New whole-of-government plan aims to raise Ireland’s circular material use rate to 12% by 2030 and reduce reliance on virgin resources through sector-wide action.
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has published Ireland’s Whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028: Accelerating Action, setting out a cross-departmental plan to reduce waste, improve resource productivity and strengthen economic resilience.
Published on 24 February 2026, the strategy positions circularity as central to Ireland’s economic competitiveness, environmental sustainability and social wellbeing. It aims to move the State away from a linear “take–make–waste” model towards a system in which materials are kept in use for as long as possible through repair, reuse, refurbishment and remanufacturing.
“This plan provides a clear roadmap for Ireland’s transition to a circular economy…”
In a circular economy, products are designed to be less resource-intensive and more durable, and materials are recaptured at the end of a product’s life to create new goods. The Department said such an approach could significantly reduce dependency on primary resource extraction and complex global supply chains, while creating jobs in the domestic economy, including in rural areas.
The strategy builds on commitments in the Programme for Government to end what it describes as the wasteful cycle of “take-make-consume-throw-away” and to support enterprises operating in the circular economy, including repair and refurbishment centres.
CIWM welcomed the latest plan published earlier this week. Speaking on the document Ireland Regional Committee Chair, Enda Kiernan, said: “This plan provides a clear roadmap for Ireland’s transition to a circular economy and I look forward to working with the implementation group in accomplishing the comprehensive aims and objectives set out therein.”
Core targets and objectives
A central target of the 2026–2028 strategy is to raise Ireland’s circular material use rate (CMUR) by two percentage points each year, with the aim of reaching 12% by 2030. The CMUR measures the share of material resources used in the economy that come from recycled or recovered sources rather than virgin raw materials.
The strategy also seeks to support economic expansion while improving resource productivity and reducing reliance on virgin materials. It includes commitments to enhance Ireland’s competitiveness and innovation in sustainable design, advanced manufacturing and circular business models, both domestically and in export markets.
Social considerations are also highlighted. The document states that the benefits of the circular transition should be widely shared among communities and workers, and that people should be empowered to make sustainable and cost-effective lifestyle choices. Local authorities are to be supported in developing coordinated, community-level circular initiatives.
Digitalisation is identified as a key enabler of the circular economy. The strategy encourages businesses to adopt digital tools such as digital product passports, traceability systems and resource optimisation technologies.
Sector-specific actions
The strategy includes actions and targets for a number of priority sectors, including construction, agriculture, retail, packaging, textiles and electronic equipment. These measures are intended to reduce overall material consumption and increase levels of repair, reuse and the uptake of reusable products and materials.
According to the Department, the actions were developed in collaboration with relevant line Departments, reflecting the whole-of-government approach set out in the title of the strategy.
Evidence base and consultation
The new strategy is underpinned by the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022, which provides the legislative framework for Ireland’s transition to more sustainable production and consumption patterns. It also aligns with a range of European laws and policy measures relating to circularity.
In 2024, the Department commissioned a circularity gap analysis to establish a baseline for Ireland’s material flows. The resulting Circularity Gap Report Ireland found that the State’s circularity metric stood at 2.7%, meaning that more than 97% of materials flowing through the economy originate from virgin sources.
The report concluded that Ireland continues to operate largely within a linear model characterised by high material and carbon footprints. However, it also indicated that advancing the circular economy has significant potential to support decarbonisation, improve competitiveness and enhance economic security. The Department said this evidence base informed the development of the 2026–2028 strategy.
A public consultation on the draft strategy ran from 25 September to 5 November 2025. More than 120 submissions were received and reviewed, with the Department stating that feedback has been reflected in the final text where appropriate.
The final designed version of the strategy, including graphics and case studies, is expected to be uploaded shortly.
