Background
The intention of this research was to establish a basis of public awareness for the term circular economy in Ireland. The first of these four survey's took place in 2021, with the most recent in 2026.
The core objective of the original research was to gauge the level of awareness and understanding of the circular economy among Irish adults. The most recent 2026 survey has been built upon the findings of 2021, 2023 & 2024.
This longitudinal approach allows for broader insights of awareness and understanding over time, along with related cultural and ethical elements.
What We Found
As there is data from four separate years, comparisons of awareness between 2021 & 2026 can be made. In 2021 for example, only 25% of Irish adults had heard of the Circular Economy. That number is now 57% in 2026.
Other Key insights:
Ethically Minded Consumers: In 2026, 49% of respondents scored 'highly' on the ethically minded scale. This is a drop of 10% from 2024.
Public Familiarity with the Circular Economy: Familiarity is growing year on year, with 62% of respondents hearing the term for the first time in 2021, while that number is now 37%.
Overall support for the Circular Economy: Finally, there has been steady support for a transition to a Circular Economy over the years, with 57% in 2021, 64% in 2023, 61% in 2024 and 62% in 2026.
Building for the Future
Research around the awareness of the circular economy is now built upon four separate years of insights, and this will continue in 2027. These key learnings provide Circular.ie with the necessary evidence to raise awareness and engagement, for a culturally relevant and ethically responsible transition to a circular economy.
