Circular economy could give Northern Ireland a further 13,000 jobs

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A further 13,000 jobs could be created in Northern Ireland from the circular economy a report has said.

Job Creation in the Circular Economy ­– Increasing Resource Efficiency in Northern Ireland revealed that jobs could be created across various skill levels and within a number of different sectors.

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Food and drink, biorefining and the bioeconomy offer particular potential as well as renewable energy and smart energy grids.

The report was produced by the ReNEW network in conjunction with WRAP.

Northern Ireland Environment Minister Mark Durkan (pictured) said: “Building a circular economy is a win-win for the economy and the environment.

“It makes sense to keep our natural resources in use for as long as possible through recovery, reuse, repair, remanufacturing and recycling.

“This benefits the environment and can also drive economic growth by unlocking millions of pounds of value from materials used in key sectors in Northern Ireland, which can drive economic growth.

“By departing from our traditional economic model of ‘make, use and dispose’ we will be less vulnerable to dwindling natural resources, and increased price instability and energy costs.

“We must work together, across government, and in partnership with business and the community, to ensure that the North is geared up to exploit the exciting opportunities afforded by a circular economy.”