Circular Economy & Net Zero
~Diarmaid
Gillespie , Director of
PPWR regulations set to transform sustainable packaging across the EU
Sustainable pallet and box solutions company helps Irish businesses adopt circular packaging strategies in line with new PPWR regulations.
Stricter packaging regulations
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is an EU law promoting a circular economy through recyclability, recycled content and reusable packaging standards. Colin Keating, Business Development Manager at IPP, discusses how these regulations impact businesses:
“The new PPWR European regulation sets stricter sustainability targets, meaning many businesses are having to rethink their packaging strategies to transition to more sustainable solutions.”
Sustainable pallet and box solutions
IPP provides sustainable pallet and box solutions, with a strong focus on pallet pooling across the UK and Ireland. The company operates within the principles of the circular economy, ensuring pallets are reused and reconditioned for up to 10 years, rather than discarded.
Keating explains: “Many companies are still using unsustainable pallets, and we want to show them a better alternative. We provide pallets to customers, track their usage via a customer portal and ensure they are collected, inspected, repaired and reused. This not only reduces waste but also helps both our customers and their end locations to meet sustainability goals.”
With an innovative pay-per-use model and expert guidance as standard, they are helping businesses across the EU achieve their sustainability targets. Their pallets, built for resilience and maintained to the highest standards, are instrumental.
Committed to sustainability
Ranking in the top 1% for sustainability by EcoVadis four years in a row, and the first company with a two-star rating in the European Lean & Green programme, IPP is contributing to a more sustainable future. “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Our entire business model is built on driving sustainability,” Keating concludes.
They partnered with Land Life in 2021 to support reforestation initiatives and launched its own educational campaign ‘It’s What’s Inside That Matters’ to prevent empty running and enhance operational efficiency within the UK FMCG supply chain. The company’s unwavering commitment to innovation and sustainability makes it a top choice for businesses seeking better packaging solutions in a circular economy.
WRITTEN BY Bethany Cooper
The circular economy and the role of green public procurement
Green public procurement is one of the important areas that can help Ireland become a more resource-efficient and circular economy.
In Ireland, public bodies (excluding utilities) spend an estimated €18.5 billion a year on goods, services and works. This significant spending power can spur innovation and stimulate the creation and provision of more resource-efficient, less polluting goods, services and works within the marketplace. Embedding green public procurement across the public sector is a commitment in the programme for the Government.
Sustainable, value-driven procurement Whether it is procuring constructionrelated works or goods such as vehicles, information and communications technology (ICT) equipment, textiles and cleaning products, our citizens need to be sure that what is purchased from our public sector not only represents both short-term and long-term value for money but also has minimal harmful effects on our environment and society. Consideration also needs to be given to avoiding unnecessary purchases and re-thinking how demand can be met in a way that requires fewer or better value goods to be purchased or how resourcesharing, reuse or repair options can be availed of.
a new green public procurement policy, ‘Buying Greener: Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024–2027.’ As well as setting out actions to drive the implementation of green and circular procurement practices across the public sector, the Strategy has a key sectoral focus with green public procurement targets included for a number of areas within the economy such as construction, food, ICT and textiles.
Remanufactured product procurement example
Embedding green public procurement across the public sector is a commitment.
Green procurement strategy launched Last year, the Government launched
Project Manager: Ciaran Fagan ciaran.fagan@mediaplanet.com
Recent actions to support green and circular public procurement include, for example, the establishment by the Office of Government Procurement of a new framework that allows public bodies to purchase remanufactured laptops. It is estimated that over the lifetime of the contract, valued at up to €30 million, approximately 60,000 remanufactured laptops could be purchased instead of new laptops, which will help to preserve resources, save water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Such an arrangement is a positive example of how public procurement can play a leadership role in supporting our transition to a circular economy.
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Evolving Ireland’s power system for a more renewable future
Ireland’s society and economy will be relying more on electricity generated from renewables in the future. How is the power system adapting to support this, and what trends are currently being observed?
