Putting the limelight back to the Green Awards 2026 earlier this year, IFF Plastics has been named winner of the Green Business of the Year, recognised for a closed-loop recycling model that has transformed single-use farm and ocean plastics into fully recyclable products, delivering major carbon savings and demonstrating what sustainable manufacturing leadership looks like at the micro-enterprise level.

The award, announced on 24 February 2026 at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, reflects a family-run business in Cree, Co. Clare that has built its entire commercial proposition around environmental purpose, operating since 2019 with a clear and consistent mission to replace virgin materials with locally sourced waste plastics at meaningful scale.

The growth of IFF Plastics' operation speaks to the viability of its model. Recycling over 1,000 tonnes annually, the company has demonstrated that circular economy practices, when executed with operational discipline and genuine commitment, can deliver results that rival those of far larger organisations.

By sourcing waste plastics locally and keeping materials in productive use through a closed-loop system, IFF Plastics has built a sustainable business that reduces environmental impact at every stage of its process while supporting customers on their own sustainability journeys.

For green businesses across Ireland's industrial sector, IFF Plastics offers a compelling proof point that responsible growth and commercial success are not competing objectives, particularly when innovation and circular economy thinking are embedded into the core of how a business operates.

Judges were direct in their assessment. "IFF Plastics has demonstrated strong leadership in sustainable manufacturing through innovative recycling solutions, circular-economy practices, and continued investment in greener processes that reduce waste and environmental impact. By combining operational excellence with a clear commitment to responsible growth, the company is helping shape a more sustainable future for Ireland's industrial sector while supporting customers on their own sustainability journeys," the panel stated.

IFF Plastics joins a cohort of Green Awards winners proving that some of Ireland's most impactful sustainability work is being done by smaller organisations with a clear sense of purpose and the operational capability to deliver on it at scale. The win raises the bar for what the 2027 awards cycle will expect from entrants in the Green Business of the Year category.

If IFF Plastics' achievement has inspired your own organisation to take the next step,submit your entry for the 2027 awards at the official Green Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter for more updates.