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After its first three-year cycle, CIRCULÉIRE are delighted to announce that it has received continuation funding for 2023 activities Read the official announcement on the website of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications CIRCULÉIRE – Ireland’s first industry-led circular innovation network – and its secretariat Irish Manufacturing Research are delighted to share the news that we have been granted continuation funding. This announcement was made by the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ossian Smyth TD, in his keynote address delivered at  CIRCULÉIRE's 2022 Annual Conference held on 23rd November 2022. Minister Smyth, who has responsibility for the Circular Economy and Communications, announced his commitment to provide €1.5million funding to CIRCULÉIRE to continue its activities in 2023 to “foster and enhance circular economy knowledge, capacity building and implementation by Irish Industry”. “Since its inception in 2020, CIRCULÉIRE and its members have been leading the way in circular innovation, supporting manufacturers and their supply chains to embrace circular economy principles. The transition to a circular economy, supported by CIRCULÉIRE, will contribute to Ireland achieving its targets in greenhouse gas reductions by 2030”, Minister Ossian Smyth. CIRCULÉIRE- The National Platform for Circular Manufacturing’s activities are aligned with and contribute to the realisation of the objectives and actions of the Government’s Circular Economy Strategy and the Climate Action Plan. For the last three years, CIRCULÉIRE has been dedicated to assisting manufacturers and their supply chains to switch from linear to circular business models. That has been possible by supporting ten circular innovation demonstration projects, conducting baseline surveys, in-depth circularity assessments, annual thematic working groups, running Ireland’s first dedicated circular venture accelerator and fostering meaningful dialogue between policymakers and industry while supporting our members to reduce waste and associated CO2 emissions. This year, coming to the end of its first three-years-funding cycle, CIRCULÉIRE has shown significant progress in creating circular momentum across the Irish industry. “Since CIRCULÉIRE started its activities in 2020, we have grown from 25 Founding Industry members and we are now supporting over 50 organisations on their circular economy journey. IMR are extremely proud to receive DECC’s funding in 2023, which recognizes the valuable momentum CIRCULÉIRE has generated and the importance of continuing to foster and grow circular economy innovation and implementation” - Dr Geraldine Brennan, Head of Circular Economy, IMR & CIRCULÉIRE Lead. As an example of this engagement, Freefoam Plastics was one of the companies funded by CIRCULÉIRE to lead a supply-chain innovation project. The “Circular Economy & The Power of Many” is a pilot construction collaboration take-bake scheme for all the materials that are delivered for the installation of roofline building products. “By being involved with CIRCULÉIRE, we were able to get the assessment done, and the take-back scheme pilot through innovation funding. These activities and engagement brought the circular economy up in the company’s agenda and now it is one of our main strategic initiatives as part of our corporate strategy” - Kevin Cronin, COO, Freefoam Plastics. Another key activity for CIRCULÉIRE members is the annual baseline survey across materials, water and energy which helps companies measure their waste and CO2 reduction performance over time. “Initially, we thought it would be time-consuming, but it is exactly the opposite. CIRCULÉIRE performed a fantastic baseline survey. They worked with probably 15 of our staff and it was a great team effort. Everyone learned and worked together. Since then, we have had good networking, worked on our carbon emissions, and calculated our Scope 3 emissions. It is been a very good journey” - Fergus O’Sullivan, Plant Manager, Aryzta. Watch what CIRCULÉIRE Industry Members have to say about their engagement in our platform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtMIYRh0qPg 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.

Primary School from County Westmeath will visit IMR’s Lab in Mullingar and learn about Circular Economy Check the raffle recording: Congratulations to St. Oliver’s Plunkett BNS for winning the competition. Next week we will welcome Sinead White’s class into #IMRScienceWeek2022. The 5th-class students will learn about the circular economy and interact with cutting-edge technology being used in IMR’s Lab in Mullingar, like 3D printing, collaborative robots and virtual reality. Great news! As a thank you to all participants who entered this competition, IMR’s Outreach Team will run an online engineering challenge workshop on 17th of November called “Ship the Biscuit”. Teachers, check your inbox for more information. 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.

