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16 Sept. - Co. Kildare, Ireland - From left, Robert Devlin, General Manager and Executive Director at Meade Farm Group; Eileen Hanan, HR & Payroll Manager at Meade Farm Group; David McCormack, Director of Sustainable Manufacturing at IMR; and Marty Whelan, Irish Radio Personality, during the 2022 IMR Manufacturing and Supply Chain Awards. Photo: Paul Sherwood. Congratulations to Meade Farm Group for winning Ireland’s first Circular Economy Leadership Award at the 2022 IMR Manufacturing & Supply Chain Awards . It was a double celebration for Meade Farm Group as they also won the 2022 Grand Prix Award for overall best manufacturing company. On the same day, CIRCULÉIRE Industry Member Wyeth Nutrition also won the Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year Award. The awards ceremony took place on 16 September 2022 at the Kilashee Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare. Meade Farm Group's submission demonstrated how they had embedded circular innovation within their business by creating a unique, new sustainability-driven supply chain model for potato starch that prioritises food waste prevention utilising surplus potatoes, potato crop by-products and by-products of the processing industry. “From the top down, through excellent leadership, this company have truly embraced food waste elimination and through innovation and creativity, they have found a solution which not only addresses a problem but creates value”, said Barry Kennedy, CEO of Irish Manufacturing Research. Potato starch is usually imported to Ireland, but instead of relying on crops grown specifically for starch, Meade Farm Group have decided to extract starch at their farm and food production facilities. “We use Class II and surplus potatoes from our growing and packing operations, as well as grey starch collected from crisping factories. We have valorised the 30% typical waste rate for potato crops and our leftover pulp is fed to our cattle on the farm. We’re the only facility in Ireland and UK that sells food-grade potato starch to manufacturers, food service and retailers”, says Meade Group. Cirtex , HealthBeacon , iQuTech , Novelplast and VivaGreen Group were finalists in this category. Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year Award 16 Sept. - Co. Kildare, Ireland - From left, Ger Purtill, Energy Consultant for Wyeth Nutrition; John McGeown, Head of Manufacturing at AIB; Conor Morgan, Director at AIB; and Marty Whelan, Irish Radio Personality, during the 2022 IMR Manufacturing and Supply Chain Awards. Photo: Paul Sherwood. CIRCULÉIRE Industry Member Wyeth Nutrition was also announced as the winner of the 2022 "Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year", sponsored by AIB Ireland, due to their “inspiring and wide-ranging approach to sustainability and delivering impressive cumulative results”. CIRCULÉIRE Industry Members Another three CIRCULÉIRE Industry Members have won the 2022 IMR Manufacturing & Supply Chain Awards across the 12 award categories. See the full list below: Aryzta Ireland - Health & Safety Project of the Year Boston Scientific - Smart Factory Manufacturer of the Year Sponsored By Bank of Ireland Kerrygold - Lean Manufacturing Company of the Year Wyeth Nutrition - Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year Sponsored By AIB CIRCULÉIRE commend all our members and other candidates who applied for the #IMRAwards. For more information, read here . About CIRCULÉIRE CIRCULÉIRE is a public-private partnership co-created by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and three strategic partners: the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) , the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EIT Climate-KIC . Together with industry partners, CIRCULÉIRE aims to assist manufacturers and their supply chains to switch from linear to circular business models. Read more about CIRCULÉIRE here .

