A major new report charting Ireland’s path to a circular built environment by 2040 was launched today by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, at the Irish Green Building Council’s annual conference.
Construction and demolition generate 8.3 million tonnes of waste in Ireland each year, and at the same time, over 97% of the materials flowing through the Irish economy are from virgin sources. The ‘Building a Circular Ireland’ roadmap aims to move the industry from this ‘take-make-waste’ model to a fully circular system through a strong emphasis on waste prevention, reuse, smart design, resource efficiency and circular business models that add real value - moving beyond traditional recycling and downcycling practices.
Opening the conference, Pat Barry, CEO of the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC), said: “The Irish economy relies heavily on imported materials, so moving towards a circular construction industry is not only critical for protecting the environment, it is also essential for our economic resilience and will help to create innovative new industries.”
Launching the roadmap, Minister James Browne TD stated: “Transitioning to a more circular built environment is critical if Ireland is to affordably deliver the homes and infrastructure we urgently need, while meeting the ambitions laid out in key national development strategies like Project 2040, The National Development Plan, and Housing for All, and reaching its climate targets in a timely manner.”
The most recent census in Ireland indicates that 7.74% of the housing stock—equivalent to 163,433 residential units—is vacant. Notably, over 48,000 units had been unoccupied for six years or more (CSO, 2022).
He added: “I was inspired by the case studies on urban regeneration, timber in construction, and circularity and I would encourage everyone to read the “Build a Circular Ireland” roadmap, and, more importantly, to take action.”
The roadmap, which was developed as part of a research project funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and co-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, outlines key recommendations to drive this transition, including:
• Value what already exists – Maximise the use of existing buildings and infrastructure. Enable circular material flows – Support the bioeconomy for construction materials and develop a strong market for high-quality secondary materials.
• Promote tools that encourage manufacturers and suppliers to take more responsibility for the maintenance, repair and end-of-life of their products, such as Extended Producer Responsibility and Product-as-a-Service schemes
• Leverage public and private procurement – Use procurement to foster a strong innovation ecosystem, with collaboration across government, industry, and producers. In Ireland, public bodies spend an estimated €18.5 billion a year on goods, services and works. This provides Ireland’s public sector with significant influence to stimulate and actively encourage circularity.
Dr Mark Kelly, of the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Centre for Sustainability and Build360, one of the roadmap’s contributors, said: “The publication of this roadmap marks a pivotal step toward a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. At ATU, we’re proud to support the transition through our Build360 research group, which explores how circular principles can benefit the environment, economy, and society. Rethinking how we design, construct, and reuse our buildings will unlock innovation, lower emissions, and enhance resilience in communities across Ireland.”