Full details on the application are available on gov.ie and applications are open until 16/Dec/2022 Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, with responsibility for the Circular Economy and Communications, Ossian Smyth TD, announced on 26th of October 2022 a call for applications for the 2022 funding round of the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS), gov.ie. This €650,000 grant scheme aims to support innovation and circular economy projects by social enterprises, voluntary and community organisations, and businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Up to €100,000 is available for individual projects that demonstrate exceptional impact. Applications for funding could focus on the thematic areas which relate to priorities for the circular economy in Ireland, namely: plastics construction and demolition waste food waste resources and raw materials (electrical and electronic equipment, textiles, furniture) Full details on the application process for the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme are available on gov.ie and applications are open until 16 December 2022. 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.

Primary Schools from County Westmeath can win a visit to IMR’s Lab in Mullingar and learn about Circular Economy. Entries must be submitted by 7/Nov 5th-class teachers and students based in County Westmeath: Apply here Update: As a Halloween gift, we decided to extend the deadline and facilitate the process! If you are a 5th-class teacher based in County Westmeath, you just need to register your class by the 7th of November 2022. See details below: Apply here by registering your class. Participants will be entered into a raffle competition to win. Digital media content is welcomed but not mandatory to participate. To celebrate Science Week 2022, CIRCULÉIRE and Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) are delighted to invite 5th-class teachers and students based in County Westmeath to apply for the chance to win a visit to IMR's Lab in Mullingar on the 15th of November. The visit to the lab is an opportunity for students and teachers to interact with cutting-edge technology being used in manufacturing and explore how technology enables circularity (for example  3D printing, collaborative robots and virtual reality), it is also an opportunity to meet role models working in manufacturing and STEM and participate in a hands-on workshop exploring circular economy. Note: The target of this action is 5th-class teachers and students based in County Westmeath. A maximum of 1 entry per class is allowed. First place will win a trip for the class to Irish Manufacturing Research's Lab in Mullingar on the 15th of November. Winners will be notified by email on the 8th of November. More details about the competition can be found here. 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.

Check our second report aimed at supporting industry players in high-impact Irish sectors to transition to a circular economy Check here the full report See the executive summary Read Sectoral Guide #1 Construction & Built Environment here CIRCULÉIRE has made the Fashion and Textiles Good Practice Sectoral Guide publicly available. The Guide is intended for those involved in the apparel and textiles industry, including economic operators in the value chain – such as retailers - and policymakers. The textile industry is often described as one of the most polluting and resource-intensive industries in the world. It represents significant environmental and climate pressures in every phase of its lifecycle from the production of fibres and textile products to distribution and retail, use of textiles, collection, sorting and recycling, and final waste management. In a circular fashion and textiles economy, products are designed with resource efficiency, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and recyclability and reuse in mind. Our guide: Provides industry stakeholders with an overview of industry-led circular innovations that are shaping the fashion and textiles sector domestically and in other parts of the world. Profiles 12 circular innovations, which range in maturity and technological readiness level from earlier-stage solutions, and more mature, market-ready and fully commercialised circular innovations. Highlights the opportunities to circularise textiles value chains in Ireland. CIRCULÉIRE Circular Fashion & Textiles Good Practice Sectoral Guide is part of a series of reports produced by CIRCULÉIRE targeted at Irish industry players in sectors deemed strategically important to supporting Ireland’s transition to a circular economy. Circular Construction & Built Environment Good Practice Sectoral Guide Check the first report intended for those involved in the construction industry by clicking here. For further discussions about this report, get in touch with Sophie Reynolds, Circular Economy Senior Researcher. 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.

