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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Zirkulu

Zirkulu (
Private sector
)
#SDGAction54508
    Description
    Description

    In December 2020, a passion for exploration and design led two childhood friends (Fionn & Jack) on Ireland’s wild Atlantic coast to begin thinking about what the future of outdoor clothing will look like. We initially experimented collecting and recycling discarded nylon fishing nets. And using this waste as a raw material for creating a rain jacket. It soon became clear that the future of outdoor apparel lies not simply in repurposing used synthetics. But in utilising raw materials that are bio based and renewable.

    The current fashion system uses high volumes of non-renewable resources, including petroleum, extracted to produce clothes that are often used only for a short period of time, after which the materials are largely lost to landfill or incineration. We have identified two problems from this traditional method of producing outdoor clothing. The use of fossil fuels to create synthetic fabrics, and textile waste. 

    Due to resource scarcity, it is impossible to create synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon for outdoor clothing forever. In fact, at our current rate we have 50 years left of producing these synthetic materials. Today, we build technical outdoor wear from biobased and renewable raw materials. In December 2022, we launched our first jacket, The Endurance Shell jacket partially made from sugarcane - a windproof and 25k waterproof shell jacket designed for the rigors of Irish weather.

    Combined with our digital take back programme, we can close the loop on textile waste, When Zirkulu jackets reach end of life, customers can return their jackets to our recycling partner in Northern France. Jackets are recycled into a new yarn that can be used for future Zirkulu products

    Zirkulu is working to pioneer the transition from fossil fuel based synthetics to lead people, products and planet into the biological age.  

    Implementation of the Project/Activity

    In December 2022, we launched our first jacket, The Endurance Shell jacket - a windproof and 25k waterproof shell jacket designed for the rigours of Irish weather. We have integrated sugarcane-based fibres into the construction of our Endurance Shell jackets. These fibres are derived from the residue of sugarcane production, utilising a waste stream that would otherwise be discarded. By repurposing this agricultural byproduct, we reduce the reliance on traditional petroleum-based materials and contribute to a more circular economy.

    Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

    Zirkulu offers a digital back programme service to customers to return, repair & recycle jackets to provide an end of life solution to our products. Zirkulu is committed to sustainability even beyond the life cycle of our jackets. When a Zirkulu jacket reaches its end, customers can conveniently return it to our recycling partner in Northern France using the QR code printed on the inside for easy identification. This unique code serves as a product ID, allowing us to track the entire lifecycle of each jacket. Through this service, customers can seamlessly return, repair, and recycle their Zirkulu jackets. As a token of appreciation, customers receive a discount on their next jacket purchase. The returned jackets are then recycled into a new yarn, contributing to the creation of future Zirkulu products. It's our way of closing the loop and promoting a sustainable, circular approach to outdoor apparel. We are happy to share knowledge on the take back programme and how the recycling process works.

    Coordination mechanisms

    At Zirkulu, we communicate our mission through in person meetings, speaking engagements, social media, and in our work space. We have had the privilege to represent Zirkulu at industry events such as the Bioeconomy Cluster South-West. This provides us with a platform to share our ideas on the change we seek to make.  Zirkulu is currently a participant of the New Frontiers programme supported by Enterprise Ireland. New Frontiers is an incubation programme that supports the next phase of our development. The programme provides Zirkulu with access to R&D facilities to explore our ideas in material science. 

    Evaluation

    At Zirkulu, we recognise our responsibility to internally manage our resources and the cost of our operations to our environment. We conduct our evaluation with the use of the B Impact Assessment. A digital tool that can help measure, manage, and improve positive impact performance for the environment, communities, customers, suppliers, employees, and shareholders. This is the first step towards B Corp Certification and ensures we maintain the highest standards  for protecting people and the planet.

    Partners

    Enterprise Ireland,

    Goal 12

    Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

    Goal 12

    12.1

    Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries

    12.1.1

    Number of countries developing, adopting or implementing policy instruments aimed at supporting the shift to sustainable consumption and production

    12.2

    By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources

    12.2.1

    Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP

    12.2.2

    Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP

    12.3

    By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses

    12.3.1

    (a) Food loss index and (b) food waste index

    12.4

    By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment

    12.4.1
    Number of parties to international multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste, and other chemicals that meet their commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement
    12.4.2

    (a) Hazardous waste generated per capita; and (b) proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment

    12.5

    By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

    12.5.1

    National recycling rate, tons of material recycled

    12.6

    Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle

    12.6.1
    Number of companies publishing sustainability reports

    12.7

    Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities

    12.7.1

    Number of countries implementing sustainable public procurement policies and action plans

    12.8

    By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature

    12.8.1

    Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment

    12.a

    Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production

    12.a.1

    Installed renewable energy-generating capacity in developing and developed countries (in watts per capita)

    12.b

    Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products

    12.b.1

    Implementation of standard accounting tools to monitor the economic and environmental aspects of tourism sustainability

    12.c

    Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities

    12.c.1

    Amount of fossil-fuel subsidies (production and consumption) per unit of GDP

    Goal 13

    Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

    Goal 13

    13.1

    Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

    13.1.1

    Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population

    13.1.2

    Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030

    13.1.3

    Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies

    13.2

    Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

    13.2.1

    Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

    13.2.2

    Total greenhouse gas emissions per year

    13.3

    Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

    13.3.1

    Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment

    13.a

    Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible

    13.a.1

    Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025

    13.b

    Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities


     

    13.b.1

    Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
    14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
    14.3 Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
    14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
    14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
    14.6 By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
    14.7 By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
    14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
    14.b Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
    14.c Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    Fishing net recycling project

    Bio-material innovation project

    Digital take back programme

    Staff / Technical expertise
    Zirkulu works alongside Mike, a retired fisherman from West Cork’s biggest fishing port; Castletownbere. We find recycling & up-cycling solutions to tonnes of discarded fishing nets.
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Work in partnership with Ulster University and the Applied Polymer Technology gateway to explore creating carbon negative bio materials.
    Staff / Technical expertise
    We are building technical software to digitally track products our products life cycle and close the loop on textile software.
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Action Network
    Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network
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    Timeline
    19 January 2024 (start date)
    29 January 2027 (date of completion)
    Entity
    N/A
    SDGs
    Region
    1. Europe
    Geographical coverage
    Kinsale, Ireland
    Other beneficiaries

    The work of Zirkulu is not limited to any individual beneficiaries. We believe change is no longer a choice, but as a necessity. We are proud to focus our work on limiting the damage caused by fossil fuel based synthetics. Zirkulu is listening and finding innovative ways to meet the demands of climate change. We see collaborative work as imperative to the evolution of the fashion industry, we remain open to collaborative projects, knowledge sharing and doing the right thing. 

    More information
    Countries
    Ireland
    Ireland
    Contact Information

    Jack Norman, Co founder