01 December, 2025

On 25 November 2025, partners from across Ireland, Finland, Norway and Iceland came together online for a Target Circular webinar showcasing how circular economy value chains are being built across key sectors, including forestry, marine and agriculture. The event also introduced practical resources designed to support business support organisations in embedding circular economy thinking into their advisory work.

Hosted by Centria University of Applied Sciences as part of the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic funded Target Circular project, the webinar highlighted real world case examples and tools aimed at strengthening circular approaches across the NPA region.

Presentations included insights from a study on side streams in Finland’s forestry and wood sector, demonstrating opportunities to valorise by products and strengthen local bio based value chains. Norwegian partners explored market potential for higher value products derived from fishing industry side streams. Contributions from Ireland, including work linked to the Circular BioEconomy Cluster, focused on developments within the agricultural circular economy. Icelandic case examples ranged from sustainable sheep farming practices to geothermal greenhouse innovation.

A central theme of the session was how business support organisations can more effectively raise circular economy considerations with SMEs. This is an increasingly important challenge for advisors supporting businesses through sustainability transitions. In response, the Target Circular project has developed a dedicated circular economy toolkit for advisors and is finalising a practical guidebook to further support implementation by the end of 2025.

Webinar presentations and tools are available to download here and provide accessible frameworks and applied insights for business support organisations seeking to integrate circular economy principles into everyday advisory practice.

Target Circular is led by the Hincks Centre of Entrepreneurship Excellence at Munster Technological University and works with partners across the Northern Periphery and Arctic region to develop evidence based resources that support SMEs and business advisors in advancing sustainable and circular economic activity.