Congratulations to CIRCULÉIRE Industry Members Aryzta Ireland , Boston Scientific , Kerrygold and Wyeth Nutrition who were some of the winners at the 2022 IMR Manufacturing & Supply Chain Awards , which took place on 16 September 2022, at Kilashee Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare. CIRCULÉIRE Members won awards across the following categories: Aryzta Ireland - Health & Safety Project of the Year Boston Scientific - Smart Factory Manufacturer of the Year Sponsored By Bank of Ireland Kerrygold - Lean Manufacturing Company of the Year Wyeth Nutrition - Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year Sponsored By AIB Overall, CIRCULÉIRE Industry Members held 12 nominations across the categories for this year's event. CIRCULÉIRE commends all candidates who applied for these competitive awards recognising industry best practices in Ireland. For more information, read here . Or read more about the Circular Economy Leadership Award here . About CIRCULÉIRE CIRCULÉIRE is a public-private partnership co-created by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and three strategic partners: the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) , the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EIT Climate-KIC . Together with industry partners, CIRCULÉIRE aims to assist manufacturers and their supply chains to switch from linear to circular business models. Read more about CIRCULÉIRE here .

Register & join us on Fri, 7th Oct., at 11 am, via Zoom Click here to register Transitioning to a circular economy requires a significant increase in circular finance and funding instruments to support the development and scaling of circular economy pilots, business models and infrastructure. Yet both industry and the financial and funding sectors encounter considerable challenges. For one, regulations, markets, investment tools and practices, including financial risk assessment, are adjusted to linear models, and negative externalities and risks linked to linear business models are largely not considered. In an Irish context, the EPA estimate that annually we use 100 million tonnes of materials – where implementing a 5% material improvement across the economy would represent an annual €2.32bn opportunity. Moreover, valorising waste creates opportunities for import substitution and reinforces the economic benefits of regional supply-chains to Irish companies. If Ireland is to effectively transition to a net-zero carbon economy, and unlock the wider benefits of a circular economy, then it will be critical that our funding and financing landscape is strategically aligned with this goal. During this 2-hour virtual session, CIRCULÉIRE's Financing the Circular Economy Thematic Working Group Expert Facilitators, Liz Gavin (Digital Village), and Kate Van Der Merwe will present the main findings including: State of play of Ireland’s circular finance and funding landscape, and the role finance can play in driving Ireland’s shift to circularity. Major barriers to financing Ireland’s circular economy and recommendations identified to overcome them. Innovation opportunities identified by CIRCULÉIRE's cross-sectoral Thematic Working Group Panel Members about how Ireland’s funding and finance landscape might be optimised for a circular economy. The session will be chaired by Sophie Reynolds (Circular Economy Technologist, Irish Manufacturing Research) and will include a Q&A session. About CIRCULÉIRE CIRCULÉIRE is a public-private partnership co-created by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and three strategic partners: the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) , the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EIT Climate-KIC . Together with industry partners, CIRCULÉIRE aims to assist manufacturers and their supply chains to switch from linear to circular business models. Read more about CIRCULÉIRE here .

Join us on 23/Nov to learn about the cross-sectoral Innovation Pilots funded by CIRCULÉIRE. Register now using the link below! Register for our conference here Check here the final agenda We are delighted to announce that Minister Ossian Smyth , Minister of State with responsibility for Communications and the Circular Economy will be delivering the keynote address at CIRCULÉIRE’s 2022 Conference. Our event is taking place virtually on 23 November 2022, from 10 am to 1 pm, during which we will be showcasing the impacts, insights and learnings from the cross-sectoral Innovation Pilots funded by CIRCULÉIRE in the construction, furniture, and medical devices, plastics, and textiles sectors. You will also have the opportunity to hear from CIRCULÉIRE’s Strategic Partners: the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications , EPA Ireland and EIT Climate KIC . Speakers*: Neil Skeffington , CEO, Novelplast presenting on Circularising Single-Use Plastic (C-SUP), a circular lab plastics pilot. Kevin Cronin , COO, Freefoam Plastics presenting on Circular Economy & The Power of Many, a construction supply-chain pilot. Carl McAteer , Designer, Farrell Furniture presenting on Do More With Less, a B2B furniture tack-back scheme pilot. Richard Clinton , Group Commercial Director, Dawn Meats presenting on Sustainable Use of Carbon Contributes to Environmentally Sustainable Systems (SUCCESS). John Carr , Managing Director, Offerre presenting on MED Devices a New Life (MEDAL), a B2C medical devices take-back pilot. Paudy O’Brien , CEO, FPD Recycling presenting on RoboCRM - advanced robotics to capture critical raw materials in WEEE recycling. Les Carberry , Principle Officer, Circular Economy Unit, Department of Environment, Climate & Communications . Warren Phelan , Circular Economy Programme Manager, EPA . Dr Andy Kerr , Chief Strategy Officer, EIT Climate-KIC . *Due to unforeseen circumstances, Upcycled Insulation project will no longer be presenting at the conference. Read more about the projects here. About CIRCULÉIRE CIRCULÉIRE is a public-private partnership co-created by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and three strategic partners: the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) , the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EIT Climate-KIC . Together with industry partners, CIRCULÉIRE aims to assist manufacturers and their supply chains to switch from linear to circular business models. Read more about CIRCULÉIRE here .

Check our second report aimed at supporting industry players in high-impact Irish sectors to transition to a circular economy Check here the full report See the executive summary Read Sectoral Guide #1 Construction & Built Environment here CIRCULÉIRE has made the Fashion and Textiles Good Practice Sectoral Guide publicly available. The Guide is intended for those involved in the apparel and textiles industry, including economic operators in the value chain – such as retailers - and policymakers. The textile industry is often described as one of the most polluting and resource-intensive industries in the world. It represents significant environmental and climate pressures in every phase of its lifecycle from the production of fibres and textile products to distribution and retail, use of textiles, collection, sorting and recycling, and final waste management. In a circular fashion and textiles economy , products are designed with resource efficiency, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and recyclability and reuse in mind. Our guide: Provides industry stakeholders with an overview of industry-led circular innovations that are shaping the fashion and textiles sector domestically and in other parts of the world. Profiles 12 circular innovations, which range in maturity and technological readiness level from earlier-stage solutions, and more mature, market-ready and fully commercialised circular innovations. Highlights the opportunities to circularise textiles value chains in Ireland. CIRCULÉIRE Circular Fashion & Textiles Good Practice Sectoral Guide is part of a series of reports produced by CIRCULÉIRE targeted at Irish industry players in sectors deemed strategically important to supporting Ireland’s transition to a circular economy. Circular Construction & Built Environment Good Practice Sectoral Guide Check the first report intended for those involved in the construction industry by clicking here . For further discussions about this report, get in touch with Sophie Reynolds , Circular Economy Senior Researcher. About CIRCULÉIRE CIRCULÉIRE is a public-private partnership co-created by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and three strategic partners: the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) , the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EIT Climate-KIC . Together with industry partners, CIRCULÉIRE aims to assist manufacturers and their supply chains to switch from linear to circular business models. Read more about CIRCULÉIRE here .

Primary Schools from County Westmeath can win a visit to IMR’s Lab in Mullingar and learn about Circular Economy. Entries must be submitted by 7/Nov 5th-class teachers and students based in County Westmeath: Apply here Update: As a Halloween gift, we decided to extend the deadline and facilitate the process! If you are a 5th-class teacher based in County Westmeath, you just need to register your class by the 7th of November 2022. See details below: Apply here by registering your class. Participants will be entered into a raffle competition to win. Digital media content is welcomed but not mandatory to participate. To celebrate Science Week 2022, CIRCULÉIRE and Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) are delighted to invite 5th-class teachers and students based in County Westmeath to apply for the chance to win a visit to IMR's Lab in Mullingar on the 15th of November. The visit to the lab is an opportunity for students and teachers to interact with cutting-edge technology being used in manufacturing and explore how technology enables circularity (for example  3D printing, collaborative robots and virtual reality), it is also an opportunity to meet role models working in manufacturing and STEM and participate in a hands-on workshop exploring circular economy. Note: The target of this action is 5th-class teachers and students based in County Westmeath. A maximum of 1 entry per class is allowed. First place will win a trip for the class to Irish Manufacturing Research's Lab in Mullingar on the 15th of November. Winners will be notified by email on the 8th of November. More details about the competition can be found here . About CIRCULÉIRE CIRCULÉIRE is a public-private partnership co-created by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and three strategic partners: the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) , the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EIT Climate-KIC . Together with industry partners, CIRCULÉIRE aims to assist manufacturers and their supply chains to switch from linear to circular business models. Read more about CIRCULÉIRE here .