Join us on 23/Nov to learn about the cross-sectoral Innovation Pilots funded by CIRCULÉIRE. Register now using the link below! Register for our conference here Check here the final agenda We are delighted to announce that Minister Ossian Smyth, Minister of State with responsibility for Communications and the Circular Economy will be delivering the keynote address at CIRCULÉIRE’s 2022 Conference. Our event is taking place virtually on 23 November 2022, from 10 am to 1 pm, during which we will be showcasing the impacts, insights and learnings from the cross-sectoral Innovation Pilots funded by CIRCULÉIRE in the construction, furniture, and medical devices, plastics, and textiles sectors. You will also have the opportunity to hear from CIRCULÉIRE’s Strategic Partners: the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, EPA Ireland and EIT Climate KIC. Speakers*: Neil Skeffington, CEO, Novelplast presenting on Circularising Single-Use Plastic (C-SUP), a circular lab plastics pilot. Kevin Cronin, COO, Freefoam Plastics presenting on Circular Economy & The Power of Many, a construction supply-chain pilot. Carl McAteer, Designer, Farrell Furniture presenting on Do More With Less, a B2B furniture tack-back scheme pilot. Richard Clinton, Group Commercial Director, Dawn Meats presenting on Sustainable Use of Carbon Contributes to Environmentally Sustainable Systems (SUCCESS). John Carr, Managing Director, Offerre presenting on MED Devices a New Life (MEDAL), a B2C medical devices take-back pilot. Paudy O’Brien, CEO, FPD Recycling presenting on RoboCRM - advanced robotics to capture critical raw materials in WEEE recycling. Les Carberry, Principle Officer, Circular Economy Unit, Department of Environment, Climate & Communications. Warren Phelan, Circular Economy Programme Manager, EPA. Dr Andy Kerr, Chief Strategy Officer, EIT Climate-KIC. *Due to unforeseen circumstances, Upcycled Insulation project will no longer be presenting at the conference. Read more about the projects here. 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.

Register & join us on Fri, 7th Oct., at 11 am, via Zoom Click here to register Transitioning to a circular economy requires a significant increase in circular finance and funding instruments to support the development and scaling of circular economy pilots, business models and infrastructure. Yet both industry and the financial and funding sectors encounter considerable challenges. For one, regulations, markets, investment tools and practices, including financial risk assessment, are adjusted to linear models, and negative externalities and risks linked to linear business models are largely not considered. In an Irish context, the EPA estimate that annually we use 100 million tonnes of materials – where implementing a 5% material improvement across the economy would represent an annual €2.32bn opportunity. Moreover, valorising waste creates opportunities for import substitution and reinforces the economic benefits of regional supply-chains to Irish companies. If Ireland is to effectively transition to a net-zero carbon economy, and unlock the wider benefits of a circular economy, then it will be critical that our funding and financing landscape is strategically aligned with this goal. During this 2-hour virtual session, CIRCULÉIRE's Financing the Circular Economy Thematic Working Group Expert Facilitators, Liz Gavin (Digital Village), and Kate Van Der Merwe will present the main findings including: State of play of Ireland’s circular finance and funding landscape, and the role finance can play in driving Ireland’s shift to circularity. Major barriers to financing Ireland’s circular economy and recommendations identified to overcome them. Innovation opportunities identified by CIRCULÉIRE's cross-sectoral Thematic Working Group Panel Members about how Ireland’s funding and finance landscape might be optimised for a circular economy. The session will be chaired by Sophie Reynolds (Circular Economy Technologist, Irish Manufacturing Research) and will include a Q&A session. 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.

Congratulations to CIRCULÉIRE Industry Members Aryzta Ireland, Boston Scientific, Kerrygold and Wyeth Nutrition who were some of the winners at the 2022 IMR Manufacturing & Supply Chain Awards, which took place on 16 September 2022, at Kilashee Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare. CIRCULÉIRE Members won awards across the following categories: Aryzta Ireland - Health & Safety Project of the Year Boston Scientific - Smart Factory Manufacturer of the Year Sponsored By Bank of Ireland Kerrygold - Lean Manufacturing Company of the Year Wyeth Nutrition - Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year Sponsored By AIB Overall, CIRCULÉIRE Industry Members held 12 nominations across the categories for this year's event. CIRCULÉIRE commends all candidates who applied for these competitive awards recognising industry best practices in Ireland. For more information, read here. Or read more about the Circular Economy Leadership Award here. 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.

