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Our Members Bank of Ireland 2 College Green, Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland NA NA https://www.bankofireland.com/ Financial Services Well Spent Grain Greenhills Road, Greenhills, Dublin 12, Ireland +353 '(0)86 171 4815 NA https://well-spent-grain.com/ Agri-Food Know Carbon 12 Clarinda Park East, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, Co. Dublin, A96 PP78, Ireland +353 (0)86 851 4503 eamonn.galvin@knowcarbon.com https://knowcarbon.com/ ICT/EEE Wyeth Nutrition Askeaton, County Limerick, Ireland +353 (0)61 601 200 askeaton.security@wyethnutrition.com https://www.wyethnutrition.com/ Agri-Food & Drink Arcology Service Fern Road, Sandyford, Dublin, Ireland +353 (0)87 065 7450 info@arcologyint.com http://www.arcologysystem.com/ Built Environment Masonite Derryoughter, County Leitrim, N41 CC94, Ireland +353 (0)71 965 9500 NA https://www.masonite.com/ Built Environment Farrell Furntiture John Street, Ardee, County Louth, Ireland +353 (0)41 685 3418 info@farrell-furniture.com https://farrell-furniture.com/ Consumer Goods Decotek Automotive Mullingar Road, Collinstown, County Westmeath, Ireland +353 (0)44 966 6600 info@decotek.com https://decotek.com/ Automotive Wisetek Ballincolly, Cork, T23 RX03, Ireland +353 21 455 6920 enquiries@wisetek.net https://wisetek.net/ ICT/EEE IFF Plastics Ltd Cloonwhite North, County Clare, Ireland +353 (0)65 9050773 info@iff.ie https://iff.ie/ Second-Life Enablers

The CIRCULÉIRE Network is your gateway to a thriving community of experts and innovators. Join us today! MEMBERSHIP TESTIMONIALS OUR MEMBERS The future of business is circular. By adopting a circular economy model, you can unlock a wealth of benefits, including: Reducing waste and driving innovation. Improving efficiency and profitability. Prioritizing resource efficiency and responsible practices, to create a more transparent value chain, fostering trust with investors, regulators, and customers. Understanding policy developments and meeting regulatory requirements. Working together we aim to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Ireland and to close the circular innovation gap through cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration between Industry, government & public bodies and research organisations. Membership Opportunities The CIRCULÉIRE Network is your gateway to a thriving community of experts and innovators. Join us and Contribute to unlocking the value that resides in an Irish circular economy. Gain a competitive edge. Benefit from first-mover advantage in resource efficiency and innovative revenue models. Expand your knowledge and network. Connect with experts and peers, broadening your perspective on circularity. Simplify ESG and CSRD reporting. CIRCULÉIRE helps you communicate your emissions reduction efforts transparently. Benefit from a range of funded business supports CIRCULÉIRE Member Services 01 Baseline Estimation INCLUDED WITH MEMBERSHIP Establish a baseline hotspot estimation for your overall emissions –Scope 1 to Scope 3 Yearly estimation & impact analysis Starting point on your journey to a full GHG assessment Government subsidized – market value of 10k - 20k+ 02 Circular Maturity Assessment INCLUDED WITH MEMBERSHIP Annual self-assessment Stimulate internal dialogue around circularity and your business Understand circular capabilities Establish baseline and benchmark circular performance Gain recommendations to improve Circular Performance Government subsidized – market value of approx. 5k 03 Circularity Action Planning ADDITIONAL COST Understand circular capabilities Visualise how resources are used in your value chain(s) Identify where structural waste is occurring Identify circular oriented innovation opportunities to reduce costs, improve supply-chain resilience and create new value propositions CSRD Relevance ESRS E1 Climate Change ESRS E5 Resource use & Circular Economy ESRS E5 Resource use & Circular Economy Best Practice and Insights Resources: Insight into National and European circular innovation funding opportunities. Policy & regulation updates to help you understand and prepare for regulations that will impact your operations. Access to our Circular Economy Knowledge Library containing a range of support resources and thought leadership such as policy documents, case studies, webinars and much more. Access to CIRCULÉIRE’s Good Practice Sectoral Guides highlight the best Circular Economy practices in a variety of sectors. Networking and Collaboration: Invites to a yearly calendar of interactive networking events. Share and gain knowledge with over 50 innovative companies working on their circular transition and business model innovation across multiple sectors. Meet Circularity Experts through participating in CIRCULÉIRE Thematic Working Group Sessions, and expert lead information webinars. Opportunities to host quarterly network meetings at your site. Regular communications and check ins to support your circular transition and innovation ambitions. By joining CIRCULÉIRE your organisation is signaling commitment to circular economy transition and knowledge sharing within and outside the network. We encourage members to make a voluntary commitment to contribute towards a collective goal of Co2 and waste reduction. Fees are based on company size and number of employees in your organisation. Next Steps Please submit your Member Participation enquiry through the form below with detail on where you are on your circular transition journey and your specific needs. Our member engagement team will set up a 30 minute introductory call to give you an overview of CIRCULÉIRE and our fee structure according to your company size. We will refer you to the relevant team leads to and start the onboarding process and determine your circular transition pathway. You will be added to the network communications list and will be contacted in relation to our calendar of events and have full access to the Members Only Knowledge Library. Our Engagement Lead will schedule regular check ins to ensure that you are maximising your membership. 2024 CIRCULÉIRE Circular Venture Accelerator Cohort IMR Circular Economy Team - 2024 CIRCULÉIRE Conference 2024 CIRCULÉIRE Circular Venture Accelerator Cohort 1/12 Testimonials "The participation with CIRCULÉIRE helped the organization start the journey of understand the principles of Circular economy and the importance of the transition from linear to circular model." Camila Batista, Sustainability Leader. Masonite Our Members AGRI FOOD & DRINK AUTOMOTIVE BIO PHARMA CHEM BUILT ENVIRONMENT CONSUMER GOODS FINANCIAL SERVICES GOVERNMENT ICT/WEEE MEDICAL DEVICES PLASTICS SECOND LIFE ENABLERS TEXTILES & FASHION Contact Us

