Ireland

Ireland is at a crossroads. Its economy has grown rapidly in recent decades, now having the EU’s second-highest per capita GDP. But this has come at a cost. Economic growth has led to an increase in material consumption — a major driver of carbon emissions and environmental degradation.

To reverse this trend, adopting circular economy strategies will be essential. By implementing these strategies across major sectors, Ireland can reduce both material consumption and carbon emissions by around one-third and more than triple its Circularity Metric while ensuring the well-being of its residents. The Circularity Gap Report Ireland outlines the steps to make this transition a reality.