Framing the Circular Bioeconomy in Ireland’s Broadsheet Media, 2004–2019

Figures & data

Table 1. Ireland national policy statement for the bioeconomy: strategic policy objectives and potential benefits.

Objective 1: A sustainable economy and society – envisions the growth of the bioeconomy as a pathway towards putting Ireland’s economy on a more sustainable footing by more efficient use and re-use of resources and materials.

Objective 2: Decarbonisation of the economy – sees the crucial role of the bioeconomy in helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions by more efficient innovatory practices in agriculture and forestry. Bio-based alternatives can replace intensive carbon products such as concrete, steel and plastics.Objective 3: Jobs and competitiveness – given that many of the inputs for the bioeconomy are sourced in Ireland, its development has distinct advantages over other economic areas which are more reliant on imports. The threat of Brexit, particularly to Ireland’s agri-food and marine sectors means that the opportunities for diversification provided by expanding the bioeconomy are important.Objective 4: Creation of regional prosperity – as many of the businesses associated with development of the bioeconomy are located in rural and coastal areas where economic development has stagnated and growth opportunities are limited. An expansion of knowledge workers locating to the countryside will promote economic potential.

Source: Government of Ireland (Ireland, 2018).

Figure 1. Methodological summary guide.

Table 2. Themes and coding rules (adapted from Devitt et al., 2019).

Theme	Coding rule	Example
Pro-bioeconomy/circular economy	Focus on data, arguments and views that support and/or favourably portray the bioeconomy/circular economy	“Smart use of renewable resources “can revitalise” deprived rural areas” (IT, 15 February 2013)
Anti-bioeconomy/circular economy	Focus on data, arguments and views that oppose and/or unfavourably portray the bioeconomy/circular economy	N/A
Balanced	Focus on data, arguments and views that support and/or favourably portray and oppose and/or unfavourably portray the bioeconomy/circular economy	“Ireland can be a leader in the new bio economy … Can we position ourselves to take advantage?” (IT, Feb. 25, 2016).
Informational	Focus on general information about the bioeconomy/circular economy with limited or no pro and/or anti-bioeconomy/circular economy perspective	“Plastic packaging recycling must rise by 80% to hit target” (IT, September 20, 2018).

Table 3. Sub-themes and coding rules (adapted from Devitt et al., 2019).

Theme	Coding rule	Example
Jobs and competitiveness	Focus on opportunities for diversification provided by the expansion of the bioeconomy	“The building industry would be the main jobs beneficiary, because of the requirements to increase capacity in sheds and in milking parlours” (IE, 17 September 2015)
Regional Prosperity	Focus on the role of the bioeconomy in contributing to the dynamic for innovative development and economic growth in rural and coastal areas	“Farmers and rural dwellers need to change the way they think … a mind-set change is needed to identify the opportunities for development” (IE, 9 October 2009).
Sustainable Economy and Society	Focus on the significance of development of the bioeconomy as a means by which Ireland’s economy can be established on a more sustainable platform	“These goals serve to underpin profitability, competitiveness and sustainability within the sector.” (IE, 2 February 2013)
Decarbonisation of the economy	Focus on efficient, innovatory practices by which the bioeconomy can lower greenhouse gas emissions and also the role of bio-based alternatives to intensive carbon products	“Publicly funded research will continue to play a key role in driving innovation within the bioeconomy” (IT, 25 November 2012)

Figure 2. Frequency of bioeconomy and circular economy related articles in the three newspapers (2004–2019).

Table 4. Overview of article contents.

Article content	Bioeconomy articles	Circular economy articles	Bioeconomy and circular economy articles
Pro	25%	47%	50%
Anti	0%	0%	0%
Informational	62%	37%	50%
Balanced	13%	16%	0%
Total articles (N)	53	73	6

Table 5. Fifteen most recurrent substantive topics in the Irish broadsheet newspapers 2004–2019.

Position	Bioeconomy articles	Count	Circular economy articles	Count
1	Food	289	Waste	413
2	Research	222	Plastic	332
3	Farming	196	Recycling	293
4	Production	160	Production	168
5	Agriculture	158	People	162
6	Development	118	Food	148
7	Teagasc	115	Materials	145
8	Industry	114	Energy	141
9	Sustainable	99	Sustainable	134
10	Technology	93	Environmental	140
11	Innovative	85	Community	124
12	Rural	80	Clothing	115
13	Energy	79	Company	108
14	Business	72	Industry	106
15	Funding	70	Development	100
Total articles (N)	53		73

Table 6. Percentage of total articles referring to National Statements Strategic Policy Objectives.

Strategic policy objectives	Bioeconomy articles	Circular economy articles
Jobs and competitiveness	28%	5%
Regional prosperity	40%	4%
Sustainable economy and society	83%	98%
Decarbonisation of the economy	26%	48%
Total articles (N)	53	73

Ireland, G. O. (2018). National policy statement on the bioeconomy.

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Devitt, C., Brereton, F., Mooney, S., Conway, D., & O'Neill, E. (2019). Nuclear frames in the Irish media: Implications for conversations on nuclear power generation in the age of climate change. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 110, 260–273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.09.024

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