CIRCULÉIRE is Ireland’s circular economy network led by Irish Manufacturing Research, uniting industry, government, and innovators to accelerate circular transition. Our Network Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) is the Secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE, funded by the Government of Ireland’s Department of Climate, Energy and Environment (DCEE). CIRCULÉIRE is a multi-million euro cross-sectoral industry-led, public-private partnership that was co-created by IMR, and three Strategic Partners; the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment (DCEE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and EIT Climate-KIC and 25 Founding Industry Members. Starting with 25 founding members, we have grown to a vibrant network of over 50 engaged members who are committed to circular economy transition, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. CIRCULÉIRE is actively engaging and collaborating with all stakeholders from the wider Irish Circular innovation ecosystem - government departments and agencies, academia, third sector and solution providers and provides regular opportunities to for the network to engage and collaborate within this wider ecosystem. What We Do Support the delivery of reduction in waste across our network members through product redesign; business model innovation; industrial symbiosis; materials substitution and other circularity strategies Raise awareness and increase understanding of circularity within and for Irish Industry and the wider ecosystem. Identify barriers to implementation and advise on strategies to overcome them Develop frameworks, toolkits + deep demonstrations to de-risk & prove the value of Circular Economy Inform Irish Circular Economy policy innovation. Strategic Partners The Department of Climate, Energy and Environment (DCEE) are leading the delivery the Government of Ireland’s National Climate Action Plan (2019) and the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (2020-2025). In November 2022, DECC announced €1.5m continutation funding for CIRCULÉIRE in 2023. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead the National Waste Prevention Programme (NWPP), a Government of Ireland initiative, which supports national-level, strategic programmes to prevent waste and drive the circular economy in Ireland. EIT Climate-KIC is the largest public-private partnership in the EU dedicated to accelerating the transition to a zero-carbon, climate-resilient society, supported by the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT). Governance As a public-private partnership, CIRCULÉIRE’s governance structure includes a steering group with IMR as secretary, along with permanent representation from its three strategic partners DCEE, EPA and EIT Climate-KIC, as well as representatives from industry members who rotate annually. In 2024, the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) joined the Steering Group. Network members are invited to put themselves forward for election or nominate a peer each year. Industry representatives play a crucial feedback role between CIRCULÉIRE’s cross-sectoral Industry Members (who range from MNCs to SMEs to micro-enterprise) and the Strategic Partners – bringing industry’s perspectives to the table. 2025 Colette Van Jaarsveld Managing Director Mark O’Sullivan Global Business Development Director Donough McGrath Director of Engineering Technology Development Rory O'Dwyer Environmental Coordinator 2024 Colette Van Jaarsveld Managing Director Conor Magee Head of Manufacturing Paul Farrell Joint Chief Executive Officer Rory O'Dwyer Environmental Coordinator 2023 Lisa O'Donoghue Chief Executive Officer Mark O'Sullivan Global Business Development Director Kevin Sheridan Managing Director Paul Farrell Joint Chief Executive Officer 2022 Fergus O'Sullivan Plant Manager Kevin Cronin Chief Operating Officer Maria Couchman Senior Craft & Education Manager Neil Skeffington Chief Executive Officer 2021 Austin Geraghty Global Director, Health, Safety & Sustainability Elizabeth O'Reilly Head of Environmental Compliance & Membership Ian Ryan Energy & Utilities Manager 2020 David Callanan Senior Engineering Executive Declan O'Riordan Sustainability Manager Mark Coyne Global Sustainability Lead Contact Us First Name Last Name Email Type of Enquiry Choose an option Send Irish Manufacturing Research Unit A, Aerodrome Business Park, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin D24 WC04 08.30 – 17.00 Monday – Friday +353 (0) 1 567 5000 circuleire@imr.ie Irish Manufacturing Research, National Science Park, Dublin Rd, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath N91 TX80 08.30 – 17.00 Monday – Friday +353 (0) 1 567 5000 circuleire@imr.ie

CIRCULÉIRE is Ireland’s first circular innovation network, supporting industry to derisk, develop, and deliver circular business models. Led by IMR with national strategic partners, we have grown from 25 founding members to a network of 50+ organisations driving Ireland’s circular transition. CIRCULÉIRE The National Platform for Circular Innovation Get Involved €1.5m Invested in 10 Circular Innovation Pilot Demonstrations €130k Invested in supporting 26 Circular New Ventures to date 50+ Active Members 19 Circularity Action Plans and Assessments Delivered 10 Thematic Working Groups delivered for Collaborative Knowledge Sharing CIRCULÉIRE is Ireland's First Circular Innovation Network. Our mission is to demystify, derisk, and deliver circular business model innovation by unlocking the value that resides in an Irish circular economy. CIRCULÉIRE is a multi-million euro cross-sectoral, industry-led public-private partnership that provides Industry with the necessary supports and expertise to drive their systems-level circular innovation. Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) (Secretariat) in conjunction with three public sector Strategic Partners (Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC); the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and EIT Climate-KIC ), and 25 Founding Industry Members (MNCs and SMEs alike) soft-launched the programme in January 202O as a pilot initiative. Building on the impacts achieved by the pilot initiative from 2020 to 2022, the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications became the primary public funder of CIRCULÉIRE in 2023. This support enables the continued scaling of industry-led circular innovation while leveraging existing expertise and activities within the national circular innovation ecosystem. We work across multiple Industry sectors and are stewarding over 50 organisations and their supply-chains on a journey from linear to circular business models. CIRCULAR BUSINESS SUPPORTS We accelerate organisations’ Circular Transformation to meet ESG and net-zero goals LEARN MORE KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & POLICY ENGAGEMENTS We facilitate learning and capacity building and demystify policy and regulation to drive circular innovation LEARN MORE ECOSYSTEM COLLABORATION We are a dynamic Cross-Sectoral Industry Network committed to scaling circularity LEARN MORE Featured Case Studies Eriu From 'Yarn to Farm' at a Fair Price Read Case Study Ériu, founded in 2021, manufactures yarn from the wool that is hand-selected, processed and designed entirely in