Joe O'Brien - Green Party Joe O'Brien - Green Party

Joe O’Brien Encourages Fingal Community Groups and Businesses to Apply for Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme

28th October, 2022

Joe O’Brien TD has today encouraged local social enterprises, community groups, and businesses to make applications for the 2022 funding round of the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS).

This €650,000 grant scheme supports innovation and circular economy projects by social enterprises, voluntary and community organisations, and businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Up to €100,000 is available for individual projects that demonstrate exceptional impact.

The CEIGS was established by Green Party Minister Ossian Smyth in April 2021, with applications received that year covering a wide range of circular economy themes including food waste, plastics, single-use plastics, packaging, construction, textiles and general waste. Ultimately, some €490,000 in CEIGS funding was awarded to 10 applicants under the 2021 funding round.

This year-on-year increase is in line with the commitment in the Circular Economy Strategy 2022-2023 to increase CEIGS funding each year to 2024.

Encouraging local groups to apply for the scheme, Joe O’Brien said:

“If our economy is to become truly circular, change at every level of our society is required. The CEIGS 2022 will continue to support communities to transition to a more sustainable future, with a focus on reducing and eliminating waste and keeping resources in use for as long as possible.

“I would really encourage local groups in Fingal to think about how they can more fully participate in our move toward a circular economy, such as by reducing use of plastics, cutting down on food waste, or recycling materials. I know that there are many innovative enterprises in our area that could potentially benefit from this grant.”

Applications for funding could focus on the thematic areas which relate to priorities for the circular economy in Ireland, namely:

  • Plastics;
  • construction and demolition waste;
  • food waste; and
  • resources and raw materials (electrical and electronic equipment, textiles, furniture).

Full details on the application process for the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme are available on www.gov.ie and applications are open until 30th November 2022. For more information, please visit: gov.ie – Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS) (www.gov.ie).

Circular Economy Awareness Campaign

More broadly, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has launched a new campaign to explain ‘circular living’ and to raise awareness about the different ways the Government is building a ‘circular economy’.

Soon you’ll be hearing a lot more about the ‘circular economy’. It just means keeping our stuff in circulation for as long as possible by repairing and reusing; by sharing and swapping. Through the campaign, the Government is taking steps to encourage all of us to embrace circular living.

The circular economy is not a new idea; in fact many circular activities are already commonplace. However, achieving the full benefits requires more than action at individual level; it requires the right mix of Government policy and regulation, new business models and new systems of production. It also requires education and awareness, which is where the campaign will play a key role.

Find out more at: www.gov.ie.circulareconomy.

Further Information:

The maximum funding available for any individual project under this year’s funding round will be €100,000. Only proposals that demonstrate exceptional impact will be considered for this maximum level of funding.

Typical funding for CEIGS projects under the 2022 call is anticipated to be in the range of €10,000 to €50,000.

Some examples of the type of proposals for funding that could be considered are:

  • redesign of products or packaging to replace non-recyclable plastic or virgin plastic with recyclable plastic;
  • redesign of products for ease of recycling at end-of-life;
  • circular construction products (products that can be reused or with increased lifespan);
  • selective/green demolition to enable removal of hazardous materials and facilitate reuse and recycling;
  • promoting innovative waste prevention solutions across the food production and food processing sectors;
  • implementing technical and behavioural interventions to reduce food waste in commercial settings;
  • reducing the content of hazardous substances in materials and products;
  • increasing recovery of listed critical raw materials.