About Us | CIRCULÉIRE

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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

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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.