Ireland. Ériu is the first Irish knitwear brand whose products are exclusively Irish sourced and manufactured using a ‘Farm to Yarn’ sustainable initiative. Arcology System Reconfigurable Interior Building System Read Case Study Arcology System is a smart and data-driven interior construction system that offers modularity and adaptability, unlocking circular economy value in how commercial fit-outs are financed, designed, procured, built, and managed for REITs, developers, and end-users. REvolve Platform for Green Auto Parts Read Case Study REvolve is an independent technology- driven supply chain solution that streamlines the sourcing of green auto parts for automotive businesses. It was established through a partnership between Ted4Parts, a vehicle recycling, green auto parts and repair service provider, and Mackessy Technology, an IT service provider. DeltaQ Reducing & Reusing Pallets & Packaging Read Case Study DeltaQ prioritises sustainability and strives to assist Ireland in reaching its climate targets. Restructuring their shipments of materials from suppliers and product delivery processes was one of the steps they implemented to lessen their environmental impacts. Featured News IMR’s Director of Circular Economy Innovation, Dr. Geraldine Brennan, guest speaker at HPBA’s inaugural Net Zero Construction Symposium Celebrating Circularity: Highlights from the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025 Driving Circular Economy Through Collaboration and Innovation Upcoming Events BioDirect Manufacturing Workshop - Circular Economy Cluster Thu, 26 Feb Irish Manufacturing Research, IMR More info Details Members Only | CIRCULÉIRE Q4 Network Meeting 2025 Wed, 03 Dec Irish Manufacturing Research More info Details All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025 Thu, 27 Nov Dublin More info Details Load More

35571c7f-11f5-4ff4-b582-1dbcc4883a23 CIRCULÉIRE NON-MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: IPERIONX WEBSITE: IPERIONX.COM SECTOR : ADVANCED MATERIALS PUBLISHED: 13 NOVEMBER 2025 TAGS: CRITICALRAWMATERIALS, TITANIUM, RECYCLING, SUPPLYCHAIN, RESOURCERECOVERY, AEROSPACE, ADVANCED-MATERIALS The Challenge Titanium is a critical mineral valued for its exceptional strength, light weight, and resistance to corrosion ( Schulz et al., 2017 ). It is an essential metal for industries such as aviation, shipbuilding, power generation, and medical implants, where durability and lightweight materials are crucial ( Schulz et al., 2017 ). Titanium dioxide (TiO2), an oxide form of titanium, is widely used in pigments and renewable energy applications due to its photocatalytic properties - its ability to use light to trigger chemical reactions that can, for example, enhance the efficiency of sunlight conversion into electricity in solar panels ( TDMA, 2023 ). Recognized as both a critical and strategic raw material under the European Union's Critical Raw Materials Act , titanium is vital for key sectors including civil aviation, defence, space, advanced manufacturing, and the green and digital transitions ( Joint Research Centre, 2025 ). Despite its importance, the EU relies heavily on imports of titanium minerals and metal, primarily from countries like China, Russia, and Ukraine, which exposes the supply chain to geopolitical risks, market concentration, and long lead times. These vulnerabilities have led the EU to prioritize circular economy strategies such as increased recycling, diversification of supply sources, and development of secondary raw materials to reduce import dependency and increase supply resilience ( Joint Research Centre, 2025 ). The extraction and processing of titanium has additional environmental and human health costs. Titanium mining can result in deforestation, habitat loss, and contamination of air and water - especially when waste is improperly managed ( Farjana et al., 2018 ). The overall process is energy- and water-intensive, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbating water scarcity in mining regions. A Circular Solution IperionX, a U.S.-based producer of critical minerals and materials, has partnered with European metals recycler Aperam Recycling through its American entity ELG. ELG has longstanding expertise in sourcing and processing titanium, stainless steel, and superalloys, handling over one million metric tonnes of metal annually ( Aperam, 2024 ). Using University of Utah-developed technology, IperionX can produce competitively priced titanium metal from both mined mineral and scrap. Unlike the industry-standard Kroll process, their method enables 100% scrap usage, making a fully closed-loop circular system possible ( IperionX, 2025 ). IperionX utilises Hydrogen Assisted Metallothermic Reduction (HAMR), an energy efficient thermochemical process that can produce either Commercially Pure (CP) or alloyed titanium powders at low cost and with low carbon emissions in a sustainable closed loop ( IperionX, 2025 ). The IperionX Titanium Demonstration Facility has the capacity to produce 125 tonnes of titanium powder per year ( Stockhead, 2023 ) and the company has scale-up plans to achieve a capacity of 1,400 metric tonnes of titanium per year by mid-2027 ( Metal AM, 2023 ). Climate Impact Recycling titanium scrap into powder produces over 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional plasma atomisation methods, resulting in a carbon footprint as low as 7.8 kg CO2e per kilogram ( IperionX, 2023 ). By relying on recycled feedstock, IperionX reduces the need for new mining, conserves natural resources, and minimises waste. Additionally, by producing titanium powder domestically, the U.S. can lower transport-related emissions and costs - addressing a major supply chain gap as the nation currently imports all high-quality titanium ( Stockhead, 2023 ). Replicability The titanium market, valued at $2.44 billion in 2023, is set to grow at over 6% annually through 2030, largely due to increased demand from aviation and industrial sectors ( Grand View Research ). The uptake of circular recycling approaches, like those of IperionX, is likely to accelerate as industries seek lower-carbon and resource-efficient solutions. European initiatives focusing on titanium recycling and sustainable production include: EcoTitanium (France), is a leading European plant specializing in recycling aerospace-grade titanium alloys using advanced furnace technology. The EcoTitanium recycling plant is supported by significant EU investment, and produces thousands of tons of titanium alloy annually while helping to reduce emissions compared to traditional ore-based production. EcoTitanium is currently the main large-scale titanium recycling facility in Europe and aims to strengthen European supply chains and reduce import dependency ( EIB, 2018 ). The EURO-Titan Project is a multi-partner EU-funded project working to establish low-carbon titanium metal production from industrial residues and scraps within Europe. It aims to create traceable, continuous titanium metal production aligned with decarbonization and supply chain resilience goals. ALL CASE STUDIES

