Cork firm making compostable PPE takes top prize at All-Island Circular Venture Awards

HaPPE Earth overall winner while Dublin-based Gemell Technology and Cork firm Ecoroots named finalists

Lisa O'Riordan co-founder of HaPPE Earth, winner of the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025.

A Cork company manufacturing compostable PPE aprons has been named winner of the inaugural All-Island Circular Venture Awards.

HaPPE Earth, founded by cousins Lisa O'Riordan and Mary O'Riordan, makes PPE aprons approved for healthcare settings which are compostable and can be converted into fertiliser. 

The All-Island Circular Venture Awards are open to late-stage start-ups and ventures across the island of Ireland, and are designed to recognise companies pioneering the emergence of the circular economy sector.  Ten companies were shortlisted. 

Each firm pitched to a high-profile audience of investors, industry leaders, policy makers, and media to compete for a prize pool of €10,000. HaPPE Earth was judged overall winner with Gemell Technology Limited name the first finalist and Ecoroots as the second finalist.

Micheal Cassidy, CTO at Irish Manufacturing Research with Lavanya Bhandari from Ecoroots and Martina Hennessy, assistant secretary for Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency at DCEE.

Second finalist Ecoroots transforms agricultural waste into compostable mycelium packaging powered by a data-driven platform for scalable, zero-waste biomanufacturing.

HaPPE Earth impressed the judgest with their PPE aprons which degrade in just five weeks, compared to standard PPE aprons which can take around 50 years to degrade. Their bio-PPE can be used to produce nutrient rich fertiliser.

Dr Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at Irish Manufacturing Research, said HaPPE Earth "embodies circular innovation, circular excellence, execution strength, commercial viability and system-level impact with the persevering and pioneering vision of never giving up".

The All-Island Circular Venture Awards are designed and led by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. The other seven shortlisted companies were included Arcology System, Biographene Innovations Ireland, BladeBridge, Circular Food Co, Harp Renewables, Integrated Materials Solutions, and Kinset Limited.

Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. Bio Graphene Innovations Ireland transforms agricultural waste into bio-graphene materials that decarbonise concrete, enabling seawater use, and establishing a scalable circular manufacturing model for Europe.

Micheal Cassidy, CTO at Irish Manufacturing Research; Adam Hankin, Gemell, first finalist, with Martina Hennessy, assistant secretary for Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency at DCEE.

BladeBridge repurposes retired wind turbine blades into durable infrastructure.

Circular Food Co. recovers food waste to turn into high-value ingredients.

Harp Renewables supplies advanced, fully circular food waste solutions for all industries.

Integrated Materials Solutions (IMS) reduces and reuses construction waste.

Kinset Limited enables circularity across the consumer goods sector (fashion, textiles, beauty, furniture, food & beverage, and homewares) through its green tech data platform.