Minister of State Alan Dillon
Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with special responsibility for Circular Economy
The circular economy is about rethinking how we use resources by designing out waste, keeping materials in productive use for longer and creating economic value from what we already have.
This isn’t simply an environmental goal, but an economic necessity that strengthens Ireland’s competitiveness, supports high-quality jobs and builds communities that can thrive.
Since Ireland’s first circular economy strategy was published, we’ve made progress. We’ve seen enterprises and communities embracing reuse, repair and remanufacturing, from the Deposit Return Scheme and the development of a National Reuse and Repair Network to design innovation in construction, packaging and textiles. These efforts demonstrate that circularity isn’t abstract; it’s practical, local and the foundation of smarter growth.
Progress towards a more sustainable Ireland
Last month, I launched Ireland’s Second Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy, which marks the next step in our journey toward a more resilient, sustainable and innovative future. The strategy commits to increasing our circularity rate by 2% per year with measures like:
- A pilot Repair Voucher Scheme that will reduce repair costs, increase the perceived value of used devices and drive society-wide support for repair.
- Digital Product Passports, which will store and share data about a product’s sustainability and circularity, will help consumers to make informed decisions about what they buy, and drive demand for sustainable products.
- Other measures include a Centre of Excellence for the Circular Economy, an enhanced Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme, increased separate collection of unwanted textiles and targets for the waste reduction from sectors like construction and packaging food waste.
Our goal is simple: to make circular living the attractive choice for households and the smart choice for business.
Collaboration between private organisations and the public
This strategy recognises that the transition will work best when people and enterprises move together. Our goal is simple: to make circular living the attractive choice for households and the smart choice for business.
Together, we can decouple growth from environmental impact, build economic and climate resilience and secure a more viable future for future generations.
A circular economy isn’t just good environmental policy; it’s an economic opportunity, and a chance to build an Ireland that’s a resilient and competitive society, based upon sustainable consumption and production.