Diarmaid Gillespie is Director of System Operations at EirGrid, the organisation responsible for developing, managing and operating Ireland’s electricity grid. He explains how Ireland’s electricity demands are managed by the National Control Centre.
Our changing grid
Our grid will need to carry significantly more renewable energy in the coming years, to support a secure transition to achieving at least 80% renewable electricity, as set out in the Government’s Climate Action Plan, an important step on the journey to net zero by 2050.
In addition to meeting our climate targets, the transition to higher levels of renewable energy allows for greater energy independence and security as well as encouraging continued economic growth.
“Operating a power system with electricity generated predominantly from renewables rather than fossil fuels is complex and technically very challenging,” says Gillespie. “Over the past decade, we have transitioned away from our dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation, adapting to more renewable energy sources like wind and solar and also new technologies like battery energy storage systems.”
To support the renewables transition, EirGrid is leading an unprecedented programme of new grid infrastructure projects, reinforcements and upgrades to ensure that our electricity system is renewable-ready, as detailed in its Shaping Our Electricity Future roadmap.
Increasing electricity demand
Sponsored
by EirGrid
surpassed in December 2020.“We’ve seen a series of new demand records being set over the last four years, with peak demand rising by almost 900 MW in this space of time,” he adds.
Ensuring there is sufficient generation to meet the increasing demand for electricity in recent years has been challenging. However, that challenge has lessened with new backup generation and further interconnection connecting to the grid in the past 12 months.
The future is renewable
In February, data from EirGrid showed that 54.5% of electricity came from renewable sources with over 48% of that coming from wind energy. “February was one of our strongest months on record for renewables on the grid, including a new peak wind record of 3,884 megawatts,” says Gillespie.
February was one of our strongest months on record for renewables.
Significant growth in electricity demand has been observed in recent years, a trend which is expected to continue. This is influenced by a number of factors, including growth of large energy users and the electrification of heat and transport, as society shifts more to heat pumps in homes and businesses and driving electric cars.
“As you might expect, weather conditions play a key part in dictating the demand for electricity,” notes Gillespie. “On January eighth this year, we recorded a new peak demand for electricity of 6,024 MW (megawatts), due to the nationwide cold snap. This was significant, as it was the first time that peak electricity demand passed the 6,000 MW mark.”
For context, demand first passed the 5,000 MW mark during the extreme cold snap of December 2010, a record which stood for another 10 years before being
In the past two years, there has been significant progress in integrating solar power onto the grid. During the fine, sunny weather this March, at one point, over 18% of electricity demand was met by grid-connected solar generation, with a new solar record of 750 MW also recorded.
“Solar generation brings new challenges for our control room to manage, including intermittency in solar generation due to passing clouds. To manage this, a balanced portfolio of generation technologies, led by renewables and supported by energy storage is required,” he adds.
“EirGrid will continue to meet the needs of electricity demand growth in Ireland as it manages a complex and evolving supply-demand dynamic. We plan to integrate greater amounts of renewables in the coming years, including from wind and solar, to help progress Ireland’s net zero ambitions.”
Diarmaid Gillespie Director of System Operations, EirGrid
How Ireland can encourage a growing demand for the circular economy
Awareness of the circular economy is growing, says Claire Downey, CEO of Ireland’s Rediscovery Centre. Yet, there’s still work to do to bring the circular economy into the mainstream.
How is the circular economy currently viewed in Ireland?
From our work at community, national and EU levels, we know that people want to engage with the circular economy. We carried out a survey in 2021, and only 25% of people had heard the term. However, now, our market research shows that 55% of people recognise it. That doesn’t mean they could give a comprehensive explanation of the circular economy, but they can relate to terms such as ‘reuse,’ ‘repair’ and ‘refill.’
Many people also have sewing or DIY repair skills or are keen to learn more about the subject. To drive behaviour change, we need to motivate people and make it easier and more affordable to repair, swap or buy second-hand.
