reuse. Replicability The green building materials market was valued at USD 285.89 billion in 2024, projected to grow by 8.5% annually through 2030 ( Grand View Research, 2025 ). Asbeter’s method illustrates a replicable circular economy solution to manage legacy asbestos waste while producing low-carbon construction feedstock for the built environment’s transition ( Asbeter, 2024 ). Addressing asbestos is critical: asbestos exposure accounted for 78% of occupational cancers in the EU in 2019, with approximately 70,000 workers still exposed today ( European Commission, 2022 ). This underscores the urgent need for safe and scalable asbestos waste management solutions. Another company working on a circular solution for asbestos is Thermal Recycling in the UK. The company uses high-temperature processing to convert asbestos cement into inert mineral materials, achieving end-of-waste status and enabling reuse. ALL CASE STUDIES