16 Sept. - Co. Kildare, Ireland - From left, Robert Devlin, General Manager and Executive Director at Meade Farm Group; Eileen Hanan, HR & Payroll Manager at Meade Farm Group; David McCormack, Director of Sustainable Manufacturing at IMR; and Marty Whelan, Irish Radio Personality, during the 2022 IMR Manufacturing and Supply Chain Awards. Photo: Paul Sherwood. Congratulations to Meade Farm Group for winning Ireland’s first Circular Economy Leadership Award at the 2022 IMR Manufacturing & Supply Chain Awards. It was a double celebration for Meade Farm Group as they also won the 2022 Grand Prix Award for overall best manufacturing company. On the same day, CIRCULÉIRE Industry Member Wyeth Nutrition also won the Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year Award. The awards ceremony took place on 16 September 2022 at the Kilashee Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare. Meade Farm Group's submission demonstrated how they had embedded circular innovation within their business by creating a unique, new sustainability-driven supply chain model for potato starch that prioritises food waste prevention utilising surplus potatoes, potato crop by-products and by-products of the processing industry. “From the top down, through excellent leadership, this company have truly embraced food waste elimination and through innovation and creativity, they have found a solution which not only addresses a problem but creates value”, said Barry Kennedy, CEO of Irish Manufacturing Research. Potato starch is usually imported to Ireland, but instead of relying on crops grown specifically for starch, Meade Farm Group have decided to extract starch at their farm and food production facilities. “We use Class II and surplus potatoes from our growing and packing operations, as well as grey starch collected from crisping factories. We have valorised the 30% typical waste rate for potato crops and our leftover pulp is fed to our cattle on the farm. We’re the only facility in Ireland and UK that sells food-grade potato starch to manufacturers, food service and retailers”, says Meade Group. Cirtex, HealthBeacon, iQuTech, Novelplast and VivaGreen Group were finalists in this category. Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year Award 16 Sept. - Co. Kildare, Ireland - From left, Ger Purtill, Energy Consultant for Wyeth Nutrition; John McGeown, Head of Manufacturing at AIB; Conor Morgan, Director at AIB; and Marty Whelan, Irish Radio Personality, during the 2022 IMR Manufacturing and Supply Chain Awards. Photo: Paul Sherwood. CIRCULÉIRE Industry Member Wyeth Nutrition was also announced as the winner of the 2022 "Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year", sponsored by AIB Ireland, due to their “inspiring and wide-ranging approach to sustainability and delivering impressive cumulative results”. CIRCULÉIRE Industry Members Another three CIRCULÉIRE Industry Members have won the 2022 IMR Manufacturing & Supply Chain Awards across the 12 award categories. See the full list below: Aryzta Ireland - Health & Safety Project of the Year Boston Scientific - Smart Factory Manufacturer of the Year Sponsored By Bank of Ireland Kerrygold - Lean Manufacturing Company of the Year Wyeth Nutrition - Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year Sponsored By AIB CIRCULÉIRE commend all our members and other candidates who applied for the #IMRAwards. For more information, read here. 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.

