AMBER Director welcomes announcement of funding to accelerate Ireland’s circular economy transition but says multiple of that needed to make significant contributions to our environmental and climate commitments

7 July 2025

AMBER Director Professor Michael Morris comments on the Government announcement of €27 million to accelerate Ireland’s circular economy transition.

“The Government has concentrated significant effort on promoting a circular economy to meet some of its environmental and climate commitments.  Whilst applauding this initiative, it is disappointing that the scale of challenge needed to make an effective contribution to these commitments is misunderstood. The linear economy of take, make, dispose, has been the driver of the international economy since the industrial revolution.  Our largest manufacturing and product companies focus on mass production and mass consumerism to drive sales and profits.  Disturbing this economic model through reduced use, longer product use lives and the imposition of extended producer responsibility will threaten the wellbeing and profit margins of these companies.

Whilst greener production methods, greener products and circular economy approaches can deliver innovative products and generate job growth etc., the scale of the challenge in shifting entire industries has to be recognised.  The circular economy needs system level changes with the deepest economic change, in the shortest period than has ever been imagined.  The spend to deliver this is very significant.  In Ireland it must be backed by proper financial support in the range of 100s of million (on-island recycling and recovery, funding of repair centres, proper funding for research and development) is needed, an order of magnitude more than is available.”