Circularity Gap Report Ireland

This Circularity Gap Report Ireland, commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications in late 2023, provides a comprehensive analysis of Ireland's material flows and environmental impact. It serves as a key evidence base for the second Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy, under Ireland's 2022 Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act. The report highlights Ireland’s high dependence on virgin materials and its low level of circularity, which stands at just 2.7%, significantly lower than the global average of 7.2%. The sectors analyzed include the built environment, manufacturing, food systems, and mobility. The study finds that most materials are consumed in the built environment sector, largely driven by construction demands due to Ireland’s rapidly growing population. It also emphasizes the environmental cost of non-circular practices, such as reliance on fossil fuels and biomass. The report presents five key scenarios for improving Ireland's circular economy, including shaping a circular built environment, advancing circular manufacturing, and developing a circular food system. These strategies aim to reduce material consumption by 29% and carbon emissions by 32%. The report concludes with recommendations for policy-makers to integrate circular principles across economic sectors to achieve sustainability targets.