How do we engage more people in the transition to the circular economy?
centre in Ballymun. Surveys also tell us that there is a willingness to try different models like tool libraries, where people can borrow common household items like drills.
The demand is there for more circular options. Ireland needs more circular services and infrastructure like repair workshops, second-hand stores, washing facilities for reusable containers, logistics, public water refill stations and much more. At the Rediscovery Centre, we are ready to collaborate on research, piloting and delivering these services.
We are seeing a growing desire from the public for more hands-on workshops and creative channels.
At the Rediscovery Centre, we’ve been focusing on ways to break the transition down into easy actions, such as shopping your own wardrobe, repairing household appliances or using reusable coffee cups — concepts the public is familiar with. We are seeing a growing desire from the public for more hands-on workshops and creative channels such as upcycling, visible mending and design, which we deliver through our flagship demonstration
Driving towards net zero through smarter waste management
Major companies, small businesses and individuals all play vital roles in the push for net zero carbon emissions.
According to waste experts, the journey starts with proper waste segregation — the cornerstone of a functioning circular economy.
Zero to landfill
Jon Jerromes, Group Commercial Manager at KeyGreen, highlights that excessive and unnecessary waste still ends up in general disposal. KeyGreen, a major player in Ireland’s commercial waste sector, operates a zero-to-landfill policy across all waste streams: general waste, dry mixed recycling, organic, glass, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and specialised services including clinical and hazardous materials.
“General waste remains the largest stream for Irish businesses today,” says Jerromes. “But it should actually be the smallest. When broken down, most materials belong in other streams. We need to ask ourselves: what truly is ‘general’ waste?”
The circular environment
When waste is contaminated, it
Where can people go to learn more?
Along with knowledge-sharing and delivering skills in person, we are creating an online platform, which is fully supported by the Government of Ireland and scheduled to go live this year. This will be the go-to national information service on everything to do with the circular economy, supported by funding, calls to action, community engagement and events and underpinned by research.
We want to lift the conversation above recycling and into areas such as reuse, repair and circular design and are keen to work with others to drive community action as a fundamental part of this transition.
becomes general waste by default — sent to general incineration which whilst converting to renewable energy, removes any further specific byproducts that would be taken from the process. Conversely, clean materials such as plastics, cardboard and tins can be recycled, and organic waste is transformed into renewable electricity, biomethane and nutrient-rich, peat-free fertiliser.
“This is the circular environment,” Jerromes explains. “When businesses see how waste is recycled, it sends a strong message. Some are already demand-led in this area, but as a nation, we have a long way to go.”
Education and responsibility
Oscar Juarez, Sustainability Lead, focuses on educating companies and staff on proper recycling and compliance with Irish Waste Management Regulations.
“The responsibility lies with everyone, but education must come from the top — the CEOs and decisionmakers,” he says. “Once something is binned incorrectly, it’s too late.”
Green credentials through data
KeyGreen, now celebrating 20 years in business, provides public and private sector clients with tailored data insights to monitor and improve waste segregation performance.
Jerromes references a leading retail chain, a valued customer of KeyGreen, as an example. By categorising their stores based on size, footfall and operating hours, they identify trends, strengths and areas that require improvement.
“The data doesn’t lie,” says Jerromes. “It forms the baseline and allows for real change. Turning waste management into a measurable KPI is a major step towards stronger green credentials and real sustainability progress.”
More than waste
Beyond waste, KeyGreen also provides hygiene services, pest control solutions and medical waste disposal — supporting clients across sectors in their sustainability efforts.
Claire Downey CEO, Rediscovery Centre
Sponsored by Rediscovery Centre
WRITTEN BY Tony Greenway
Jon Jerromes Group Commercial Manager, KeyGreen
Oscar Juarez
Sustainability Lead, KeyGreen
Sponsored by KeyGreen
WRITTEN BY
Mark Nicholls
Why ‘going circular’ cuts waste and gives businesses a competitive edge
Switched-on businesses know how important it is to adopt circular economy practices including good waste management. Various resources are available to help them on their way.