Join us on the 28th of September to discuss the challenges & opportunities associated with scaling industrial symbiosis and the circular economy Check the full agenda here Register for the CircLean event Register now to join us for the upcoming CircLean Open Innovation Workshop to be hosted by CIRCULÉIRE’s Industry Member Aryzta, in Grange Castle Business Park and online. The event will take place from 1:30 to 5 pm on 28 September 2022 This open innovation workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to share experiences and knowledge regarding industrial symbiosis (IS) transactions in an Irish context as well as an opportunity to feedback on views and recommendations for the European Commission to utilise to increase the uptake of IS in the EU. Check out the confirmed speakers to date – more to follow, watch this space: Anestis Filopoulos, Policy Officer – Sustainable Industrial Policy, Circular Economy and Construction Unit, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, DG GROW, European Commission Chisom Ekomaru, Sustainability Coordinator at Ecocem Materials - Chisom has corporate experience in the waste and manufacturing sector, a background in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development and a keen interest in circular economy implementation through industrial symbiosis. Chisom coordinates the implementation of Ecocem’s sustainability strategy, leads on ESG Reporting, and is an associate member of the Institute of Environmental Sciences. Rick Earley, CEO at CirTex – Rick graduated in Applied Chemistry from the Cork Institute of Technology and in Purchasing Management from Witwatersrand Business College, South Africa. He started his professional career in the R&D unit of Biocon Biochemicals. Later, he founded MetPro Limited, which was acquired by Jordan and subsequently acquired by Goldman Sachs. From 2017 – to 2018, he served as CEO of Shanghai Santai Wrapper Company in China. About CircLean In its Circular Economy Action Plan and Waste Framework Directive, the European Union has assigned a prominent role to industrial symbiosis (IS). This concept describes ‘the use by one company or sector of underutilised resources broadly defined (including waste, by-products, residues, energy, water, logistics, capacity, expertise, equipment and materials) from another, with the result of keeping resources in productive use for longer’. 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.

CIRCULÉIRE sponsors the first circular economy award of its kind in Ireland. Check out the six companies shortlisted. Congratulations to Cirtex, HealthBeacon, iQuTech, Meade Farm Group, Novelplast and VivaGreen Group for being shortlisted for the Circular Economy Leadership Award at the 2022 IMR Manufacturing & Supply Chain Awards #IMRAwards. This is Ireland's first circular economy award and CIRCULÉIRE is proud to sponsor the category and commend all the companies who applied for this very competitive award. The ceremony takes place on the 16th of September 2022 in the Kilashee Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare. For tickets and more information, learn more here. 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.

Register to participate on Wed, 14th Sept., at 11 am, via Zoom Click here to register Join us for CIRCULÉIRE’s free-to-attend Public Webinar showcasing the findings from our 2022 Thematic Working Group on End-of-Waste and By-Product Notification. End-of-waste and by-product notifications play a key role in a circular economy by helping to establish a market for a wide range of secondary raw materials, improving resource management, encouraging symbiotic industrial practices, and preventing resources from being sent for disposal. By maintaining resource value within the economy, the successful application of end-of-waste and by-product status reduces the environmental impacts arising from waste disposal. The session is taking place on Wednesday, 14th of September, 2022 from 11 am to 1 pm, via Zoom, and will be moderated by Karl Hylands , Director, Re-Mine Limited, CIRCULÉIRE's appointed Expert Facilitator and Sophie Reynolds, CIRCULÉIRE's Thematic Working Groups Lead and Circular Economy Technologist, IMR and. Register to join us and learn more about: The state of play of Ireland’s end of waste and by-product policy context, and the role that this plays in driving Ireland towards circularity; What key lessons industry can apply when looking to prepare strong end-of-waste and/or by-product applications; Major barriers to circularising Ireland’s economy using these specific tools, and the recommendations identified on what’s needed to overcome them; Innovation opportunities identified by CIRCULÉIRE's cross-sectoral Thematic Working Group Panel Members about how Ireland’s end of waste and by-product regimes might be optimised for a circular economy. This is the right opportunity for you if: You are a producer of a significant waste stream and would like to make use of it or check if that has potential for value recovery You are struggling to identify what opportunities exist for you to make this transition or to understand the regulatory issues that you will face You have heard of the circular economy and the ability to reduce waste and retain value for longer You are interested in understanding the wider Irish context of these issues 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.