The Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, responsible for Circular Economy, Alan Dillon, has officially opened applications for the 2025 round of the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS) on 10 September 2025. This annual initiative aims to support innovative projects that advance Ireland’s circular economy, providing crucial funding and guidance to social enterprises, voluntary and community organisations, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 50 employees.
Since its inception in April 2021, the CEIGS has awarded a total of €1.8 million to 36 projects that span a wide range of circular economy themes. These projects have tackled critical issues including food waste, plastics, single-use packaging, construction, textiles, and general waste management. By enabling organisations and businesses to adopt innovative solutions, the scheme has contributed significantly to Ireland’s transition towards a more sustainable, resource-efficient, and circular economy.
Following the success of the 2024 funding round, the 2025 CEIGS will once again be administered in partnership with Community Foundation Ireland, a philanthropic organisation that connects donors, grantees, and communities committed to fostering positive social change. The Foundation will oversee the entire application process, from evaluation to administrative support, while also providing ongoing guidance to successful applicants throughout the lifecycle of their projects.
For the 2025 round, a total of €650,000 is available, with individual grants expected to range between €40,000 and €50,000. These funds are intended to support projects that address priority areas identified for Ireland’s circular economy, with a strong emphasis on tangible, innovative solutions that promote resource efficiency, waste reduction, and environmental sustainability.
Key focus areas for this year’s funding include redesigning products or packaging to replace non-recyclable or virgin plastics with recyclable alternatives, creating reusable construction materials or implementing selective demolition practices to recover valuable resources, and developing technical or behavioural interventions to reduce food waste in production and commercial settings. In addition, projects aimed at enhancing the recovery of critical raw materials and reducing hazardous substances in products are strongly encouraged.
Through this scheme, the Irish Government aims to stimulate innovation, encourage sustainable business practices, and empower local communities to actively participate in building a circular economy that benefits both the environment and society at large. By supporting projects across Ireland, the CEIGS plays a critical role in demonstrating how collaborative, community-driven approaches can accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and resource-efficient future.
Applications for the 2025 Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme are now open, offering community groups, social enterprises, and SMEs an important opportunity to secure funding and expertise that can turn innovative ideas into impactful projects.