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

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

Explore CIRCULÉIRE’s successful circular economy pilot projects and discover upcoming funding calls and opportunities. CIRCULAR BUSINESS SUPPORTS KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & POLICY ENGAGEMENTS ECOSYSTEM COLLABORATION Innovation Pilots From 2020 to 2022, CIRCULÉIRE actively supported the development of a circular economy in Ireland through a dedicated €1.5 million Innovation Pilot Project Fund. This initiative, backed by our strategic partners DCEE, EPA, and EIT Climate-KIC, funded 10 large-scale, system-wide innovation projects within the CIRCULÉIRE network. The Innovation Pilot Project Fund aimed to identify, test, and scale innovative circular solutions, with a focus on circular manufacturing systems, supply chains, and circular business models. Over the lifespan of this pilot, nine network participants were awarded funding to explore circularity within their sectors and collaborated with fellow CIRCULÉIRE participants and actors from the external circular ecosystem to bring their projects to life. To learn more about upcoming calls for proposals, application processes, and deadlines, keep an eye on CIRCULÉIRE's Latest News section (Inc link to news) and social media channels. See below for an overview of the successful circular economy demonstration projects funded by CIRCULÉIRE's Innovation Pilot Project Fund. 2022 2021 2020 Circular by Design Project Lead: Design & Crafts Council of Ireland Project Partner: National College of Art and Design The global textiles and apparel industry is the joint third highest emitter of greenhouse gases globally and operates in an almost completely linear ‘take-make-waste’ system. To address this challenge, The Design and Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI), the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) and the Creative Futures Academy (CFA) came together to design and launch ‘Circular By Design’; a first-of-a-kind training programme that supports textile and fashion designers, brands and manufacturers to make the transition to circular practices in every step of their design practice, value chain and business model. In its pilot year, Circular By Design equipped Irish businesses with the necessary knowledge and skills to create materials, products, and entire business models built on circularity principles. Participants gained a foundational understanding of the circular economy and redesign their value propositions, materials, products, services, and business models for a more sustainable future. Circularising Single Use Plastics (C-SUP) Project Lead: Novelplast Project Partners: Irish Green Labs | Technical University of the Shannon | CÚRAM University of Galway | Connacht-Ulster Waste Regional Waste Office | Eventec | Climate 23 Irish laboratories rely heavily on large quantities of high-quality, carbon-intensive, single-use plastics. Most of this plastic, often polypropylene pipette tips, comes from Germany, the UK, or the US, and is incinerated in Ireland after just one use. A national audit carried out by University of Galway and Irish Manufacturing Research identified these pipette tips as the most common plastic lab waste. The C-SUP demonstration project tackled this challenge by turning these single-use polypropylene plastics into a valuable feedstock for Irish recyclers. Creating a circular system where lab waste becomes a resource, empowering researchers to minimize their environmental impact. Through dissemination via the Irish Green Labs network, the project aims to make purchasing recycled polypropylene labware the standard practice across thousands of Irish laboratories. READ CASE STUDY READ CASE STUDY Do More with Less Project Lead: Farrell Furniture Project Partners: Atlantic Technological University Connemara | Office of Public Works This collaborative furniture take-back and remanufacturing project is an innovative shift towards green procurement by the Irish Government. Through a collaborative effort, Do More with Less, aims to develop and implement circularity within the public sector. There are two streams within this project. Stream One – Remanufacturing for Continued Use : Obsolete office furniture that was created by Farrell Furniture in the mid 2000’s is retrieved from the OPW. It is then repaired, remanufactured, and redistributed through the public sector. Stream Two – Preserving Design Heritage: The Crannac Chair, a classic chair design that is no longer produced will be studied and reverse-engineered by ATU Connemara. Allowing their future repair and reuse and keeping a classic piece of Irish Design in use for many years to come. READ 'DO MORE WITH LESS' CASE STUDY READ 'CRANNAC CHAIR' CASE STUDY Medical Devices a New Life (MEDAL) Project Lead: Offerre Project Partners: FPD Recycling | University of Limerick The healthcare sector is a significant contributor to environmental pollution, responsible for roughly 4.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. An increased reliance on single-use medical devices, particularly in high-income countries, has had a large impact on this. The collection high-cost and low-volume of these devices has left traditional take-back schemes are often abandoned by producers. MEDAL offers a cost-efficient reprocessing system that extends the lifespan of medical devices without compromising on product integrity or strict reprocessing protocols. Designed with key stakeholders and regulations in mind, the system prioritises high performance, user convenience, producer engagement, and overall system integrity. The Pilot assesses automation solutions for cleaning and de-manufacturing and supports the circular design of products and packaging. The system also provides a cloud-based platform allowing device consumers to interact with the producers. READ CASE STUDY Upcycled Insulation Project Lead: Cirtex Ltd Project Partners: Tipperary County Council | Clothes Pod (https://www.clothespod.ie/ ) | Interior Creations Every year, tens of thousands of tonnes of mattresses, furniture, bedding, and industrial offcuts are sent to waste in Ireland. Currently, Ireland has no answer to upcycling this end-of life material. Cirtex is a new Irish company that is seeking to turn this soft padding material into insulation and other useful products that can be further upcycled when they reach their “end of life”. The Upcycled Insulation project, in collaboration with Tipperary County Council, Clothes POD, and Interior Creations, demonstrates how to effectively collect these materials from the public in a clean and efficient manner and convert it into high-quality insulation for housing and padding for furniture and bedding companies. This solution not only diverts massive amounts of waste from landfill, but also provides the construction, furniture, and bedding industries with a sustainable alternative for their production needs. READ CASE STUDY Circular Economy & The Power of Many Project Lead: Freefoam Building Products Project Partners: Glenveagh | Mulligan Guttering | Shabra Recycling In 2021, the EU generated an estimated 188.7 kg of packaging waste per inhabitant, with construction packaging waste playing a significant role. READ MORE The CE Power of Many initiative aims to implement a take-back scheme for unused roofline building products and packaging delivered to construction sites to prevent waste ending up in landfills. Freefoam, CE Power of Many Project Lead, are implementing this take-back scheme for the left-over products and packaging associated with their products. Furthermore, they are reviewing existing packaging to optimise its recovery and reuse. This project has also led Freefoam to partner with Shabra Plastics to develop a closed loop system from Freefoam’s production plant in Cork to Shabra’s plant in Monaghan, for all PE-LD and cardboard that flows into Freefoam. READ CASE STUDY RoboCRM | Advanced Robotics To Capture Critical Raw Materials In WEEE Recycling For A Circular Economy Project Lead: FPD Recycling Project Partners: University of Limerick | Robotics & Drives In the Electronics and Electric Equipment (EEE) sector, great strides are already being made towards circularity through the increased growth of WEEE recycling. Current methods however, struggle to recover all valuable Critical Raw Materials (CRM) from electronic devices. Modern appliances often have integrated batteries which cannot be easily accessed or removed. During WEEE recycling the process to harvest appliance batteries and their CRMs can be dangerous and inefficient for humans to carry out. RoboCRM uses non-destructive, AI powered detection methods and pattern recognition to identify and sort batteries and electronics containing batteries from the main WEEE stream. Allowing for safer and more efficient processing, and a higher recovery rate of CRMs in the recycling process, closing the loop on battery recycling in the WEEE system. READ CASE STUDY SUCCESS Sustainable Use of Carbon Contributes to Environmentally Sustainable Systems Project Lead: Dawn Meats Project Partners: BHSL Waste Solutions | University of Limerick Dawn Meats, one of Europe’s largest food processing companies, produces over 430,000 tonnes of added value meat products annually. Through their SUCCESS Pilot Project, they aim to transform Ireland's meat processing sector into a circular economy model by maximising renewable energy from by-products and residues. Partnering with BHSL, a proven technology provider in the poultry sector, and researchers from the University of Limerick, SUCCESS has identified the potential to transform animal by-products and sludge into green energy through BHSL's small-scale, energy conversion technology. SUCCESS seeks to deliver Ireland’s first circular meat processing demonstration plant extracting maximum renewable energy from processing side-streams and residues while creating a high-value end product to service the growing biofertilizer sector. READ CASE STUDY CESI Circular Economy Skills Initiative Project Lead: WEEE Ireland Project Partners: Fasttrack into IT | White Goods Association Repair to extend a product’s lifecycle is a core element of functional circular economy. For repair to be a viable option in White Goods WEEE however, there needs to be skilled workforce capable of carrying out maintenance on appliances, a service that is lacking in Ireland. The Circular Economy Skills Initiative (CESI) project addresses the skills and training bottleneck that exists by developing the first QQI-accredited appliance repair qualification course in Ireland, upskilling and training much needed repair and reuse specialists. CESI was developed with support and input from the White Goods Association ensuring that the training and modules would address industry requirements and provide the most value to participants and consumers alike. READ CASE STUDY Lithium Long Life Battery (LLLB) Project Lead: WEEE Ireland Project Partners: Wisetek | KMK Metals Long-Life Lithium Batteries (LLLBs) from electric vehicles (EVs), IT equipment, and energy storage systems offer a valuable resource for a more circular Irish economy. After reaching their first life (typically 7-10 years in EVs), these batteries still hold significant potential. The LLLB-CE project aims to unlock this potential by establishing a comprehensive LLLB management system in Ireland, allowing for the safe removal, collection, sorting, and discharging of these batteries. Developing this process and training more people in the environmental management of LLLB will create employment opportunities across the sector. Encouraging new training pathways for circular economy upskilling of current operatives in the material sorting and recycling sector in Ireland. READ CASE STUDY

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

The All‑Island Circular Venture Awards spotlight innovative start-ups across Ireland that are advancing the circular economy through impactful circular value propositions. The awards recognise late‑stage ventures driving new solutions for how materials, components, and products are used, reused, remanufactured, and regenerated—celebrating high‑potential innovators shaping a more sustainable future. 27th Nov, 2025 All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025 Celebrating Innovation. Accelerating Circular Impact. ABOUT THE AWARDS WINNER & FINALISTS PRIZES JUDGES AGENDA VENUE, DATE, TIME ABOUT THE AWARDS The AlI-Island Circular Venture Awards will spotlight start-ups and ventures across the island of Ireland who are pioneering the emergence of the circular economy sector by enabling or demonstrating a circular value proposition. The awards are a great opportunity for late-stage start-ups driving innovation in the circular economy, and a platform to shine a light on high-potential ventures reshaping how materials, components and products are used, reused, remanufactured and regenerated. CIRCULÉIRE is delighted to announce its inaugural All-Island Circular Venture Awards, a prestigious new initiative designed and led by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and funded by the Department of Climate, Energy & the Environment (DCEE). READ THE AWARDS GUIDELINES & CRITERIA 2025 WINNER HaPPE Earth, the WINNER of the inaugural All-Island Circular Venture Awards embodies circular innovation, circular excellence, execution strength, commercial viability and system level impact with the persevering and pioneering vision of never giving up. Lisa O'Riordan Chief Operating Officer, HaPPE Earth 1st Finalist Gemell Technology, the 1st finalist is a venture that is pioneering digital technologies to leverage advanced tech to make it easy for actors and supply chains to reduce waste. It is imminently scalable not only in Ireland but further afield. Co-Founder & CEO, Gemell Technology Limited Adam Hankin 2nd Finalist Ecoroots, the second finalist is a venture with a holistic circularity story and significant IP