Shannon Chamber Aims to Drive Circular Future by Pairing Local Companies’ Waste with Industry Needs
New initiative seeks to match reusable company waste with businesses that can put it to productive use, advancing the region’s circular economy
Recognising that many companies are still in the early stages of developing effective waste management systems, Shannon Chamber, in collaboration with members of its Mid-West Sustainability Network, is leading a mission to ensure that reusable company-generated waste is matched with businesses that can repurpose it.
The Chamber is now calling on companies with waste that can be repurposed to get in touch and help establish a matchmaking database, the first step in this circular economy drive across the region.
Making the call, Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes said: “This initiative was spearheaded by Bill Doran, head of sustainability and supply chain at Ei Electronics. Based on his experience finding local partners for repurposing and recycling company waste, he felt other businesses could face the same challenges and that collective brainstorming could help find solutions. We were delighted to assemble a small group of companies to explore how this could be achieved.
“As a first step, we want companies to tell us what types of waste they have and in what potential annual volumes, particularly materials they feel could be repurposed. We will compile this information into a database and aim to match companies seeking materials with available reusable waste. They can also send a photo of the materials with their feedback and refer to this recyclable chart. (Plasctic Recycling Chart)
“The goal is to turn what was once considered waste into valuable resources, reducing environmental impact while creating new business opportunities. Companies can contribute to a more sustainable regional economy, potentially lower disposal costs, and even discover new revenue streams.
“This initiative is about collaboration, turning materials that might otherwise go to landfill into resources that benefit other companies and the wider community. We will facilitate connections, provide guidance and support, and showcase Shannon as a model for industrial circularity and waste reduction, which is the ethos of our Mid-West Sustainability Network.”
Companies with waste that could be repurposed are encouraged to contact Shannon Chamber at hdownes@shannonchamber.ie to register their materials and join the database. The Chamber’s Mid-West Sustainability Network team will then work to identify potential matches and facilitate connections between businesses.