If we are to mitigate the impact of climate change and save the planet, transitioning to circular economy practices is the right, self-preserving thing to do. For companies, there’s a strong business case for it, too.
Circular economy boosts competitiveness
Circular economy practices such as recycling, reusing and sharing are known to increase competitiveness and ultimately boost bottom lines. “Consumers are a lot more environmentally aware now,” agrees Dr Joanne Rourke, Resource Efficiency Officer, Eastern-Midlands Regional Waste Management and Planning Offices, Dublin City Council. “They are actively looking for companies to provide them with products and services that are truly sustainable.”
Savvy businesses know this. They also know that the circular
Circular economy practices such as recycling, reusing and sharing are known to increase competitiveness.
economy can be a powerful staff recruitment and retention tool because Millennials and the Gen Z generations in particular want to work for companies that reflect their values. “These candidates are asking questions in interviews such as: ‘What’s your sustainability policy?’” says Dr Rourke. Plus, streamlining energy, water and waste can help organisations cut costs.
Link between net zero and the circular economy
There’s another big reason for businesses to aid the transition to the circular economy: due to the link between climate change and waste, it would be a massive boost to Ireland’s net zero ambitions — and even small individual actions can make a big overall difference. “For instance, staff can bring a re-use cup with them to work and make sure they separate and recycle waste materials,” says Dr Rourke. “Those things are easy to do.”
Businesses can make this simple for their staff by having the right, consistent resources in place. Take waste segregation. “Using a proper colour-coded, three-bin system for recycling, food waste and general waste — situated in the same order — will make it easier for staff,” she adds.
Ireland’s guide to waste management
The MyWaste website — Ireland’s official guide to waste management — has numerous resources and information to help businesses with this endeavour, including free posters, bin labels and a step-by-step guide to setting up a waste system. There are also four short, animated guidance films designed to engage staff and improve waste segregation practices.
The Regional Waste Management and Planning Offices also offer a MODOS Circular Economy Training programme designed for SMEs and micro-enterprises in Ireland. “This is an online awareness-building course that helps companies understand where they may have potential to adopt circular processes and improve their environmental performance,” explains Dr Rourke. “Waste management may not be at the forefront of everyone’s minds, but people and companies need to realise how important it is.”
Sponsored by MyWaste
Dr Joanne Rourke Resource Efficiency
As Ireland pursues Net Zero by 2050, adopting circular practices in the medtech sector could drive innovation, reduce waste and position the sector and country as a global sustainability leader.
Ireland is a global leader in the production of medical technologies. We produce 80% of the world’s stents and 50% of its ventilators, and we are the largest global exporter of contact lenses (Medical Technology Ireland, 2023). The medtech sector is uniquely positioned to contribute to the country’s net zero and circular economy goals.
However, the sector’s reliance on singleuse devices, resource-intensive production and global supply chains presents significant challenges. Yet, with challenge comes great opportunity. Transitioning to circularity offers transformative potential for reducing waste, cutting emissions and fostering innovation.
Circular economy medtech guide
Our Circular MedTech Guide showcases actionable strategies for the sector to adopt more circular practices. These include designing reusable products, extending device lifecycles through remanufacturing and recovering valuable materials. Case studies of companies like Stryker and Tympany Medical demonstrate how circular business models can cut waste, save costs and secure resource availability while maintaining stringent safety standards.
Overcoming barriers and maximising impact
Achieving circularity in medtech requires tackling regulatory complexities, fostering collaboration among stakeholders and incentivising sustainable design. Ireland’s medtech ecosystem can leverage its innovation capacity to pioneer solutions that address these challenges, positioning itself as a global leader in sustainable and circular healthcare.
Circularity is a prerequisite to net zero goals
By embracing the principles of circularity, Ireland’s medtech sector can significantly contribute to national net zero ambitions while enhancing its competitiveness. Policymakers, businesses and innovators must collaborate to create enabling conditions, from clear regulatory pathways to targeted financial incentives.