potential which can enable scalability. They are not only figuring out how to do this in their own right, but also enabling other actors in their value and supply chain to valorise production residues. Ecoroots fundamentally exemplifies the systemic level of change required to bring the circular economy to life. Founder & CEO, Ecoroots Lavanya Bhandari CIRCULAR TROPHY FABRICATION GALLERY PRIZES €5.000 + Coaching Session + CIRCULÉIRE Case Study €3.000 + Coaching Session + CIRCULÉIRE Case Study €2.000 + Coaching Session + CIRCULÉIRE Case Study SHORTLISTED VENTURES The ten shortlisted ventures pitching to an audience of investors, industry, policy makers, and media at the first All-Island Circular Venture Awards will include Arcology System, Biographene Innovations Ireland, BladeBridge, Circular Food Co, Ecoroots, HaPPE Earth, Gemell Technology Limited, Harp Renewable, Integrated Materials Solutions and Kinset Limited. The selected ventures represent an extremely broad range of sectors including commercial fitout infrastructure, construction waste management, compostable PPE, biobased production and packaging solutions; repurposed wind energy infrastructure; digital enablement of circular processes; aerobic digestion; additional manufacturing for textiles; and upcycling of food residuals. READ ON FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE COMPANIES: Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. BladeBridge repurposes retired wind turbine blades into durable infrastructure. Ecoroots transforms agricultural waste into compostable mycelium packaging powered by a data-driven platform for scalable, zero-waste biomanufacturing. HaPPE Earth makes single-use PPE into a circular solution, replacing plastics with compostable materials, converting waste into fertiliser, and delivering ESG insights cutting costs, carbon, and complexity. Integrated Materials Solutions (IMS) accepts C&D wastes and processes them into certified low carbon secondary aggregates for reuse in the construction industry. Bio Graphene Innovations Ireland transforms agricultural waste into bio-graphene materials that decarbonise concrete, enabling seawater use, and establishing a scalable circular manufacturing model for Europe. Circular Food Co recovers food waste to turn into high value ingredients. Gemell Technology Limited reduces unnecessary textile waste through data-driven 3D visualisation and analytics. Harp Renewables supplies advanced, fully circular food waste solutions for all industries. Kinset connects supply chain, material, and lifecycle data in one trusted system, making it simple for brands to demonstrate transparency, enable reuse and recycling, and engage consumers through interactive digital experiences. REPRESENTATIVES: VIEW BIO Arcology System develops modular, sensor-enabled interior construction systems for circular, adaptive interiors. Backed by EU innovation grants and live UNECE pilots, it replaces fixed fitouts with reconfigurable components that retain material and financial value, unlocking new revenue and waste-free operation for landlords and developers. Colette van Jaarsveld Co-Founder & CEO, Arcology System VIEW BIO BladeBridge repurposes decommissioned wind-turbine blades into durable, low-carbon infrastructure such as pedestrian bridges, shelters, and street furniture. By repurposing composite waste into certified products for public spaces, BladeBridge diverts tonnes of material from landfill, reduces embodied carbon, and demonstrates circular innovation in Ireland’s renewable energy and construction sectors. CEO, BladeBridge Dr Angie Nagle VIEW BIO Ecoroots is a deep-tech circular venture that turns local waste streams into high-performance mycelium packaging. A proprietary digital platform ensures consistency, accelerates growth, and enables scalable, modular production. By combining biotechnology with real-time data and AI, Ecoroots deliver fully compostable materials with traceability, quality control, and global licensing potential. Founder & CEO, Ecoroots Lavanya Bhandari VIEW BIO HaPPE Earth is reimagining the future of single-use PPE with the world’s first fully compostable, circular system for PPE. Through proprietary bio-based materials, on-site bio-digestion, and smart ESG data tools, we help hospitals, food, and pharma sectors eliminate plastic waste and emissions while building cleaner, more sustainable operations that protect people and the planet. Co-Founder & CEO, HaPPE Earth Dr Mary O'Riordan VIEW BIO Bio Graphene Innovations Ireland (BGII) is an Irish clean-tech venture developing Biocene, a bio-graphene produced from agricultural waste. In partnership with MEP World Group (USA), BGII’s first product, SeaMix, strengthens concrete, reduces cement dependency, and allows seawater use –driving Ireland’s transition to low-carbon, circular construction and advanced manufacturing. Co-Founder, Bio Graphene Innovations Ireland Ltd Barry O’Flanagan VIEW BIO Circular Food Co (CFCO) applies circular economy principles —reuse, regenerative design, and system innovation— to transform food waste into high-value products. The company collects surplus produce from manufacturers and farms, converting it into nutritious upcycled foods through closed-loop processing. Unlike traditional “take-make-dispose” models, CFCO integrates waste valorisation and local resource cycling across all operations. Co-Founder & Head of Operations, Circular Food Co (CFCO) Niamh Dooley VIEW BIO Gemell is transforming textile manufacturing with software that generates photorealistic digital twins of fiber, yarns & fabrics, entirely from data. No samples, no scanning, no waste. The solution helps mills cut unnecessary sample waste by 70%, accelerate design workflows & approvals, and deliver lifelike digital fabrics directly into designers’ hands. Co-Founder & CEO, Gemell Technology Limited Adam Hankin VIEW BIO With over 20 years of global waste management expertise, Harp Renewables designs, develops, and manufactures fully circular solutions for organic waste treatment, providing a cleaner alternative to traditional disposal. Combining innovative technologies and a commitment to reshape waste management, we deliver cost-reducing, eco-friendly, and custom-tailored products for businesses of all sizes. Senior Sales Manager, Harp Renewables Gerry Mc Donnell VIEW BIO Integrated Materials Solutions (IMS) is an environmental company based in north Co. Dublin working at the forefront of sustainable C&D waste management since 2017. To date IMS have diverted over 500,000 tonnes of waste concrete and soils from landfill by producing high quality aggregates and sands through start of the art processing. Trucks arrive containing waste and leave full of secondary aggregates, closing the loop on Ireland’s construction materials. Managing Director, Integrated Materials Solutions (IMS) Cian O’Hora VIEW BIO Kinset is a Dublin-based green-tech platform enabling circularity across the consumer goods sector. By digitising product data and creating Digital Product Passports, Kinset