Speakers at IMR Connect Day on 1 October: Geraldine Brennan (IMR), Mark O'Sullivan (IQUTECH), Aswin Ramasubramanian (IMR), Richard Brennan (Evolve), and Joe Coleman (Combilift). At the recent IMR Connect Day, manufacturers, industry leaders and technology experts explored a practical question: how can businesses recover more value from the products and equipment they already manufacture, use and maintain? Through the panel discussion Circular Manufacturing in Practice: From Compliance to Competitive Advantage and an interactive workshop, participants explored how remanufacturing can help reduce costs, strengthen supply-chain resilience and create new business opportunities. From rebuilding long-life industrial equipment to using robotics and digital technologies to recover components, the discussions evidenced that remanufacturing is more than a circular economy ambition. It is an opportunity to improve manufacturing competitiveness, provided businesses can overcome challenges around technology, quality assurance, market demand and regulation. Key Takeaways For industry Remanufacturing turns circularity into competitive advantage. By recovering value from existing products and equipment, manufacturers can reduce waste and resource consumption while creating new revenue streams, lowering costs and strengthening supply-chain resilience. Turning circular ambition into industrial practice requires an integrated approach. Combining circular economy expertise with advanced manufacturing, robotics, digital technologies and viable business models can help manufacturers overcome technical and commercial barriers and scale remanufacturing. For policymakers EU legislation is increasingly recognising remanufacturing, but regulatory fragmentation remains a challenge. Definitions of remanufacturing differ across legislation, reflecting different regulatory objectives and product characteristics. This fragmentation can create uncertainty for businesses, particularly those operating across sectors. Greater consistency in definitions and clearer rules around the waste status of products and components could help remove barriers to adoption. Scaling remanufacturing in Ireland requires targeted policy support. Better access to product information, skills development, stronger supply-chain collaboration and measures such as green public procurement can help overcome barriers and support wider adoption. From circular ambition to commercial opportunity The panel, chaired by Dr Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at IMR, brought together perspectives from across the product lifecycle, including original equipment manufacturing, product recovery, circular business models and advanced technologies. Joe Coleman from Combilift highlighted the potential to recover value from long-life industrial equipment. With machines designed to operate for 20–25 years, significant value remains in their structures and components. Rebuilding existing equipment to a like-new standard could create new commercial opportunities, offer customers more affordable alternatives and help manufacturers reach additional markets. Mark O'Sullivan from iQuTech drew on experience in the electronics sector, where product recovery and remanufacturing have long been commercially driven. His contribution highlighted the importance of spare-parts availability, efficient reverse logistics and recovering value from returned products. It demonstrated that remanufacturing is not necessarily a new business concept, even if its contribution to circularity is receiving greater attention today. From the automotive sector, Richard Brennan of Evolve illustrated how circular business models can connect different actors across the value chain. Facilitating the use of reclaimed and remanufactured vehicle parts can offer alternatives to new components while delivering economic and environmental benefits. His example highlighted the importance of connecting suppliers, insurers, repairers and customers to create demand. Technology was another important part of the discussion. Dr Aswin Ramasubramanian from IMR presented the EU-funded REWIRE project, which explores how robotics, automation and digital technologies can support remanufacturing. Through industrial use cases, the project is investigating how digital traceability, automated inspection, disassembly and testing can make remanufacturing more efficient, reliable and scalable. Together, these examples demonstrated the diversity of remanufacturing opportunities across industries and product lifecycles. A recurring theme was trust and quality assurance. For remanufacturing to compete with new production, customers need confidence in product performance and reliability. Robust testing, traceability, warranties and consistent quality standards are therefore essential. Exploring opportunities through the workshop Building on the panel discussion, a group of attendees took part in an interactive workshop to consider how remanufacturing could apply to their organisations. Participants identified opportunities including cost savings, supply-chain simplification, extending equipment lifetimes and recovering valuable components. However, recurring barriers included limited access to technical information, difficulties demonstrating product performance, regulatory uncertainty and skills gaps. The discussions highlighted a consistent message: remanufacturing opportunities need to be assessed through both a technical and commercial lens. Identifying products with recovery potential is only the starting point. Manufacturers also need to consider access to components and product information, the processes required to restore performance, customer confidence and whether the business case supports implementation. Addressing these challenges requires a combination of manufacturing expertise, enabling technologies, collaboration and appropriate policy support. Remanufacturing: A significant economic opportunity Remanufacturing restores products or components to a specified, like-new level of performance through an industrial process involving activities such as inspection, disassembly, component replacement, reassembly and testing. Unlike recycling, which recovers materials, remanufacturing preserves more of the value already embedded in products, including their components, engineering and manufacturing effort. Its economic potential is significant. A 2015 European Remanufacturing Network Market Study estimated that Europe's remanufacturing industry generated approximately €30 billion in annual turnover and employed around 190,000 people at the time. It also projected potential growth to approximately €90 billion by 2030, subject to supportive policies and investment. These figures illustrate the scale of the opportunity. For manufacturers, remanufacturing can create revenue streams, extend customer relationships, reduce dependence on virgin materials and strengthen supply-chain resilience. Building the evidence base for remanufacturing in Ireland In 2024, CIRCULÉIRE (Ireland's Circular Innovation Network), designed and led by IMR, published its Remanufacturing Thematic Working Group Insights Report. Drawing on industry workshops and policy discussions, the report explored the opportunities, challenges and enabling conditions for remanufacturing in Ireland, identifying priorities for industry and policymakers. More recently, the EPA-funded Research Report 520: Remanufacturing for Ireland (ReManIre), published in September 2026 and led by the University of Limerick, examined how remanufacturing could be scaled nationally. Based on research and stakeholder engagement, it proposed a more coordinated approach, including a national roadmap, policy framework and Centre of Excellence for remanufacturing. The 2026 EPA-funded research report echoes several conclusions from CIRCULÉIRE's earlier work in 2024, particularly the opportunities for industrial competitiveness and resource efficiency, alongside persistent barriers relating to regulatory clarity, access to products and information, skills and market development. Together, these reports reinforce the importance of creating the right policy, technical and commercial conditions to enable remanufacturing to scale across Irish industry. Measures such as green public procurement could help stimulate demand for remanufactured products, while improved access to product information, investment in skills and stronger supply-chain collaboration could help manufacturers overcome practical barriers to adoption. An evolving policy landscape: Growing recognition, but remaining barriers Remanufacturing is receiving increasing recognition in European product legislation, reflecting its potential to extend product lifetimes, retain valuable resources and support industrial competitiveness. