Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

421 Chapter 15: Circular Economy and Waste Table 15.3  Key activities under the four pillars of the 2021-2027 Circular Economy Programme Advocacy, insights, data, coordination ■ National waste prevention programmes, including food waste prevention ■ Behavioural insights programme ■ Circular insights series ■ Annual circular economy conference ■ National waste and circular economy statistics ■ National waste characterisation studies ■ National Hazardous Waste Management Plan ■ Supporting national roadmaps, education and awareness, EPA research programme Innovation and demonstration ■ Funding support for circular economy pilot and demonstration activities ■ Supporting the implementation of green public procurement Delivering through partnerships ■ National reuse and repair network ■ Industry, Circuléire (see Topic Box 15.3) ■ Local authority sector partnership Regulation for circularity ■ End of waste decisions (national and single case) ■ By-product decisions (national and single case) Topic Box 15.3  Circuléire project The Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) project entitled Circuléire 20 began as a €4.5 million public–private partnership created by IMR, three strategic partners (DECC, EPA and EIT Climate-KIC 21 ) and 25 founding industry members. Circuléire was the first cross-sectoral industry-led innovation network dedicated to closing the circular innovation gap and accelerating the net zero carbon circular economy in Ireland. Between 2020 and 2022, Circuléire’s activities included circularity assessments of members, thematic working groups and an innovation and mentoring programme for members. In-depth circularity assessments were completed for 18 founding members, identifying approximately 400 opportunities to reduce waste and carbon emissions through resource efficiency and circular practices. IMR is supporting the development of tailored key performance indicators for members to enable performance monitoring and emission reductions. It is also preparing a roadmap for a centre of excellence for circular innovation for industry that can build on the learning of Circuléire. 20 circuleire.ie/ (accessed 24 June 2024). 21 www.climate-kic.org (accessed 1 July 2024).