connects supply chain, material, and lifecycle information, making it simple for businesses to measure impact, meet regulations, and engage consumers through trusted product transparency. CEO & Co-Founder, Kinset Limited Katelyn O’Riordan JUDGES VIEW BIO Geraldine is a strategic circular economy expert, systems thinker and senior sustainability leader with +15 years multi-sectoral experience working horizontally and laterally in industry applied research, consulting, advertising, and communications. She has a track record of building collaborative public-private partnerships to deliver the circular economy’s transformation potential. Geraldine holds a PhD in Strategic Management & Sustainable Development and MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London and is a nationally and internationally recognized thought leader on scaling industry-oriented circular innovation. Geraldine Brennan Director of Circular Economy Innovation - IMR/ CIRCULÉIRE VIEW BIO Jamie is a Partner at Regeneration.VC, leading early-stage circular and regenerative technology investments globally. He has completed 50+ climate investments across the UK and US, co-founded two tech startups including Tropic Biosciences, and previously worked with Founders Forum, Sky, and B Capital. UCLA Anderson graduate; former global PE lawyer. Partner - Regeneration.VC Jamie Rowles VIEW BIO Mark is a prominent industrialist with a career in international business development for leading manufacturers in Northern Ireland. Today he is Joint Chief Executive of Makers Alliance, an industry-led body guiding the strategic vision for advanced manufacturing in Northern Ireland. Mark is a former President of the NI Chamber of Commerce, served 8 years on the board of Invest NI, and was recognised in 2015 with the award of an OBE for services to the economy. Joint Chief Executive Officer - Makers Alliance Mark Nodder VIEW BIO Founder & General Partner of WakeUp Capital, Faye backs visionary European founders tackling climate and social challenges. A former social entrepreneur and angel investor, she champions inclusive innovation, impact investing, and diversity. She serves on multiple boards and leads philanthropic initiatives. Based in Dublin, she holds a BA and MBA. Founder & Managing Partner - WakeUp Capital Faye Walsh Drouillard MEDIA & NEWS Media - Click to share the message Loop motif generated with the support of AI. News All-Island Circular Venture Awards to support circular economy in Ireland READ MORE IRISH TECH NEWS, 27 OCT 2025 Meet the Judges: All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025 READ MORE CIRCULÉIRE NEWS, 22 OCT 2025 New start-up award aims to boost Ireland’s circular innovation READ MORE INDUSTRIAL PC, 20 OCT 2025 New start-up award aims to boost Ireland’s circular innovation READ MORE SILICON REPUBLIC, 20 OCT 2025 Apply for the first All-Island Circular Venture Awards READ MORE NIBUSINESSINFO.CO.UK, 17 OCT 2025 STRATEGIC PARTNERS & SUPPORTER Partners Supporter What All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025 When 27th Nov 2025, 2:00 PM - 6:30 PM Where ESB Head Office (F27), Event Space, 27 Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin, D02 KT92

5d2f185c-5482-4e4a-846f-d64c4ffe141b CIRCULÉIRE MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: FINLINE FURNITURE WEBSITE: FINLINEFURNITURE.IE SECTOR : BUILT ENVIRONMENT PUBLISHED: 30 JULY 2025 TAGS: BUILT ENVIRONMENT, FURNITURE, CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS, REFURBISH, REUSE, RECYCLING About Finline Furniture Established in 1979, Finline Furniture is one of Ireland's leading manufacturers of high-end furniture. Every piece of Finline furniture is handcrafted in their headquarters in Emo, County Laois, and since their inception Finline have garnered an excellent reputation for designing and making high-quality, long-lasting sofas, chairs, and footstools both for residential customers and commercial projects. The company exports worldwide and has developed its network to include showrooms in Dublin, Cork, and Galway. The Challenge Ireland generates a substantial amount of municipal waste each year. Municipal waste is waste from households and other locations such as schools, shops, small businesses and commercial premises ( EPA, 2024 ). In 2022, Ireland generated 3.19 million tonnes of municipal waste ( CSO, 2024 ). That’s equivalent to the weight of more than 40 million adults, which is nearly eight times the entire population of Ireland, and only 41% of it was recycled ( EPA, 2024 ). Although exact figures are not isolated for furniture waste alone, it is part of the broader category of bulky waste, including but not limited to furniture, and mattresses. More than 1.2 million potentially reusable bulky items are going to landfill or incineration in Ireland every year ( EPA, 2020 ). The EUs Circular Material Use Rate (CMUR) measures how much of the consumed material (in tonnes) in a given country, is reused. Ireland recorded a CMUR rate of 2.8% in 2023 ( Eurostat, 2024 ). The average CMUR in Europe is 11.8% ( EEA, 2025 ). A key objective in Ireland’s Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2022 – 2023 is to raise Ireland’s CMUR so that the national rate is above the EU average by the end of this decade ( DCEE, 2021 ) that will require consumers and businesses alike to get much more comfortable with the concept of reuse. The Circular Opportunity Finline Furniture estimates that there are more than 500,000 pieces of their furniture in circulation and they don’t want to see them end up in landfill. To encourage customers not to throw away any worn-out sofas, Finline have partnered with the ‘Loved Back to Life’ team in Aiseiri to launch their REVIVE product line. Aiseiri provide community and residential services to help young people, adults and families overcome addiction and lead meaningful lives in recovery. Finline customers are incentivized with €100 vouchers to return their old sofas which are subsequently stripped back to their core frame by members of the ‘Loved Back to Life’ program. The quality sofa frames are then reupholstered by the Finline team and sold at more affordable prices - typically 20 per cent lower than the lowest price point in store. These re-manufactured pieces then come with a 20-year guarantee demonstrating to customers the confidence Finline have in their frames and workmanship. Finline and Aiseiri not only prevent sofas from ending up in landfill, thereby reducing waste and keeping valuable materials in circulation, but they also train people in recovery adding a valuable social element to the initiative. Climate Impact Finline Furniture aim to reduce waste and save resources by refurbishing 20 suites in the first year, with a target of 80 by year three. This will prevent the furniture from reaching landfills and save the need for new raw materials by using end-of-line and recycled fabrics. In contrast to manufacturing new furniture, refurbishment requires less processing and therefore generates lower greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, Finline uses FSC-certified timber and 100% recyclable packaging, further supporting sustainability ( Finline Furniture, 2023 ). These efforts put together enhance resource efficiency, extend the life cycle of materials, and show a strong commitment to environmental responsibility. Replicability REVIVE by Finline Furniture is a replicable model which other companies could adopt to promote sustainability, support local economies, and generate social value. The initiative's concentration on quality assurance, resource efficiency, and scalable processes promotes long-term success and market acceptance. This approach enables a company to realize several benefits that extend beyond environmental concerns: improved brand reputation and customer loyalty. Other examples of the circular economy in the furniture industry include: Ahrend who manufactures office furniture products with modularity, disassembly, and life extension as core design principles. They offer Furniture-As-A-Service (FAAS) models where customers pay a monthly fee and return the furniture when they no longer need it. Goldfinger is another example of a social enterprise using reclaimed materials to craft sustainable high-quality furniture for residential and business clients. They reinvest their profits into their Goldfinger Academy which teaches skills to marginalised young people and isolated community members plus their People’s Kitchen, where they make community meals from surplus food. ALL CASE STUDIES

19c8a8d5-aefd-49f6-9c2d-16d77324d22a CIRCULÉIRE MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: HaPPE EARTH WEBSITE: HAPPEEARTH.COM SECTOR : MEDTECH PUBLISHED: 06 AUGUST 2025 TAGS: GREENHEALTHCARE, PPEWASTE, INNOVATION, SUSTAINABLEHEALTHCARE, MEDTECH, CIRCULARHEALTHCARE, ESG, COMPOSTABLE, BIOECONOMY, WASTEMANAGEMENT The Challenge Through its vitally important role in the protection of human health, the global healthcare sector generates an enormous and complex waste stream. If the global healthcare sector were a country, it would rank as the fifth-largest contributor to global CO₂ emissions, responsible for over 5% of total emissions, surpassing those from aviation or shipping sectors ( MedTech Europe, 2024 ). One-third of the carbon emissions generated by the healthcare sector, and most of its waste comes from medical devices ( Boston Consulting Group, 2024 ). Ninety percent of medical device waste primarily consists of single-use devices ( Health & EY, 2024 ). During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical waste became particularly visible, especially concerning Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE is classified as any device or appliance designed to be worn or held by an individual for protection against one or more health and safety hazards ( HSA, 2025 ). Globally, an estimated 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves were used every month ( Prata et al., 2020 ). Typically, PPE is incinerated, and none is sent to landfill. However, during the pandemic, incinerators were so overrun that many countries were forced to send waste to landfill ( BMJ, 2021 ). By 2021, more than 8,000,000 tonnes of pandemic-associated plastic waste was generated globally, with more than 25,000 tonnes entering our oceans ( PNAS, 2021 ). An estimated 73% came from hospitals ( PNAS, 2021 ). PPE is an unquestionably necessary tool for saving lives. It prevents the spread of pathogens and infections and protects both frontline healthcare workers and patients. However, PPE such as face masks, gloves, and gowns are commonly manufactured from plastics such as polypropylene, polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate which can take as long as 450 years to decompose ( BMJ, 2021 ). Even when incinerated, PPE still releases greenhouse gases and contributes to air pollution ( Kumar et al., 2020 ). The challenge, therefore, is not to eliminate this essential equipment but to fundamentally redesign its lifecycle. The Circular Solution in Practice HaPPE Earth is an Irish company and CIRCULÉIRE member, founded in 2021. They make medically approved compostable PPE aprons from sustainably sourced, proprietary bio-resins. Bioresins are a type of polymer derived from renewable sources such as plants, cellulose, sugars, and other biological materials, instead of traditional petroleum-based sources ( Verde Bioresins, 2025 ). HaPPE Earth’s aprons are used the same as standard petroleum-based PPE aprons, but instead of being thrown away after use, they are sent to HaPPE Earth’s onsite medical biodigester system. The biodigester is offered as a first-of-its-kind Sustainable-Consumables-as-a-Service (SCAAS) business model and requires no capital investment from the healthcare service provider. The PPE aprons are composted alongside the healthcare provider’s food waste, where they break down in days in HaPPE Earth’s industrial composting process, resulting in a valuable, pathogen safe, nutrient-rich fertilizer. In addition, HaPPE Earth offers a real-time data monitoring tool allowing healthcare providers to track their plastic waste and CO 2 reduction and capture food waste data for use in their ESG reporting. The service is provided with a dedicated account management team to help with software integration and training, and technical support throughout the process. HaPPE Earth estimates the compostable apron and digestion system uses 75% less carbon emissions than standard single use aprons ( Health Innovation Hub Ireland, 2023 ). By managing waste on-site, the system saves on carbon emissions from transport while simultaneously preventing waste from entering waterways and avoiding air pollution from incineration. Furthermore, HaPPE Earth estimates their waste re-direction service can save the Irish Health Service approximately EUR €400,000.00, and reduce 8,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, all while eliminating PPE plastic waste. HaPPE Earth’s aprons are being trialled in over 20 hospitals in Ireland. However, any sector that uses PPE can use the HaPPE system – including pharmaceuticals, medical device industries and food preparation. Replicability Biodegradable and compostable PPE options are growing across Europe and North America, alongside trials of systems to digest and decompose the products effectively. Some notable examples of companies working to tackle the use of PPE in the healthcare sector include: Revolution-Zero focus on reusable alternatives to medical textiles, including isolation gowns, aprons, transfer sheets, curtains, and warm-up jackets. They offer direct purchase options or Product as a Service models, and offer software for operations, regulatory compliance, asset tracking and environmental reporting. AmorSui – offer a reusable line of PPE made from premium, machine washable materials. Their fabrics are recyclable, and they are currently developing a take-back programme and subscription model to fully align with their circular economy principles. ALL CASE STUDIES