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), for example, explicitly defines remanufacturing and identifies it as a relevant consideration for future ecodesign requirements. Its Digital Product Passport framework could also improve access to product information, supporting activities such as disassembly, component identification and recovery. Similarly, the EU Batteries Regulation establishes specific provisions for battery remanufacturing, recognising its role in extending battery lifetimes. The revised Construction Products Regulation also recognises remanufactured products, while the proposed End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation reflects growing attention to circularity and the recovery of value from vehicle components. These developments represent important progress. However, greater recognition has not yet translated into a harmonised regulatory framework. Definitions of remanufacturing differ across legislation, reflecting different regulatory objectives and product characteristics. This fragmentation can create uncertainty for businesses, particularly those operating across sectors. Another challenge concerns the relationship between remanufacturing and waste legislation. As highlighted in CIRCULÉIRE's 2024 report, uncertainty around when products or components are legally considered waste can create significant regulatory and operational barriers. The Batteries Regulation offers an interesting example of how this distinction can be approached. It recognises that remanufacturing can involve both used batteries and waste batteries. For waste batteries, remanufacturing may constitute preparation for re-use or preparation for repurposing, while remanufacturing of used batteries is described as an intensive form of re-use. This illustrates an important principle: remanufacturing does not inherently determine whether an input is waste or non-waste. The legal status of the product entering the process and the nature of the remanufacturing activity should be considered separately, with the relevant requirements applying accordingly. Although sector-specific, this approach provides a useful reference for future policy discussions. As remanufacturing becomes more prominent within EU circular economy and industrial policy, greater consistency in definitions, clearer guidance on waste status and supportive regulatory frameworks will be instrumental. For Ireland, translating growing policy recognition into practical opportunities will require the clarity and conditions that enable manufacturers to invest, innovate and develop commercially viable remanufacturing activities. From opportunity to implementation: IMR's role in advancing remanufacturing The discussions at IMR Connect highlighted that scaling remanufacturing requires more than recognising its potential. Manufacturers need practical solutions to overcome technical challenges, develop viable business models and navigate an evolving regulatory landscape. At Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), we bring together expertise in advanced manufacturing, robotics, automation, digitalisation and circular economy innovation to help manufacturers explore these opportunities. From developing technologies for inspection, disassembly and component recovery to improving product traceability and lifecycle information, IMR's research capabilities can support the development of more efficient and reliable remanufacturing processes. Through CIRCULÉIRE, designed and led by IMR, we help bridge the gap between circular economy ambition and industrial implementation, combining technology, research, business model innovation and policy insights to support practical solutions for Irish manufacturers. Remanufacturing offers significant opportunities for Irish industry. Realising them will require continued collaboration between manufacturers, technology providers, researchers and policymakers. Interested in exploring remanufacturing opportunities within your organisation? Connect with IMR to discuss how our expertise and collaborative innovation activities can support your next steps through national networks like CIRCULEIRE or engagement with EU projects like REWIRE.

IMR welcomes submissions from ventures operating on the island of Ireland and delivering a circular solution in the region. Adam Hankin (Gemell), first finalist; Lisa O'Riordan (HaPPE Earth), winner; and Lavanya Bhandari (EcoRoots), second finalist, at the first All-Island Circular Venture Awards, 27 November 2025. Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), as the secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE, is delighted to announce the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2026, an initiative designed and led by IMR and funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE). In this second year, IMR is pleased to welcome the Department for the Economy (DfE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Media Support and Event Partner, respectively. The All-Island Circular Venture Awards celebrate late-stage startups at the forefront of circular economy innovation, providing a platform to showcase high-potential ventures reshaping how materials, components and products are used, reused, remanufactured and regenerated.  ​In 2026, the awards will continue to spotlight start-ups and ventures across the island of Ireland who are pioneering the circular economy through innovative business models, products, and services that directly facilitate or enable circular value creation. The call for applications opened on Wednesday 19th August 2026 and will close on Tuesday 13th October 2026 at 23.59 (Irish time). IMR welcomes applications from ventures operating on the island of Ireland, delivering a circular solution that tackles an environmental or sustainability challenge in the region. Finalists will compete for a total prize pool of €10,000, plus 1-to-1 coaching sessions with international experts in entrepreneurship and circular economy, and promotional support from IMR's Circular Economy Innovation Unit to help raise the venture's visibility. Shortlisted ventures will have the opportunity to: Pitch to investors and potential partners aligned with your venture's mission and growth ambitions. Network with like-minded businesses, all-island government representatives and investors to build valuable connections and opportunities. Engage with CIRCULÉIRE network members, a leading community of circular economy innovators and practitioners and gain high-profile exposure on its social channels. Selected ventures will pitch at Awards Day on Thursday 19th November 2026 to a high-profile audience of investors, industry leaders, policy makers, and media at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Awards Day will be held following the EPA’s Circular Economy Conference. The deadline for applications is on 16th October at 23.59 (Irish time). Shortlisted ventures will be notified in late October 2026. Visit the All-Island Circular Venture Awards website for more information and to read the Awards Guidelines and Eligibility Criteria.

Members and staff attending the Q3 Network Meeting at the IMR Rathcoole office on 23 Sep 2026. Collaboration is at the heart of building a more circular and sustainable future. At last week’s CIRCULÉIRE Network Meeting, members from across the network came together to reflect on progress, share experiences, and help shape priorities for the years ahead. The event provided a valuable opportunity for members to hear updates from IMR, DCEE and the CIRCULÉIRE programme, while also exploring all the supports, services and opportunities available through membership. Participants learned about innovation funding opportunities, member engagement initiatives, and examples of collaborations that are delivering real impact across the network. A key highlight of the day was the Membership Review Workshop, which invited members to share honest feedback on the value they receive from the network. Through facilitated discussions, participants explored which services have created the greatest benefit for their organisations, the outcomes achieved through participation, and where future investment and support should be focused. The conversations highlighted the importance of in-person networking, knowledge sharing, collaboration, innovation support and partnership development in helping organisations advance their circular economy ambitions. Members also identified opportunities to strengthen existing services and address emerging needs as sustainability challenges continue to evolve. Importantly, the workshop reinforced CIRCULÉIRE's commitment to continuous improvement and member-led development. Insights gathered during the session will help inform future programming, strengthen member supports, and ensure the network continues to deliver meaningful value for organisations across Ireland. As Ireland's circular economy community continues to grow, events like this network meeting demonstrate the power of bringing organisations together to learn, collaborate and drive change. By reflecting on achievements and planning collectively for the future, CIRCULÉIRE members are helping to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable and circular economy for all. We were delighted to welcome and introduce four of our newest members – Native Events, Earthy Vitality, Gemell Technologies and Sligas. The 2026 Venture Accelerator Cohort were well represented by Abhar Materials, Celestine Materials Innovation, Change Clothes Nothing New, EcoKinly, Neg8 Carbon and Techstuff. The session deck and member reflection exercises can be accessed in our dedicated members area here. A big thank you to all the member companies who participated in the day!

Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at IMR, and Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the Circular Economy. Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with special responsibility for the Circular Economy, Alan Dillon TD, has today announced the launch of the 2026 Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS), with total funding increasing from €650,000 to €1.5 million. The 2026 funding round will open on 14 September 2026, with individual grants expected to range from €50,000 to €150,000. The increased investment represents a significant expansion of Government support for circular economy innovation and will help businesses and social enterprises to develop and implement practical solutions that reduce waste, extend the life of products and materials, and make better use of resources. Launching the 2026 scheme, Minister Dillon said: “Ireland’s transition to a circular economy presents a major opportunity to reduce waste and emissions, conserve valuable resources and build a more sustainable and resilient economy. That is why I am delighted to increase funding for the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme from €650,000 to €1.5 million in 2026. “This is real investment in circular innovation. It will help organisations move beyond ideas and develop practical solutions that can be tested, implemented and scaled. Whether it is redesigning products, increasing reuse and repair, reducing food waste, finding new uses for materials or developing innovative circular business models, this funding will help turn innovation into action. “The Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028 sets out an ambitious programme of action across Government and across key sectors of our economy. The Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme is an important part of delivering that ambition. By investing directly in innovators, businesses and communities, we are helping to build the solutions, business models and technologies that will make circularity a reality across Ireland.” The Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme is a Government initiative designed to support innovative projects that advance the circular economy in Ireland. Since its launch in April 2021, the scheme has awarded over €2.4 million to 50 projects, supporting innovation across areas including food waste, plastics, single-use plastics, packaging, construction, textiles and general waste. The 2026 scheme will place a strong emphasis on projects that can demonstrate practical implementation and measurable circular economy impacts, including approaches that keep products, components and materials in use for longer and at their highest possible value. The increased funding is aligned with the implementation of Ireland’s Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028, which places a stronger emphasis on moving from policy development to practical delivery and identifies innovation as an important enabler of Ireland’s circular transition. For 2026, the scheme will be administered in partnership with CIRCULÉIRE and its secretariat, Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR). CIRCULÉIRE is Ireland’s Circular Innovation Network, an industry‑led, cross-sectoral, public‑private platform supporting Irish businesses to capture circular advantage since 2020. CIRCULÉIRE will manage the CEIGS application, evaluation, administrative processes, and will steward successful awardees as they deliver on their projects. Dr Geraldine Brennan, IMR’s Director of Circular Economy Innovation, said: “CIRCULÉIRE has evolved the Fund to make it more accessible and focused on impact-oriented implementation. Through broadened eligibility criteria, we are opening the door to more ambitious projects, particularly those advancing higher-value circular economy “R” strategies including “as-is reuse”, repair, remanufacturing, circular design and industrial symbiosis. “The increased funding available in 2026 provides an important opportunity for organisations to move from promising ideas to practical demonstration and implementation, generating evidence and learning that can support wider adoption of circular solutions across Ireland.” The 2026 CEIGS will support projects focused on priority areas for Ireland’s circular economy, including: Plastics: Redesigning products or packaging to reduce reliance on virgin or non-recyclable plastics and increase the use of recyclable alternatives. Construction and demolition: Developing reusable construction products and approaches that enable greater reuse and material recovery through selective demolition. Food waste: Implementing technical or behavioural interventions to prevent and reduce food waste in production and commercial settings. Resources and raw materials: Improving the recovery and reuse of critical raw materials and reducing the use of hazardous substances in products. The scheme is intended to support projects that can demonstrate tangible environmental, economic and social benefits and contribute to the wider development of a more circular Irish economy. Minister Dillon added: “The Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028 provides the framework for accelerating Ireland’s transition to a more circular economy. But strategies only deliver when they are translated into action. This €1.5 million investment will help do exactly that – backing organisations with the ambition and ideas to change how we design, make, use, reuse and recover products and materials. “I encourage businesses, social enterprises and community and voluntary organisations with innovative circular economy projects to take advantage of this opportunity and bring forward proposals that can make a real difference.” Full details on the application process for the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme are available through CIRCULÉIRE. Applications will remain open until 12 October 2026 at 23:59 Irish time. An online information session will take place on 21 September 2026. Interested applicants can register through the CEIGS information session registration page.

As of 31st July 2026, new EU Right to Repair rules apply in Ireland, introducing requirements designed to make it easier for consumers to repair certain products rather than replace them. For businesses, particularly manufacturers, the new rules are worth paying attention to. However, the Right to Repair Directive does not currently apply to every product. Its manufacturer repair obligations are linked to specific product categories for which EU legislation establishes repairability requirements. The EU Right to Repair Directive —Directive (EU) 2024/1799— is being implemented in Ireland through S.I. No. 373/2026 and forms part of a wider shift in EU policy towards longer-lasting, more repairable and circular products. As these requirements develop, including through the EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the range of products affected may continue to expand. What does the Right to Repair Directive do? The Directive aims to make repair a more accessible and attractive option for consumers. It introduces measures to improve access to repair services and information, including new obligations for manufacturers of certain products, a European Repair Information Form and the development of an EU-wide online platform to help consumers find repair services. It is important to note, the Directive complements rather than replaces existing consumer protection rules. In Ireland, consumers already have rights when goods do not match the standard of their sales contract under the Consumer Rights Act 2022. The new Right to Repair framework introduces additional obligations with a particular impact for manufacturers and access to repair. Does the obligation to repair apply to every manufacturer? No. The obligation to repair currently applies only to products for which EU product-specific legislation establishes repairability requirements and which fall within the scope of the Directive. The current scope is mainly focused on electrical and electronic products but also includes categories such as household washing machines and washer-dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, electronic displays, mobile phones and tablets, tumble dryers, vacuum cleaners, servers and data-storage products, welding equipment, and products incorporating light-means-of-transport batteries. Even where a product category is covered, the precise requirements will depend on the relevant product-specific EU legislation. Businesses should therefore understand both whether their products are within scope and what specific repairability requirements apply. The scope may also evolve as further product-specific repairability requirements are introduced at EU level, including through the ESPR. What does this mean for manufacturers? For products within scope, manufacturers may have a direct obligation to provide a repair when requested by a consumer, where repair is technically possible. The repair must be provided free of charge or at a reasonable price and within a reasonable period. Manufacturers with repair obligations must also make information about their repair services available to consumers in a clear and accessible way. The Directive also aims to prevent repair from being unnecessarily restricted. This includes provisions to facilitate access to certain spare parts and tools and restrictions on contractual, hardware or software practices that prevent repair without legitimate and objective justification. Importantly, manufacturers do not necessarily have to carry out repairs themselves. Repair services can be subcontracted to an external repair provider, opening opportunities for collaboration with repair networks and specialist service providers. Where a manufacturer is established outside the EU, responsibility may instead fall to its authorised representative, importer or, in certain circumstances, distributor. What about products outside warranty? The Right to Repair Directive should not be confused with a commercial warranty or consumers' existing statutory remedies for faulty products. Where consumers have remedies against a trader under existing consumer law, those rights continue to apply. The new framework is particularly relevant where a consumer seeks repair outside the seller's warranty or liability period. Depending on the product and applicable product-specific requirements, a manufacturer repair obligation may therefore apply even where a commercial warranty has expired. This does not mean manufacturers must repair every product indefinitely. Whether the obligation applies will depend on the product, its technical repairability and the relevant product-specific requirements. What else is changing? Not every element of the new repair framework is fully operational yet. A European Repair Information Form is available to help consumers compare repair conditions, prices and expected timeframes, although its use by repairers is voluntary. An EU-wide online repair platform is also being developed to make it easier for consumers to find repair services. In Ireland, RepairMyStuff.ie will provide the basis for the national platform. Together, these measures are part of a broader EU policy direction towards increasing product durability, repairability and products with a higher circularity value. What should businesses do now? Businesses can begin by: Assessing whether the products they manufacture or supply fall within the current scope of the Right to Repair rules. Identifying their role in the supply chain and whether manufacturer, authorised representative, importer or distributor obligations may apply. Reviewing existing repair services and how consumers can access information about them. Evaluating arrangements with external repair providers where repair is outsourced. Understanding the product-specific requirements that may apply to repair, spare parts and related information. Monitoring the expansion of repairability requirements under the ESPR and other EU product legislation. Even where a company's products are not currently covered, repairability is becoming an increasingly important consideration in how products are designed, manufactured and supported throughout their lifetime. How CIRCULÉIRE can help For manufacturers, the Right to Repair agenda is not only about regulatory compliance. It also raises wider questions around product design, spare parts, repair services, refurbishment, product lifetime extension and opportunities for circular business models working in the higher R strategies space such as repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishment or circular design. CIRCULÉIRE members can access one-to-one Policy Clinics to better understand emerging policy and regulatory developments. Get in touch to discuss how new legislation may apply to your organisation and identify practical next steps.

Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, and Minister of State for the Circular Economy Alan Dillon TD visited Re-Box on 3 September 2026, accompanied by members of the Irish Manufacturing Research team. Dublin, 3 September 2026. Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, and Minister of State for the Circular Economy, Alan Dillon TD, participated in a site visit at Irish circular economy company Re-Box. During the visit, IMR's Director of Circular Economy Innovation, Dr Geraldine Brennan, highlighted IMR’s national and EU flagship spanning digitalisation (FxC) space (ESA Phi Lab) to renewable energy (DigiWind) with a deep dive into IMR’s circular economy innovation portfolio, spotlighting CIRCULÉIRE. The visit showcased how collaboration between industry and CIRCULÉIRE is helping to accelerate Ireland's transition from a linear to a circular economy. Dr Brennan outlined how CIRCULÉIRE's work with members such as Re-Box demonstrates the potential for circular innovation to deliver measurable environmental outcomes while strengthening business resilience and competitiveness. A key focus of the visit was Re-Box's innovative reuse model, which exemplifies the principles of the circular economy. Rather than recycling cardboard packaging after a single use, the company extends the life of existing materials by collecting, grading and reselling used cardboard boxes to Irish SMEs. This "as-is reuse" approach extends the lifespan of cardboard, reducing demand for virgin materials while lowering both costs and environmental impacts for customers. Michael Doherty, Founder and Managing Director of Re-Box, explained how reuse sits at the heart of the company's business model and how growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions is creating opportunities for circular business growth. His company keeps “a product as a product” and brings it back to the market for a fraction of the cost of virgin packaging for Irish SMEs. Re-Box collaborator and CIRCULÉIRE network member SPECO were also in attendance on this important milestone. The delegation also heard how Re-Box has collaborated with CIRCULÉIRE to measure and strengthen its circular performance. IMR's Circularity Assessment & Metrics Technologist, Daniel Whelan, outlined how the company's circularity assessment identified opportunities for further environmental improvements, including the transition from diesel vehicles to HVO fuel after fleet operations were highlighted as an emissions hotspot. Re-Box is also supporting a pioneering CIRCULÉIRE pilot project focused on developing circular metrics methodologies to quantify emissions avoided through reuse strategies. While reuse is widely recognised as one of the highest-value circular economy interventions, its full climate benefits are often not captured in conventional GHG assessments. This pilot will help advance new ways of measuring and validating the positive impacts of circular business models. Speaking during the visit, Dr Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at IMR, said: "Today's visit demonstrates how collaboration between policymakers, research organisations and industry can accelerate the transition to a competitive circular economy. Re-Box is an outstanding example of how innovation and circular business models can unlock value while reducing resource consumption and emissions." The visit was part of Commissioner Roswall's official agenda in Ireland, which included her participation in the Environment Ireland conference. Sponsored by CIRCULÉIRE, the conference brings together leading stakeholders from across Ireland's environmental sector alongside international experts to discuss solutions that support climate action, resource efficiency and circular economy development. As Ireland and Europe continue to advance ambitious circular economy and climate goals, IMR's Circular Economy Innovation team is working with industry to develop the next generation of circular impact metrics. Through initiatives such as CIRCULÉIRE and collaborations with companies like Re-Box, IMR is helping to build the evidence base needed to demonstrate the true value of circular business models and support their adoption at scale. This important showcase was made possible through Irish Manufacturing Research's continued engagement with EU and national government stakeholders. CIRCULÉIRE supports Irish businesses to identify, test and scale circular solutions through technical expertise, research & innovation programmes, skills development and cross sector collaboration which leverages advanced technologies. Interested in joining Ireland’s Circular Innovation Network? Please get in touch.

