Widespread adoption of circular economy principles like reuse and recycling could reduce Ireland's carbon emissions by up to 32%, according to the Circularity Gap Report Ireland. The report analyses Ireland’s material consumption and carbon emissions profile and the potential for circular economy strategies to mitigate environmental impacts.

A robust evidence base is required to ensure that the targets selected for Ireland’s forthcoming Circular Economy Strategy are appropriate. The Irish Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has commissioned this Circularity Gap analysis, conducted by impact organisation Circle Economy, to understand Ireland’s material and carbon footprint for key systems such as the bioeconomy, the built environment, and manufactured goods. 

This report provides a comprehensive and detailed analysis of Ireland’s current national material flows and level of circularity based on a methodology that allows for international comparisons of Ireland’s performance relative to peer countries. Circularity Gap Reports establish a baseline circularity level for a local, regional or national economy. They provide insights into policy interventions to help boost circularity and provide the tools to monitor progress.

According to the study, Ireland’s residents consume 22 tonnes of raw materials per person per year, surpassing both the European average of 17 tonnes per capita and the estimated sustainable level of 8 tonnes per capita. 

Rapid economic growth over the past years has led to a surge in material consumption in Ireland. This trend has put increasing pressure on ecosystems within the country and abroad, driving the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. For example, Ireland’s plastic waste generation has more than doubled in just ten years. Moreover, Ireland is one of the few EU countries where territorial emissions have only recently started to decline relative to 1990 levels.

The report outlines specific pathways to reduce material consumption by 29% and cut carbon emissions by 32%, while tripling the country’s circularity rate from 2.7% to 8.4%. For example, circular strategies in construction—such as building retrofitting, using bio-based materials and repurposing vacant spaces—could deliver a 12.6% reduction in material use and a 17.3% reduction in emissions. However, if business as usual continues, the sector’s carbon footprint is expected to increase fivefold by 2030. This makes construction a priority area for targeted policies.

With two-thirds of Ireland's land dedicated to agriculture and 11% to forestry, the bioeconomy has emerged as another priority sector for change. The report recommends accelerating the shift to sustainable and organic farming practices, sustainably increasing forest cover and addressing labour shortages and skills gaps in the sector.

Additional measures include boosting efficiency and industrial symbiosis in manufacturing, switching to cleaner mobility options like public transport bicycles and electric cars, and promoting a sustainable lifestyle based on buying fewer products and using them longer. These measures could reduce Ireland’s environmental impacts while maintaining the high living standards achieved over the past decades.