Autumn is when conference season really kicks off and the CIRUCLÉIRE team have been delighted to engage with key stakeholders in Ireland’s Circular Economy Ecosystem to promote the benefits of scaling circularity and showcasing our member’s circular innovation.
EPA Circular Economy Conference – 25th September 2024
Members of IMR’s Circular Economy Team were on hand to talk all things circularity at our exhibition stand during the conference.
At the conference we heard from keynote speaker William Neale from the EU Commission in relation to the latest CE Policy development, the shift from directives to regulation, the importance of product design and full product lifecycle impacts, the EU’s focus on stimulating demand to drive investment and competitiveness through circularity, and the forthcoming EU Circular Economy Act which will be a key priority during Ireland’s EU Presidency in 2026.
On a practical level Anthony O'Dea from GreenIT gave a great overview of a recent circular public procurement contract which Circular Computing and Green IT won to deliver remanufactured laptops to the public sector.
Over the next 4 years through this first of a kind procurement framework, 60,000 remanufactured laptops will be procured by the Government of Ireland saving 19mKg CO2e, 72mKg of earth minerals, 11m litres of water and all at a 15m euro cost saving.
A key highlight of the conference was of course, Minister Ossian Smyth launching Ireland's Circularity Gap Report. Developed by Circle Economy, Ireland’s CGR report creates an important impact baseline of the country’s circularity performance, and when combined with CGR Northern Ireland, offers a valuable All-Island perspective, creating the potential for a strategic approach to public-private investment to drive circular innovation across the island.
You can read more about the Circularity Gap Report here.
Circular Economy Hotspot Cmyru - 7th – 9th October
We were delighted to be invited to present at the Afternoon Breakout Sessions on the Main Conference Day of the Wales Circular Economy Hotspot. The session Circular Innovation in Business featured innovative case studies from businesses investing in driving the circular economy through innovation and partnership.
Dr Geraldine Brennan joined fellow speakers; Jon Anderson (Polytag), Adam Crowe (WRAP), Simon Fleet (W. Howard Group), Rosalie McMillan (Smile Plastics), and Andrew Martin (AMRC Cymru) to share case study demonstrations of successfully embedding circular principles in everyday organisational practices.
Geraldine presented on member success stories from Freefoam Building Products (CE Power of Many), Farrell Furniture (Do More With Less), Cirtex (Upcycled Insulation), and Offerre (MEDAL).
WEEE Ireland Members Conference - 16th October
CIRCULÉIRE team was pleased to exhibit at the WEEE Ireland Members Conference, an essential gathering for those driving Ireland’s circular economy. The event featured key industry insights, including a presentation from Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland, on a more circular approach to Extended Producer Responsibility (ERP) and raw material recovery.
Rosemary Gaul from the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications outlined new battery regulations, while Jan Vlak from Stichting Foundation highlighted the Netherlands’ successful single Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) model and called for increased collection efforts and ERP financing reform. Julie-Ann Adams, CEO of the European Electronics Recyclers Association (EERA), warned of challenges in e-waste reuse and recycling, emphasizing the need for regulation, safety improvements, and collaborative action to enable a circular economy.
Environment Ireland Conference - 17th October
At the Environment Ireland Conference in Croke Park, Dr. Geraldine Brennan emphasized the urgent need for a swift transition to the circular economy, underscoring its role in addressing climate and environmental challenges. Ossian Smyth, Minister of State for Communications and Circular Economy, highlighted the significant "time and political capital" required to support initiatives like the EU Nature Restoration Law and Ireland’s Climate Act.
Julie Thompson, Deputy Secretary of DAERA in Northern Ireland, discussed their Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2024, focusing on achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and ensuring excellent air, water, and land quality. She emphasized the need for cross-border and cross-department collaboration to meet strategic goals. Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, Director of Circular Economy at the European Commission, noted that business cycles are longer than political ones and stressed the importance of stable investment cycles to maintain progress toward the EU Green Deal and decarbonization efforts.
Francesca Racioppi from the World Health Organization highlighted gaps in global health and sanitation, with 30% of EU citizens still lacking basic sanitation. She praised Ireland’s leadership in creating climate-resilient health systems. Imelda Hurley, CEO of Coillte, pointed to MEDITE SMARTPLY's innovative use of by-products from saw milling as an example of circular economy principles in action.
CIRCULÉIRE were also proud sponsors of the Circular Economy Chapter within the Environment Ireland Yearbook. This yearbook is a comprehensive reference book for those interested in environmental issues in the Island of Ireland, and an excellent resource to anyone working in the environment sector.
Techies Go Live Conference - 17th October 2024
CIRCULÉIRE Circular Economy Venture Lead Agnese Metitieri joined panelists Paul McSweeney (The ZeroNet), James Tombs (Vyta), and Francis O'Haire (Climb Channel Solutions) at the Techies Go Green conference in the Guinness Enterprise Centre to discuss 'How can we accelerate circular economy transformations for sustainable business success?'
The panel delved into the factors impeding the Circular Economy transition, highlighting a lack of consumer awareness and the limited capacity for organizations, specifically SMEs, to engage with regulatory changes.
By showcasing innovative Irish initiatives - such as CIRCULÉIRE Accelerator Ventures - the panel highlighted the critical link between climate action and the Circular Economy, noting that designing out waste and extending the materials' lifecycle are essential for mitigating climate change and critical to implementing EU and Irish decarbonization strategy.
To accelerate the transition to Circular Economy, the panel called for increased collaboration, piloting with small-scale projects that can demonstrate the viability of circular business and for leveraging the extensive grant funding landscape.
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