Eva Maria Bille (European Environmental Bureau), Tad Kirakowski (VOICE Ireland), Claire Downey (The Rediscovery Centre), Martina Hennessy (DCEE), and Valentina Tarasco (IMR/CIRCULÉIRE) at Environment Ireland 2026, 3 September 2026, Croke Park, Dublin. CIRCULÉIRE was delighted to sponsor the Environment Ireland® Conference. From a circularity perspective, discussions reinforced a clear message: the transition to a circular economy is no longer simply desirable it is essential for Ireland’s competitiveness, resilience and environmental future. In her opening keynote, Commissioner Roswall stated that, “Circularity is a necessity. It’s not just a nice to have.” Achieving the transition requires us to make change easier for businesses, create demand for secondary materials, improve affordability and use regulation, public procurement and other incentives to enable circular solutions to compete and scale. This strongly reflects CIRCULÉIRE’s own message at the conference: circularity must work in practice. Presenters at the Circular Economy session highlighted the importance of moving beyond recycling by prioritising prevention, redesign, reuse and repair, alongside effective implementation of the policies already adopted. The European Environmental Bureau (EEB), representing over 190 organisations across 42 countries, highlighted the urgent need to accelerate Europe’s transition to a circular economy. With rising resource consumption, waste generation and environmental pressures, Eva Maria Bille, Head of Circular Economy argued that meaningful progress requires a systemic shift from a linear economy to one focused on prevention, redesign, reuse and repair, with recycling as a last resort. While welcoming the forthcoming EU Circular Economy Act, concerns were raised that policy remains overly focused on recycling. The EEB called for stronger targets across the waste hierarchy, enhanced producer responsibility, toxic-free circularity and effective implementation of existing Green Deal measures. Martina Hennessey, Assistant Secretary, Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment outlined how circular economy policy is evolving into a key industrial and economic strategy at both EU and Irish levels. The forthcoming EU Circular Economy Act and Critical Raw Materials Act aim to create stronger market conditions for circular solutions, improve resource security and support competitiveness. Ireland’s Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028 builds on initiatives such as the Deposit Return Scheme and targets annual growth in circularity. Priority sectors include construction and textiles, supported by innovation funding, Extended Producer Responsibility and circular procurement measures. Success relies on effective governance, industry engagement, citizen participation and coordinated action to deliver a more resilient, resource-efficient economy. Valentina Tarasco, Metrics & Assessment Lead at Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) outlined how Ireland can accelerate the transition from circular economy ambition to industrial-scale impact by highlighting how CIRCULÉIRE helps businesses overcome the common challenge of scaling successful pilots into commercially viable solutions. Despite growing policy support and clear economic opportunities, organisations face barriers including fragmented value chains, limited investment and internal capability gaps. IMR addresses these through innovation programmes, funding support, collaboration and demonstration projects. Case studies from electronics, healthcare and renewable energy showed how circular business models can reduce costs, minimise waste, strengthen resilience and create competitive advantage across key sectors. Tad Kirakowski CEO at Voice Ireland focused on the community side of circularity. He emphasised that delivering a circular economy requires sustained policy leadership, stronger education and skills development, and closer alignment between government, industry and communities. He warned that delays to visible measures can weaken public confidence and momentum, despite strong public support for circular action. Embedding circularity across schools, higher education and workforce training was identified as a priority. The key message - lasting circular outcomes depend on making sustainable choices easy, supporting community initiatives, and aligning policy, education, retail and data systems. The session was expertly chaired by Claire Downey, CEO of the Rediscovery Centre. The 2027 Environment Ireland Handbook was distributed to attendees. Our featured articles are linked below: Circular economy in Ireland: A market reset CIRCULÉIRE: Accelerating circular innovation across industry Circular Shift: Rethinking how Ireland buys technology

On 12th August 2026, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Regulation 2025/40, will begin to apply across the European Union, introducing a new harmonised framework for packaging placed on the EU market. While much of the discussion around the PPWR has focused on its long-term ambitions —such as recyclable packaging, recycled content targets and reusable packaging— it is important to note that not all those requirements become applicable from 12th August 2026. Many provisions will apply gradually over the coming years, while others depend on the adoption of further implementing acts by the European Commission, such as the ones related to the recyclability of packaging and minimum recycled content. Nevertheless, businesses should not assume the Regulation can be set aside until 2030. Several important obligations begin to apply from August 2026, and the Regulation may bring new responsibilities for businesses that have not traditionally regarded themselves as packaging manufacturers. Why should businesses pay attention? Unlike the previous Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, the PPWR is a Regulation, meaning it applies directly across all EU Member States without requiring national transposition (i.e. the need to create, rewrite or update domestic laws to become applicable). One of the most significant changes is the introduction of a product compliance framework for packaging, like the approach already used for other regulated products such as machinery, electrical equipment and medical devices. From 12th August 2026, businesses under the PPWR scope will be required to carry out a conformity assessment, prepare technical documentation and draw up an EU Declaration of Conformity for the packaging they place on the market. For many businesses, these may be entirely new obligations. Could your business now be considered a manufacturer? Many companies do not physically manufacture packaging themselves but still place packaged products on the EU market. Under the PPWR, the definition of manufacturer is broader than simply producing packaging materials. For example, a company selling own-brand packaged products could have manufacturer responsibilities under the PPWR, even where its packaging has been produced and supplied by a third party. However, manufacturers are not the only businesses covered by the PPWR. The Regulation also assigns obligations to other economic operators, including importers, distributors, authorised representatives and fulfilment service providers. The obligations that apply under the PPWR will therefore depend on each organisation's role within the packaging supply chain. What actually applies from August 2026? Although the PPWR contains a wide range of new requirements, only some become applicable from 12th August 2026, while others will apply progressively over the coming years. For example, Article 5 of the PPWR, which sets requirements relating to substances in packaging, will be applicable, while other well-known PPWR requirements —such as recyclability, minimum recycled content, harmonised labelling and certain reuse requirements— will become applicable at later dates or once further delegated or implementing acts have been adopted. Businesses should therefore distinguish between: requirements that apply from August 2026; and future requirements that should already be considered as part of longer-term packaging planning. Understanding which provisions apply to your organisation will depend on your role in the packaging supply chain, the packaging you intend to place in the EU market and your specific business activities. Changes to Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Businesses should also be aware that the PPWR introduces important changes to Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Under Article 44, all producers will be required to register in the Producer Register of each Member State in which they make packaging or packaged products available on the market for the first time. This is particularly relevant in Ireland, where many businesses have historically assessed their packaging EPR obligations by reference to annual turnover and packaging-tonnage thresholds. Businesses that have not previously been considered to be within the EPR scheme obligations scope should therefore review whether their obligations may change as the new framework is implemented in Ireland. What should businesses do now? Although the PPWR will be implemented progressively over the coming years, there are several practical steps businesses can begin taking now: Assess whether your organisation is in scope of the PPWR and identify your role within the packaging supply chain (e.g. manufacturer, importer, distributor or supplier). Understand which PPWR requirements apply from 12th August 2026, and which apply at a later date. Engage with your packaging suppliers to understand what compliance information and supporting documentation is available. Review your Packaging EPR obligations and monitor forthcoming implementation measures. Begin considering how future packaging innovation may support compliance with upcoming recyclability, recycled content and circular design requirements. For many organisations, particularly SMEs, the greatest challenge may not be the immediate obligations but understanding how the Regulation applies to their business and preparing for the more significant changes that will follow. How we can support from CIRCULÉIRE The PPWR represents one of the most significant changes to packaging regulation in recent years. Its relevance extends beyond the packaging industry itself. While not every business will be directly affected in the same way, organisations across manufacturing, retail, construction, food, healthcare and many other sectors should take the opportunity to understand how the new framework may affect their operations. The CIRCULÉIRE membership includes one-to-one Policy Clinics to better understand emerging policy and regulatory developments, discuss how new legislation may apply to their organisation and identify practical next steps. Not sure whether the PPWR applies to your organisation? If you would like to better understand your obligations or discuss how the Regulation may affect your business, please get in touch with the CIRCULÉIRE team to arrange a Policy Clinic. We'd be happy to support you. #PPWR #EURegulation #Packaging #PackagingWaste #PolicyUpdate #CIRCULÉIRE #CircularEconomy

