The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Research Call provides support for innovative research projects that will support policy and decision making, while also addressing environmental, climate change and sustainability challenges. Among the new UCC research projects to be funded by the EPA include REVEIRE:
Led by Dr Archishman Bose, University College Cork, the REVEIRE project aims to demonstrate how Irish wool can contribute to sustainability beyond net-zero targets.
The data from this project will support future wool research and guide policies and investments to regenerate the wool industry in Ireland. It is hoped that it will also empower consumers to make informed choices about sustainable products, fostering the growth of bio-based businesses.
Wool is a renewable biomaterial, opportune management and use of which can result in sustainable production of both food (such as sheep meat) and biomaterials (wool as bio-based textile/ packaging/ construction material). Ireland currently produces in the region of 7 million kilogrammes of wool from approximately 4 million sheep (35,000 flocks). Irish wool, typically characterised as ‘strong wool’ can have wide applications in textiles, packaging, environmental, and high-value materials. This project, by undertaking a comprehensive sustainability assessment of Irish grown wool, will provide data and evidence to inform Government policies, initiatives and investments required for regenerating the Irish grown wool industry for a sustainable circular bioeconomy. The outcome of this project will provide an essential building block that will enable wool to evolve from a waste farm product with negative return on investment, reestablishing the wool sector in Ireland in a sustainable and fit-for-purpose model benefiting all stakeholders along the value chain.
Dr Bose said: “This project, for the first-time, will undertake a comprehensive sustainability assessment of Irish grown wool including for the value created by local scouring in a cascading biorefinery on the island of Ireland. The project outcomes will also enable citizens and household consumers to make a more informed choice around sustainable biomass-based products allowing circular bio-based businesses to scale-up and flourish.“
Professor John Cryan, UCC Vice President for Research and Innovation said: “I would like to thank the EPA for continuing to award talented researchers that allows them, through scientific research and innovation, to tackle critical environmental, climate, health, and sustainability issues. These awards will enable the UCC researchers to support environmental policies in Ireland, address key societal challenges caused by climate change, and help deliver a healthier environment for all, further strengthening UCC’s position as a recognised global leader in the field of Sustainability.”
Dr. Archishman Bose spoke to the Irish Farmers Journal about the project, read it here.
Source: www.ucc.ie/en/sefs/news/2025/ucc-researchers-awarded-23m-for-new-research-to-address-climate-and-environmental-challenges.html
www.marei.ie/new-project-to-examine-irish-wool-and-scouring/