Ireland has introduced a whole of government Circular Economy Strategy for 2026 to 2028 to reduce waste, keep materials in use longer, and strengthen resource security. The plan aims to lift the Circular Material Use Rate (CMUR) by about 2 percentage points annually to reach 12% by 2030, while fostering innovation in sectors like construction, agriculture, retail, and electronics. Circularity is framed as essential for cutting emissions and building economic resilience across the economy.

The strategy marks a move away from focusing mainly on waste and toward using resources more wisely, keeping materials in circulation through reuse, repair, and recycling for as long as possible. With practical benchmarks like the Circular Material Use Rate, Ireland can monitor how things are actually progressing and motivate businesses to rethink product design, supply chains, and day-to-day operations through a circular lens.