Are you interested in building ambitious, high-potential consortia to help shape Ireland's circular future? We are delighted to announce that the CIRCULÉIRE Innovation Fund 2026 Call for Applications is now open! The 2026 Innovation Fund will make €750,000 available to contribute to CIRCULÉIRE member-led consortia projects to be completed in 2027. We want to thank the Department of Climate, Energy & Environment, DCEE, for making this vital funding stream available and Irish Manufacturing Research, the designer and secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE, whose strategic and operational leadership underpins the initiative. The fund marks another milestone on our path to becoming the Centre of Excellence for Circular Innovation in Ireland. The fund seeks to prioritise impactful circular projects with potential to deliver longer-term system change. Consortia can apply for funding aligned to the scale and ambition of their proposals. Three funding levels are available for small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale projects with a cap of €250,000. To review all the relevant information and T&Cs relating to the fund, visit the CIRCULÉIRE’s Innovation Fund 2026 dedicated webpage. Applications must be submitted via Awards Force by 23:59 on Monday 31st August 2026. If you are not currently a CIRCULÉIRE member and wish to lead a project proposal, please get in touch here to discuss membership. A lead applicant must be a member at the time of submitting their application. #LetsGetCircular #CIRCULEIREInnovationFund2026 #CircularEconomyInnovation #IrishManufacturingResearch

For the last few years, most conversations about circular economy policy have started with the same question: What's coming next? What’s the next strategy, piece of legislation, consultation or target? In 2026, the smarter question may be ‘What is moving into implementation?’ Both Ireland and the European Union have produced an enormous amount of circular economy policy for the past few years. Strategies have been launched. Action plans have been published. Consultations have been held. New regulations have been negotiated. For many businesses, these developments have felt important but distant. Relevant, but not necessarily urgent. This year is starting to feel different. Not because there has been a dramatic policy shift, but because many of the policies that have been discussed for years are now beginning to translate into implementation dates, technical requirements and practical business decisions. Across packaging, product design, repair, traceability, sustainability claims and waste management, circular economy policy is increasingly moving from strategy documents into operational reality. And that matters because operational reality is where costs, opportunities, investments and competitive advantages are created. From policy signal to business decisions One of the challenges with circular economy policy is that it can feel abstract until it becomes operational: a packaging specification, a product data requirement, a public procurement criterion, or a customer claim that needs evidence to back it. That does not mean every business needs to become a policy expert. But it does mean that increasingly policy developments are having real commercial, operational and strategic implications. For CIRCULÉIRE members, the opportunity is to use these signals early: to identify where requirements are likely to emerge, where collaboration may be needed, and where circular business models could become more viable as the regulatory landscape evolves. Implementation deadlines are closing in Perhaps the clearest sign of this shift is the growing number of circular policy implementation deadlines that are fast approaching. The second half of 2026 alone includes several major milestones: 31st July | The Right to Repair Directive reaches its national transposition deadline 12th August | Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation begins to apply 27th September | Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition begins to apply 9th December | Revised Product Liability Directive transposition deadline Promotional banner sourced from environment.ec.europa.eu. Individually, each of these developments’ matters. Collectively, they tell a bigger story. The circular economy is emerging from these interconnected policy developments and becoming increasingly embedded in how products are designed, sold, repaired, tracked and managed throughout their lifecycle. Why textiles are worth watching, even if you're not in textiles Textiles are becoming one of the first sectors where multiple circular economy instruments are converging at the same time, including Digital Product Passports, ecodesign requirements, product information and disclosure obligations, separate collection requirements, recycled-content initiatives and new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. This does not mean textiles are the only sector affected. Many of these tools already exist, or are emerging in sectors such as packaging, batteries and electronics. What makes textiles particularly interesting is the scale at which policymakers are applying several of these approaches simultaneously within a single value chain. For businesses in other sectors, textiles may therefore provide an early indication of how circular economy policy is evolving in practice, an exemplar for many of Europe’s and Ireland’s emerging circular economy policies. Many of the questions currently being explored in textiles are likely to emerge elsewhere in the coming years: How should product data be shared across value chains? How should recycled content be verified? How should producers contribute to end-of-life management? How can circularity claims be substantiated? How can products be designed for longer lifetimes, repair and reuse? The answers developed in textiles will not automatically transfer to every sector. However, they may offer useful insights into the direction of future policy, and the practical challenges businesses are likely to face as circular economy requirements become more widespread. The digital infrastructure for circularity is advancing In the past few years, much of the discussion around Digital Product Passports (DPPs) has understandably focused on future compliance obligations. But there is another way to look at them. The DPP registry becoming operational is not simply about compliance; it is about infrastructure. Just as waste collection systems, recycling facilities and logistics networks provide physical infrastructure for circularity, data systems increasingly provide digital infrastructure for circularity. Many circular economy objectives depend on information flowing across value chains. Repair depends on access to product information. Recycling depends on material information. Reuse depends on product history. Circular procurement depends on verified claims. The challenge for businesses is that building these capabilities takes time. That is why organisations that start exploring data readiness early are often in a much stronger position than those waiting for final compliance requirements to arrive. A positive moment for repair and reuse One of the most encouraging developments over the last year has been the growing policy support for repair, refurbishment and remanufacturing. For many years, businesses operating in the second-life economy have often faced structural barriers: limited access to spare parts and information, consumer bias toward replacement over repair, or business models built around linear consumption. While these challenges will not disappear overnight, the policy direction is becoming increasingly supportive. Signals such as the Right to Repair framework, alongside Ireland’s plans for a repair voucher scheme and stronger recognition of repair and refurbishment in national policy, suggest that repair and reuse are moving from the margins toward the centre of circular economy policy. These developments create opportunities for businesses already operating in those spaces, as well as for those newly exploring repair, refurbishment or remanufacturing models for the first time. Circularity is now central to Europe’s competitiveness and industrial strategy Perhaps the most important shift of all is how circularity itself is being framed. Historically, circular economy policy was often discussed primarily through an environmental lens. Waste reduction. Resource efficiency. Climate impacts. These objectives remain important. But increasingly we are seeing circularity linked to a different set of priorities: competitiveness, industrial resilience, resource security, supply-chain stability, or strategic autonomy. The updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy reflects this shift. The emerging discussions around the Circular Economy Act reflect it too, as does the broader policy focus on secondary raw materials and critical raw material dependency. Industrial policy tends to attract an additional level of political attention and investment. Circularity is no longer exclusively focusing on reducing environmental impacts; it is increasingly about securing materials, improving resilience, creating value from resources and strengthening competitive advantage. Looking ahead Every year brings new consultations, proposals and policy announcements. But not every year changes the nature of the conversation. 2026 feels different because it is increasingly becoming a year of implementation. A year where circular economy policy becomes more visible in day-to-day business decisions. For organisations across manufacturing, construction, packaging, bioeconomy, repair and resource management sectors, the question is shifting from if circular economy policy will affect operations to when and how. The good news is that many of the changes now emerging also create opportunities: for innovation; collaboration; to develop new services; to strengthen resilience and competitiveness. The challenge, as always, is recognising those opportunities early enough to act on them. For a detailed overview of the key policy developments, implementation dates and upcoming initiatives discussed in this article, you can read our latest Policy Half-Year Check-In: What Changed in H1 2026 and What Industry Should Prepare for Next.

