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CIRCULÉIRE MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: ERIU WEBSITE: ERIU.EU SECTION: TEXTILES PUBLISHED: 24 APRIL 2024 TAGS: FOOD WASTE, CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODEL THE CHALLENGE Sheep farming is Ireland’s fourth most important animal enterprise ( Teagasc, 2023 ). Wool is a natural, biodegradable, and renewable fibre and is abundant in Ireland due to the key role of sheep farming. Wool was considered as an agricultural product in the EU until 2002, and it was a source of income for the farmers who operated in the sector. Wool’s categorisation altered through a series of EU regulations and is now currently classified as a Category 3 waste product alongside animal carcasses (DAFM, 2022 ). Wool must now be transferred to specialised processing facilities, which means high reprocessing costs and uncertain earnings for many farmers. All treatment of recovered materials needs to adhere to the guidelines of Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency . This regulatory change, coupled with the rapid decline in the usage of natural fibres in favour of synthetic fibre production, resulted in the devaluation of wool. Farmers in Ireland are only paid 20 cents per kg ( DAFM, 2022 ), which is considerably less than the cost of shearing. This leaves farmers with no incentive to care for their wool or breed for wool quality. Currently, some sheep farmers are storing years’ worth of wool in their sheds or storage warehouses ( O’Riordan, 2022 ), which compromises the condition of the wool. THE CIRCULAR OPPORTUNITY Currently, synthetic, petroleum-based polymers account for two-thirds of all textile items ( Henry, Laitala and Klepp 2019 ). Laundering synthetic clothes accounts for 35% of primary microplastics released into the environment ( De Falco et al., 2019 ). Sheep wool, on the other hand, is a natural biodegradable and renewable fibre which at the end of its life poses no threat to human health or the environment ( DAFM, 2022 ). Properties in wool also allow it to be used for purposes such as fertiliser and insulation. Wool is an excellent insulator and thermo- regulator. It responds to variations in body temperature, keeping the wearer warmer when cold and cooler when warm. It is odour and wrinkle resistant, so does not need to be washed as frequently as other fibre types, conserving water, and energy ( DAFM 2023 ). According to recent studies, regenerative wool can store carbon from the environment, thereby minimising the impacts of climate change ( Colley et al., 2020 ). THE CIRCULAR SOLUTION IN PRACTICE Ériu , a 2023 CIRCULEIRE New Venture, 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. Ériu contributes to the Irish economy by sourcing wool from a trusted network of farmers around Ireland, as well as from their own farm in Wicklow. They offer farmers EUR €2.50 per kg of wool, which is more than 10 times market price. Donegal Yarns processes the wool locally, and Irish knitters in Dublin make it. Aside from local collaborations, they have established their own facility for processing wool on the farm which they intend to roll out in stages. The first stage is scouring, where they will wash the wool softly and sustainably using biodiverse methods. They already have equipment for additional stages, which will further enable an expansion of their Farm-to- Yarn networks to source and incentivise more wool collection, and create more opportunities for an expanding range of wool products. REPLICABILITY The global wool market is expected to grow from $37.06 billion in 2022 to $45.05 billion in 2027 ( The Business Research Company, 2023 ). As consumers are becoming more conscious of the environmental degradation caused by synthetic textile production there has been a rise in demand for sustainable and ethically produced textiles ( Granskog et al., 2020 ). In light of these factors, Irish wool is expected to hold significant potential for the textile sector’s sustainable transition. Ériu has an unparalleled opportunity to be at the forefront of revitalising the Irish wool market. As circularity in the textiles and fashion sector continues to be encouraged, a few companies worth mentioning include: Infinited Fiber , a Finnish company that has developed a technology that converts textile waste into a premium-quality circular textile fibre, which reduces the world’s reliance on virgin raw materials. Our Choice Fashion, based in Luxemburg, manufactures circular leather sneakers that are 100% plastic free, repairable, and recyclable. ALL CASE STUDIES

CIRCULÉIRE MEMBER CASE STUDY COMPANY: USEDFULLY WEBSITE: T EXTILEREUSE.COM SECTION: TEXTILE PUBLISHED: 24 APRIL 2024 TAGS: FOOD 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

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 2024 CIRCULÉIRE Annual Conference will take place in IMR Mullingar Lab on Wednesday 27th November 2024 and we are delighted to announce the first of our Key Speakers for the event. The key focus for this event are the Pathways to 2030 decarbonisation, Building Future Markets, and Showcasing Industrial Circularity. This conference will bring together leaders in climate innovation, policy, and government to discuss circular advancement in Ireland. To support an engaging and active conversation in these areas we are pleased to present the following speakers: Public registration for this conference is now open and we encourage early registration as places are limited. Click below to book your place today.

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.

Ireland’s Circularity Gap Report was launched by Minister Ossian Smyth at the EPA Circular Economy Conference on Wednesday, 25th of September.   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.   The report outlines specific pathways to reduce material consumption by 29% and cut carbon emissions by 32%, while tripling the country’s circularity rate from 2.7% to 8.4%.   The Circularity Gap Report highlights five key pathways to closing the Circularity Gap: Build a Circular Built Environment: Material Footprint is reduced by 12.6%; Carbon Footprint is reduced by 17.3% Shape a Circular Food System: Material Footprint is reduced by 2.9%; Carbon Footprint is reduced by 1.65% Advance Circular Manufacturing: Material Footprint is reduced by 0.8%; Carbon Footprint is reduced by 0.8% Redesign Transport and Mobility: Material Footprint is reduced by 10%; Carbon Footprint is reduced by 14% Embrace Circular Consumer Goods: Material Footprint is reduced by 8.9%; Carbon Footprint is reduced by 5% We look forward to continuing to drive industry-oriented scale-up of circularity in collaboration with our members, who over the last 5 years, have been pioneers in the transition towards circularity, and who are committed to collectively accelerating a circular future for Ireland.   You can review Sectoral Guides showcasing Circular Best Practices in Construction & Built Environment, Food & Drinks, and Transport here  You can review the full Circularity Gap Report here