CIRCULÉIRE’s Circular Economy New Venture Innovation & Mentoring Programme 2023 kicks off on July 13th with the 4th cohort of innovative new CE ventures.
Meet the six new ventures who will embark on this year’s fast track Circular Economy innovation and mentoring programme.
The CIRCULÉIRE venture programme is the first of its kind in Ireland (established in 2020) to target late-stage ventures that demonstrate or enable circular business models. Following a very competitive selection process, each awardee will receive a grant of €5k and participate in our bespoke Innovation & Mentoring Programme from July to December 2023. This Programme has been co designed with Trinity Tangent and delivered by Aideen O’Hora Co Founder Sustainability Works and Ron Immink Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Strategy expert and thought leader.
Read more about the awardees and their visions to validate their solution and build new markets for circular solutions across multiple sectors:
UsedFULLY creates science based solutions for unwanted clothing and textiles. Circulating textile resources, measuring impacts, reducing waste and emissions. Implementing new technologies and circular business models at scale, ensuring the full value of textile resources are maximised to minimise the impacts of what we clothe and protect ourselves with.
“UsedFULLY is excited to be accepted into the CIRCULÉIRE 2023 New Venture Programme. Growing a thriving business through the support and networks of this programme. Rapidly scaling our science based, circular textile solutions in Ireland, Europe and beyond.“ Bernadette Casey Co Founder Usefully
Ériu is reviving the lost legacy of Irish Wool. Ériu yarn is made from the softest Irish wool, hand selected, processed and designed entirely in Ireland. We are proud to be the first Irish knitwear brand whose products are exclusively Irish sourced and made through our ‘Farm to Yarn’ sustainable initiative, we source from our trusted network of farmers around Ireland, as well as Eriu’s own farm in Wicklow. Our mission is to combat the tragic decline of the Irish wool industry and to put a value back on Irish wool again. We seek to draw from our ancient heritage of working with wool and community values which were created around these industries and reignite them by creating new communities, new products and developing new markets.
Medtech company Tympany Medical has developed Solascope a variable angle scope in Endoscopy manufactured with circularity at it’s core.
Endoscopy is the use of a camera technology to improve visualisation of hard to reach areas during surgery. Traditional endoscopy technology uses a rod lens, which is limited by light available and image technology used, however they are very fixed in terms of what can be seen through them and cannot vary the angle of view – a significant problem in an area with multiple cavities like the sinus. Tympany aims to change this, by introducing a variable angle scope called Solascope which while delivering excellence in visual technology for endoscopy will also deliver the next generation of manufacturing for circular economy. This will shift the lifecycle of Solascope endoscopes from linear to circular as sales progress. This is achieved through an encapsulation process where high value internal components like the camera module maintain their integrity and value and are re-used and lower value components which protect them are directed towards recycling.
The FACTORY is on a mission to reinvent the traditionally wasteful and plastic-reliant signage industry by utilising wood, cardboard and other more Earth-friendly materials. This reinvention will be enhanced by using green energy for production, and most importantly, a reimagining of the signage system, so reuse is at its core.
“We believe all businesses must operate in harmony with the environment, so, as in nature, the reuse of materials is vital. The CIRCULÉIRE 2023 New Venture Programme is a trail-blazing initiative that will facilitate The FACTORY to manufacture signage for a circular economy.” Lisa Dooley Creative Director The Factory
Well Spent Grain’s first product is called Born-Again bites which will help eliminate the stigma that sustainable & upcycled snacks have a bland taste. Born-Again bites are made from upcycled brewer’s spent grain plus 5 ingredients (i.e., dates, 100% peanut butter, toasted hazelnut, 70% dark chocolate, maple syrup) to provide good nutrition and a boost to adults’ energy levels. Each pack of Born-Again bites has a natural malty, nutty and fruity flavour, with hints of dark chocolate and maple syrup. It provides some protein and is high in fibre. It has a soft texture, not chewy, no preservatives/artificial flavouring.are committed to leading the charge in improving climate change as well as reducing the impact of food waste in the supply chain by upcycling brewer’s spent grain (which is underutilized and wasted in the food supply chain), all while contributing to a circular food economy and promoting sustainable snacking lifestyle.
“In the long term, our dream is to become a leading food upcycling company that offers a wide range of value-added food & snack products in Ireland & Europe. We will be acting as a role model and advocator for a circular economy across Ireland & Europe.” Sunkyung Choi , Patrick Nagle Co Founders Well Spent Grain
Arcology System is a revolutionary smart and data-driven interior construction system that offers
modularity and adaptability, unlocking circular economy value in the way commercial fitouts are
financed, procured, built and managed for REIT’s, developers and end-users. This innovative system
integrates the existing supply chain around connection hardware quicker, more cost effectively and
enable materials to be kept in use at their highest value possible without waste.
Assets become intelligent, and interiors are transformed into ‘Material Banks,’ resulting in future proofed spaces that can be fully utilised for Space-as-a-Service (SPaaS) business models.
“We applied to the CIRCULÉIRE 2023 New Venture Programme to leverage manufacturing assistance
and tap into specialist expertise across various verticals required by our hardware and platfom
solutions. Additionally we aim to become investor ready with the guidance and resources supported by
the programme.” Colette Van Jaarsveld . Arcology System Ltd
About CIRCULÉIRE
CIRCULÉIRE is a public-private partnership co-created by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and three strategic partners: the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EIT Climate-KIC. Together with industry partners CIRCULÉIRE aims to assist manufacturers and their supply chains to switch from linear to circular business models.
Read more about CIRCULÉIRE here.