CIRCULÉIRE Q2 Network Meeting – Attendees and speakers at IMR Mullingar, 11 June 2026. On 11th June, we held the CIRCULÉIRE Q2 Network Meeting, entitled Circular Economy Innovation in Action, a day designed with the power of the network as its central theme, bringing together members' expertise, experience, and ambition to accelerate circular action. The event included three interactive sections —IMR’s CEI Tour, the Circular Action Pledge, and Catalysing Collaboration — to inspire action, activate collective intelligence, and prompt collaboration for impact. Veena Grace Thomas from the Digitalisation team presenting “Demystifying AI for the Circular Economy” to attendees at the Q2 Network Meeting. IMR’s Circular Economy Innovation (CEI) Tour enabled attendees to explore the organisation’s wide range of supports offered to industry. Guided by Veena Grace Thomas from the Digitalisation team, Kevin Mongey and Aswin Ramasubramoniam from Substractive Manufacturing, Jayme Rossiter from Design for Manufacturing, Edward O'Dwyer from Sustainable Manufacturing, Eoghan Kidney and Gabrielius Mizutavicius from the Software Team. The sustainable manufacturing section showcased how companies can map and measure the true cost of water, reduce consumption and operational costs or implement digital monitoring systems for efficiency. One standout case study revealed how a beverage manufacturer identified hidden water costs, allowing them to save up to €80,000 annually, while cutting water use by 5% per year. On energy, IMR demonstrated how businesses can adopt tailored renewable energy strategies. In one example, a seafood processing company achieved 43% reduction in energy costs, 79% of electricity demand met by renewables, and 3-year payback on investment. Both case studies confirmed the environmental and commercial value of circularity. The digitalisation team focused on the role of Artificial Intelligence in the circular economy. Moving beyond hype, Veena’s presentation clarified how AI can detect inefficiencies in processes, predict maintenance needs, optimise resource use and reduce waste and emissions. The case studies demonstrated a measurable impact, with up to 50% reduction in food waste using AI-driven analytics, 10% reduction in manufacturing scrap through data insights, and significant material savings via AI-enabled design optimisation. AI may not be valuable on its own, but it can become powerful when driving better decisions. The discussions on subtractive and additive manufacturing challenged assumptions about sustainability in production. While additive manufacturing offers benefits like minimal waste and efficient prototyping, CNC machining still plays a critical role due to its durability and scalability. The focus, therefore, shifts to making existing processes more circular. One innovative IMR project that demonstrated this in practice was a wireless tool-monitoring system that detects tool wear in real-time, prevents defective parts before they are produced, reduces material waste and improves yield. The case also reflects a broader industry trend: optimisation over replacement. Niall McLoughlin presenting DCEE updates at the Q2 Network Meeting. The tour was followed by the CIRCULÉIRE and strategic partners updates. A major highlight was the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment's announcement of the CIRCULÉIRE’s Innovation Fund. The fund will relaunch in July 2026 and will be open exclusively to CIRCULÉIRE member-led consortia. The Innovation Fund 2026 will support projects that:  Address a collective circular economy challenge within an industrial cluster, supply chain, or cross-sector group. Involve collaboration between at least two organisations, with a CIRCULÉIRE member acting as consortium lead.  Test circular economy strategies, system-level interventions, or innovative approaches to implementation. Demonstrate a clear and credible plan for replication, scale-up, or wider adoption, including how impact will be sustained beyond the funded project term. Deliver measurable short-term results, supported by a credible plan for longer-term circular, environmental, economic, or societal impact. The CIRCULÉIRE Innovation Fund 2026 will offer grant support across three funding levels, with awards of up to €50,000 for small-scale projects, up to €150,000 for medium-scale projects, and up to €250,000 for large-scale projects. The morning concluded with two interactive sessions: the Circular Action Pledge and Catalysing Collaboration. The Circular Action Pledge, led by CIRCULÉIRE Senior Programme Manager, Sophie Reynolds, invites CIRCULÉIRE industry members to take a small but meaningful step toward their organisation’s circular ambitions. Through a gallery walk, attendees were encouraged to commit to practical actions, whether advancing innovation, collaborating with others, rethinking materials or business models, or beginning to measure circular performance, setting ambitious yet achievable, concrete, and relevant actions. The Circular Action Pledge will be followed up on in Q4 to reflect on progress, share learnings, and highlight how collective action across the network is driving real circular change. After a pitching session by the Circular Ventures Accelerator 2026 cohort, IMR’s Circular Venture Lead, Agnese Metitieri presented the Catalysing Collaboration session. This year’s Accelerator cohort comes from a wide range of industries, from materials and textiles to climate tech and digital platforms. However, common challenges emerged from their pitching: access to funding and investment pathways, strategic partnerships and pilot opportunities, support in scaling operations and entering markets, and expertise in data, measurement, and reporting. Ábhar Materials, Bounce Back Recycling, Celestine Materials & Innovation, Ecokinly, NEG8 Carbon, Nothing New CMT Studio (by Change Clothes), Sampla and TechStuff presented their scalable solutions and exposed their challenges to the network to tap into the members' expertise in this rapid-fire session. The Q2 meeting also outlined upcoming opportunities to engage with CIRCULÉIRE, including Leading for Circular Innovation CPD Training, the wrapping up of the Innovation Sprints, and the Q3 Network Meeting on 23rd September. The meeting’s slide deck is available to members on the Knowledge Library.

Jenny Hughes (Irish Medtech), Ed Byrne (Galco), Sean Dowd (Boston Scientific), Damhnait Gleeson (SEAI), and Paul McCormack-Cooney (Irish Manufacturing Research) participated in the Sustainability & Energy Efficiency session at the Manufacturing the Future 2026 Conference (16 April, Galmont Hotel, Galway). The Macro Picture: Resilient, But Tested Ireland's economic performance over recent decades has been exceptional. Manufacturing output has grown broadly across pharma, medtech, engineering, and food. Traditional manufacturing has grown over 50% in recent years, while modern manufacturing has grown over 100%. The scale of that achievement comes into sharper focus against the European backdrop: according to IBEC's Q4 2025 Economic Outlook, Irish manufacturing output grew by 82% over the six years to 2024, compared to just 2.5% across the EU as a whole over the same period. But the mood is shifting. A Middle East conflict with infrastructure damage projected to affect global energy markets through to 2030 is the defining risk of the moment. This was the message of Fergal O'Brien, IBEC’s Executive Director of Lobbying and Influence, at the opening of the recent Manufacturing the Future 2026, IBEC’s Medtech & Engineering Conference. O'Brien was measured but direct: quoting the International Energy Agency, he warned that this is not a five-month event, but more like a five-year legacy. Ireland's manufacturing sector is better placed than most, having meaningfully reduced petroleum dependency in recent years. According to the CSO's Business in Ireland 2025 - Emissions and Energy Use by Enterprises, total emissions from Ireland's enterprise economy fell by 12% between 2018 and 2023 despite strong economic growth, while emissions intensity fell by 25% over the same period. But with industry and services still accounting for 40% of total national greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, and energy contract re-pricing coming for businesses currently on fixed terms, O'Brien's call to accelerate decarbonisation efforts is well-founded. His call to action was direct: double down on decarbonisation, accelerate grid upgrades and offshore delivery, and invest in energy-efficient equipment. Global Manufacturing Under Pressure Ibec's manufacturing survey results indicate that manufacturer confidence had dropped from 69% to 51% over 2025; trade uncertainty had doubled; 58% of