Circular and Social Enterprises Helping the Climate for National Reuse Month

Irish social enterprises working in reuse and recycling supported approximately 690 jobs and over 1600 trainees in Ireland last year, saving 220,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.  This underpins many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will form the basis of an engaging networking evening on the 24 October at Cork County Hall.

Circular and Social Enterprises Helping the Climate is an interactive event open to the public and offers an opportunity for attendees to meet some of the leading social enterprises in Cork and beyond, including Community Reuse Network Ireland (CRNI) Members Boomerang Enterprises, Deaf Enterprises, FoodCloud and Kingdom Furniture Revamp. Experts will also be at hand from the European Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Southern Waste Regional Office, Cork City Council and businesses to discuss the EU and local impact of social enterprise and how partnerships can help deliver a more circular, sustainable and social future.

The event is part of National Reuse Month and is a collaboration between the Southern Region Waste Management Office, Cork City Council, Community Reuse Network Ireland (CRNI), and ecowell Cork. It forms part of an EU wide initiative by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enterprise (DG GROW) to raise awareness about the social economy at a local and regional level.

“Social enterprises and their networks are growing in number across Ireland and the entire EU. Practicing a hybrid model that uses business solutions to make a positive impact socially and environmentally their role is most important in contributing to national events such as Reuse Month and ultimately helping Ireland reach the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals,” says Pauline McDonogh, Prevention Officer for the Southern Region Waste Management Office.

Claire Downey, Executive of CRNI says “We can no longer follow this unsustainable ‘take, make and waste’ economic model that makes up the linear economy. At this event, we look forward to exploring with attendees the Sustainable Development Goals that our members work toward every day for a more circular, inclusive and collaborative economy.”.

This free event will take place on Thursday, 24 October in Vertigo, County Hall Cork from 6:30 – 8:30pm, following Reuse Republic, a showcase of successful upcyclers, eco-businesses and reuse initiatives. Register on Eventbrite and visit Community Reuse Network Ireland on crni.ie/reuse-month for more event details.

• October 17, 2019