Second charge: Unlocking EV battery value as energy storage

Second charge: Unlocking EV battery value as energy storage

18 Sep 2026 at 10:00–13:00 (UTC+5:30)
Hyatt Regency, Ahmedabad, India
Session type: In person only (elsewhere)
Focus: Business, Critical minerals, Design, Energy, Resilience, Africa, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
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Related Sustainable Development Goals
Affordable and clean energy Climate action Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible consumption and production

Organiser(s): Ellen MacArthur Foundation 

Second-life EV batteries represent an overlooked circular economy opportunity — and a significant source of untapped value. Join practitioners to learn what’s working, what’s not, and what battery designers and regulators need to change to unlock circularity in the Global South.

Scaling circular value chains for critical materials

Scaling circular value chains for critical materials

18 Sep 2026 at 10:00–11:30 (UTC+5:30)
6th Floor, Birla Centurion, Worli, Mumbai , Mumbai, India
Session type: In person only (elsewhere)
Focus: Critical minerals, Industry, Materials, Resilience, System change, Asia, Europe, North America
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Related Sustainable Development Goals
Industry, innovation and infrastructure Partnerships for the goals Responsible consumption and production

Organiser(s): The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC)

How can proven collaboration models accelerate circularity for critical materials? Explore practical examples from existing initiatives and discuss how they can be adapted across regions and materials to build resilient, circular value chains.

Road to Finlandia Circular Latin America

Road to Finlandia Circular Latin America

17 Sep 2026 at 18:30–20:00 (UTC+5:30)
Online, Lima, Peru
Session type: Online only
Focus: Bioeconomy, Business, Critical minerals, Energy, Materials, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean
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Related Sustainable Development Goals
Affordable and clean energy Climate action Industry, innovation and infrastructure Partnerships for the goals Sustainable cities and communities

Organiser(s): Team Finland Latin America, Ministry for Foreign Affairs Finland

This session highlights how Finland is advancing circular economy partnerships across the LAC region. Through practical examples and collaboration opportunities, participants will explore how circular solutions can drive sustainable growth, innovation and resource efficiency in Latin America.

Financing circularity: Growing opportunities for financiers

Financing circularity: Growing opportunities for financiers

17 Sep 2026 at 14:00–15:30 (UTC+5:30)
Radisson hotel Gift City Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar, India
Session type: In person only in Gandhinagar
Focus: Business, Critical minerals, Energy, Finance, Food, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean
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Related Sustainable Development Goals
Climate action Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible consumption and production

Organiser(s): Enabel, Sitra

This session will present the challenges and—even more—the opportunities of financing the circular economy. It will guide entrepreneurs to better understand their financiers. It will help financiers look at their clients with a longer-term view, becoming more resilient in a fast-changing world.

Closing the loop on critical energy transition minerals

Closing the loop on critical energy transition minerals

18 Sep 2026 at 13:00–17:00 (UTC+2:00)
TBD, Gandhinagar, India
Session type: In person in Gandhinagar and online
Focus: Critical minerals, Finance, Governance, Industry, Materials, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
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Related Sustainable Development Goals
Affordable and clean energy Decent work and economic growth Gender equality Reduced inequalities

Organiser(s): United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative

This is an official AR5 Expert Consultation of the UN Secretary-General’s CETM Panel. Experts stress-test circular transition scenarios feeding directly into UNEP’s global assessment. Outputs inform multilateral policy, responsible investment and the just energy transition.

Circularity as a tool for transforming mining

Circularity as a tool for transforming mining

18 Sep 2026 at 17:30–19:00 (UTC+5:30)
Mining Hub / Online, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Session type: In person elsewhere and online
Focus: Business, Critical minerals, Industry, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
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Related Sustainable Development Goals
Climate action Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible consumption and production Sustainable cities and communities

Organiser(s): Vale S.A.

How can the circular economy transform mining? Vale S.A. and the Mining Hub invite you to discover practical experiences, challenges and approaches to unlock value from mining residues in a collaborative discussion on how to make the mining sector more sustainable and efficient.

From material dependency to material security: Circular strategies for critical raw materials​

From material dependency to material security: Circular strategies for critical raw materials​

16 Sep 2026 at 10:00–11:00 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Plenary
Focus: Critical minerals, Governance, Industry, Resilience, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Affordable and clean energy Industry, innovation and infrastructure Life on land Responsible consumption and production

This session explores how circular economy approaches can strengthen material security by reducing dependency on virgin resources and unlocking new sources of critical raw materials.

Critical raw materials are essential for clean energy technologies, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and many other sectors that underpin the global transition to a sustainable economy. As demand continues to grow for these materials, ensuring secure, resilient and sustainable access has become a strategic priority for governments, businesses and investors worldwide.

Organiser(s): Sitra the Finnish Innovation Fund, Central Pollution Control Board of India (CPCB)

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Circular solutions and business models in ICT and electronics industries​

Circular solutions and business models in ICT and electronics industries​

16 Sep 2026 at 14:30–15:30 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: Business
Focus: Critical minerals, Data and AI, Materials, Waste, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Partnerships for the goals Responsible consumption and production

This session examines strategies for extending the working life of ICT and electronics equipment through reuse, repair, refurbishment and remanufacturing business models.

It explores how recovering critical minerals from e-waste can build resilient secondary markets and reduce dependence on virgin material extraction.

Global technology firms, Indian innovators and industry associations will discuss practical solutions and partnerships needed to scale circular ICT value chains.

Organiser(s): Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI), Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (CMET), Recycling and Environment Industry Association of India (REIA)

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Circularity in energy production​

Circularity in energy production​

15 Sep 2026 at 15:00–16:00 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: Business
Focus: Critical minerals, Design, Energy, Materials, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Climate action Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Partnerships for the goals Responsible consumption and production

A growing demand for energy is leading to increased raw material extraction for use in creating the infrastructure and accompanying systems. Globally, investments in energy systems are growing, with countries seeking to meet resource-efficiency commitments through increased capacity coming from renewable sources.

To avoid unintended consequences and preserve the long-term value of natural resource inputs, the deployment of new energy systems must be led by design considerations that ensure durability, adaptability and reduced waste generation through the lifecycle and after use.

Organiser(s): Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

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Circular value chains for metals and industrial materials​

Circular value chains for metals and industrial materials​

15 Sep 2026 at 12:00–13:00 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: Business
Focus: Critical minerals, Industry, Materials, Resilience, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Industry, innovation and infrastructure Partnerships for the goals Responsible consumption and production

As demand for metals grows, circular value chains are becoming essential to strengthen resource security, supply chain resilience and industrial competitiveness.

This session will explore the systemic barriers hindering circularity from scaling across metal value chains and how existing collaborative initiatives can help mobilise stakeholders, align priorities and accelerate implementation.

Drawing on perspectives from industry and policymakers, participants will gain practical insights into how pre-competitive collaboration can accelerate circular value chains at scale and support a more resilient and resource-efficient economy.

Organiser(s): World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI)

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