companies were concerned about labour costs; 48% about housing access for staff. Yet 97% were continuing on their AI journey. Manufacturing in Ireland 2025: Securing Competitiveness by Controlling Costs and Mastering AI Orgalim's Spring 2026 Economics Report projects a return to +1.8% turnover growth for European manufacturing in 2026 after three difficult years, with electrical engineering, electronics and ICT leading at +2.2%, driven by AI and electrification. The recovery is real, said Ulrich Adam, Director General of Orgalim, but fragile and now directly threatened by the Middle East energy situation. Adam also referenced Orgalim's Simplification Report and how EU regulatory simplification efforts have delivered around €7–8 billion in savings for European technology industries through the Omnibus II initiative, but with a further €22 billion in annual compliance costs already sitting in the EU's legislative pipeline, the industry remains in net negative territory on regulatory burden. His call was for course correction rather than retreat. The regulatory frameworks being simplified include the very instruments designed to drive supply chain transparency, material accountability, and decarbonisation investment. Getting the balance right is one of the defining policy challenges of 2026. The 2021 semiconductor crisis was an inflection point and permanently changed how Jaguar Land Rover approaches supply chain transparency, as explained by Dr Heiko Gierhardt, Director of Material Fulfilment. JLR now maps 60,000 to 100,000 nodes across its supply network, arguing that strategic inventory is insurance, not inefficiency, bringing the operational reality of global supply chain management into sharp focus. The Dexcom’s Galway facility came in on time and under budget. Adrian Furey, VP of Global Supply Chain offered an honest caveat about whether he could repeat that outcome under current conditions: the contract stability, supply certainty, and cost predictability that made the build possible in 2022 are not the environment manufacturers face in 2026. The evolution of the geopolitical and economic landscape evolution seen from these three perspectives: the European policy environment, global automotive supply chain management, and the experience of building a major greenfield medtech facility in Ireland from scratch, paints the picture of global manufacturing under pressure. From Macro to Floor Level: People, Technology, and the Lean Foundation Technology investments succeed when people and culture come first. Malcolm Jeffers of the International Academy of Automation Engineering (IAAE) framed it as a shift from product to process to purpose. Companies that connect their people to the meaning of what they make will, he said, have the strongest competitive advantage. Mag O'Keeffe of Stryker, illustrated this with the company's additive manufacturing journey: a deliberate focus on talent and culture, with people given freedom to experiment, led to an unexpected outcome: a digital flagship that grew organically from a purpose-led environment rather than a technology mandate. Domhnall Carroll of Digital Manufacturing Ireland noted that roughly half of DMI's activities have shifted from technology implementation to workforce culture. Jeffers put a number on the challenge: Deloitte research shows companies are currently spending 93% of their AI budgets on technology and only 7% on the people expected to use it. BCG's recommended alternative, 70% on people and processes, 20% on technology and data, 10% on algorithms, points in exactly the opposite direction. Dr Gunter Beitinger of Siemens AG reinforced the point: trust, transparency, and shared language, he mentioned, must precede technology deployment, not follow it. Sustainability in Manufacturing: From Ambition to Action CIRCULÉIRE contributed to the sustainability session alongside speakers from SEAI, Boston Scientific, and Galco, with a keynote from KPMG's Terence McGovern, reinforced the global picture for manufacturing with Irish-specific detail. McGovern's overview of Ireland's grid highlighted the scale of what lies ahead: electricity demand set to more than double over the next decade, driven largely by data centre growth, while industry decarbonisation remains hard because 80% of industrial energy still comes from gas and oil, not electricity. Innovating for Patients, Driving Prosperity: Irish Medtech Strategy 2026-2029 SEAI's Damhnait Gleeson made the business case plainly: energy efficiency and conservation are the cheapest wins available, and not acting is already costing money. Galco's Ed Byrne was equally direct: don't wait for perfect conditions, start engaging with the ecosystem, and your customers will thank you for it. Boston Scientific’s Sean Dowd outlined the work they had done on their Galway site to drive the manufacturing plant towards carbon neutrality. CIRCULÉIRE’s Paul McCormack Cooney pointed out that now that we have made huge strides in energy efficiency, we need to do the same with our materials, components and products. Irish Medtech's own Strategy 2026–2029 makes it explicit: green public procurement is increasingly favouring suppliers with strong environmental credentials. Alcon's Paul O'Sullivan put it directly: sustainability will increasingly become a binary tender criterion, and companies will win or lose business based on their ability to demonstrate genuine commitment, as highlighted in the final supply chain session. The Circular Economy: Addressing Manufacturing Pressures by Design The current uneven terrain - supply chain vulnerability, energy dependency, material scarcity, and regulatory complexity - is precisely what the circular economy can address by design. Reducing dependence on finite and geopolitically concentrated raw materials, keeping products and components in use longer, building shorter and more legible supply chains - these strategies build resilience against exactly the pressures the conference spent a day describing. When Heiko Gierhardt from JLR listed what keeps supply chain professionals awake: "the regulation, the ships, the wars, the fires, the floods", he was describing a world increasingly shaped by climate instability and resource scarcity. Ireland's medtech sits at the centre of this challenge. The sector's dependence on critical raw materials, complex global supply chains, and energy-intensive manufacturing makes it acutely exposed to exactly the pressures the conference described. Significantly, Irish Medtech's Strategy 2026–2029 identifies supply chain resilience and circular design as explicit strategic priorities for the sector, calling on companies to promote circular-design approaches to reduce environmental impact and enhance resource efficiency. As CIRCULÉIRE's Director of Circular Economy, Dr Geraldine Brennan explains: “If you see circularity as a compliance requirement, you’ll miss the opportunity. But if you see it as a strategic innovation agenda, it becomes a way to rethink your R&D pipeline, as well as your design choices and your supply chains.” With 80% of a product's environmental impact locked in at the design stage, that is where the opportunity lies. The discussions on people, technology, and culture in the recent conference seem to revolve around the same insight: that purpose-driven organisations attract and retain better talent. Jeffers cited it as a competitive advantage. O'Keeffe demonstrated it through Stryker's additive manufacturing journey. Furey named it as one of the defining qualities of Ireland's manufacturing workforce. A genuine circular economy strategy is exactly the kind of purpose that manufacturing organisations can offer their people. Research cited in CIRCULÉIRE's MedTech Sectoral Guide found that 44% of business school students globally are willing to accept a lower salary to work for a company with better environmental practices. Circularity is not just an operational agenda; it attracts and retains talent. The opportunities presented by the circular economy now have a national policy framework: the Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028. The policy framework is there. The sector's own strategy points in the same direction. The business case, as a full day at Manufacturing the Future 2026 made clear, has never been stronger for the deployment of circularity in Irish MedTech. CIRCULÉIRE supports Irish manufacturers in transitioning to the circular economy, from first assessment to scaled implementation. Contact us to learn more about the network. Visit the infographic version of CIRCULÉIRE's MedTech Sectoral Guide. For additional insights on circular economy skills, jobs, leadership, and innovation in Irish industry, download CIRCULÉIRE Circular Skills Insights Report 2025.