CIRCULÉIRE’s 2020 Thematic Working Group (TWG) Series is now live with our Circular Bioeconomy TWG kicking-off in mid-June chaired by IMR in collaboration with the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation . Our Industrial Symbiosis TWG will be launch in early July – in collaboration with International Synergies . Followed by our Circular Procurement TWG which will kick off in early August in collaboration with IDDEA .

The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2020 planned for Toronto was postponed by a year due to COVID-19 inspiring SITRA toorganise the first fully virtual event as part of the World Circular Economy Forum. WCEFonline will dive into why and how a circular economy can help reboot and build resilience in the economy. Sessions include presentations from the European Commission; World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBSCD), African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA), the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE) and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. See SITRA’s website to register for this must attend circular economy event of the year! Learn More

CIRCULÉIRE – The National Platform for Circular Manufacturing is the first national, cross-sectoral industry-led innovation network dedicated to accelerating the net-zero carbon circular economy in Ireland. IMR, CIRCULEIRE’s secretariat, would like to extend an invitation to interested organisations to join our 2020 Thematic Working Groups related to: Circular Bioeconomy, Industrial Symbiosis / Closed Loop Production, and Circular Procurement. Please note that the call for participation in CIRCULÉIRE’s 2020 Thematic Working Groups is now closed. Learn More

In this CIRCULÉIRE Policy Summary gain insights into: the evolution of the EU Circular Economy strategy from 2015-2020 and centrality to Europe’s COVID-19 recovery roadmap; the 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP 2.0) – new measures which seek to, by 2030, reduce the EU consumption footprint, double the EU’s circular material use rate while boosting economic growth; and the implications of CEAP 2.0 and circular opportunities for Ireland’s COVID-19 recovery. Learn More

The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action, the single biggest challenge facing humanity. The last four years were the four hottest on record, glaciers and ice sheets in polar and mountain regions are already melting faster than ever. We are hitting up against planetary boundaries and the urgency to scale up action has never been greater. We have a narrowing window of just over a decade (by 2030) to implement radical reductions (45-50%) in global greenhouse gas emissions to stay below 1.5°C. We only have one Planet Earth – so how can we take positive steps towards reconfiguring our economies and scale solutions for sustainable production and consumption? The European Commission’s European Green Deal and recently launched Circular Economy Action Plan are causes for optimism. Irish Manufacturing Research is hosting an information sharing webinar and a Quiz on Wednesday 22nd April from 10:00 to 10:45 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. The webinar will give an overview of the current state of the environment and provide information on sustainable development goals (SDGs), changing climate, air quality, water quality, biodiversity, soil health, and the Circular Economy. Learn More

The National Standard Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is currently working with the ISO Technical Committee 323 to develop an international standard to implement circularity. Standardization in the field of Circular Economy seeks to develop frameworks, guidance, supporting tools and requirements for the implementation of activities of all involved organizations, to maximize the contribution of circularity to Sustainable Development. David McCormack IMR’s Director of Sustainable Manufacturing and Programme Director of CIRCULÉIRE has been appointed as the Chair of NSAI’s National Mirror Committee of the ISO Technical Committee 323 as of the 13th April 2020. Taking a leadership role in this NSAI / ISO process enables, IMR, as the secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE, to ensure that Irish industry can feed in both the challenges and opportunities they face as they seek to embed circularity in their business models. Learn More