Ireland’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy hinges on strategic interventions in key sectors like medtech. The path to circularity and net zero is not only achievable but essential for ensuring long-term resilience and global prosperity.
Businesses, and their investors, want to know how shifting to circular ways of doing business impacts their climate targets.
Imagine baking a cake with only half a recipe, watching a film after missing the first act or hiking with the wrong map. It’s impossible to imagine success without having the full picture. The story is no different with the battle to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Track, measure and report GHG emissions
Estimates suggest that energy efficiency and the transition to renewables will only account for 55% of global emissions. To address the remaining 45%, we need to change how we make and use products, materials and food.
As organisations shift their business from linear to circular, they must be able to accurately track, measure, and report the impact on their GHG emissions and broader business strategy.
Measurement standard overlooks circularity Existing methodologies, such as the GHG Protocol — the world’s most widely used emissions accounting framework — have many positive attributes but were built on linear business practice assumptions and therefore largely overlook circular economy solutions. For instance, companies are penalised when extending product durability due to having to report increases in lifetime emissions. This is counterproductive to encouraging business strategies, which are designed to keep materials in use, and needs to be addressed.
Revise emissions accounting for circularity
A recent insights paper by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, ‘Improving climate emissions accounting to accelerate the circular economy transition,’ sets out five areas of emissions accounting that can be revised to ensure that the emissions impact of circular business models can be fairly and accurately evaluated. Business leaders, alongside investors, policymakers and other stakeholders can support these revisions as the GHG Protocol updates its suite of standards and guidance over the next year.
In a world where accurate insights and reporting are more critical than ever in demonstrating meaningful progress in tackling climate targets, businesses must have the full picture to continue demonstrating the importance of the circular economy in climate action.
Remanufacturing:
Remanufacturing is transforming industrial sustainability by restoring used products to like-new condition, offering a scalable and economically viable circular business model with significant environmental benefits.
Remanufacturing is extending product life cycles and decoupling growth from resource use. Remanufacturing is a commercially viable and scalable circular business model. In Ireland, sectors ripe for scale-up include renewables, e-mobility, energy-intensive industries, information and communication technology (ICT), aerospace and defence, health/medtech and the built environment.
Benefits of remanufacturing/refurbishment
Remanufacturing/refurbishing products offers significant economic and environmental benefits. It stabilises supply chains, saves money and boosts competitiveness. Environmentally, it promotes material recovery, energy efficiency, waste reduction and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Remanufacturing can cut resource extraction and waste by up to 80% compared to making new products (ERC, 2024). For example, remanufacturing industrial equipment can reduce raw material use by 80–98% (IRP, 2018).
Regulatory drivers for remanufacturing From a policy perspective, remanufacturing and refurbishment are recognised as a key enabler of sustainability and circular economy goals. European initiatives such as the ESPR, Right to Repair and Critical Raw Materials Act foster a favourable environment for their growth. In Ireland, remanufacturing is recognised in the Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2022–2023 for its benefits. The Green Public Procurement Strategy 2024–2027 targets 80% of public sector ICT procurements to be remanufactured by 2025.
Leveraging remanufacturing and refurbishment
The Remanufacturing Insights Report showcases how industry and the public sector can leverage the benefits of remanufacturing and refurbishment. It provides actionable strategies and real-world case studies, demonstrating opportunities for cross-sectoral replication.
One recent Irish example is Circular Computing and GreenIT securing a €30 million, four-year procurement framework from the Government of Ireland to supply 60,000 remanufactured laptops to the public sector under the Green Public Procurement Strategy. This initiative will prevent 19 million kilograms CO2 of emissions and preserve 72 million kilograms of mined resources and 11 billion litres of water while delivering highperforming ICT equipment.
Remanufacturing is recognised by the EU as central to a competitive circular economy and has cross-sectoral replication potential in Ireland. Could your business adopt remanufacturing as a business model to capture circular value?
Paul McCormack Cooney
Dr Nicole Dando
Economy
Agnese Metitieri
Ventures Lead, Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), the secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE