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.

Roll up your sleeves: from policy to practice with digital product passports for global value chains

Roll up your sleeves: from policy to practice with digital product passports for global value chains

17 Sep 2026 at 09:30–12:30 (UTC+5:30)
Radisson hotel Gift City Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar, India
Session type: In person only in Gandhinagar
Focus: Business, Data and AI, Design, Industry, System change, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
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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): EU Circular Economy Resource Centre (EU CERC),
International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE),
Circulearth, Sitra and Enabel

This is a practical policy-to-implementation session on how digital product passports (DPPs) can enable ecodesign and circular value chains. Hear policy insights and company perspectives, see a live demonstration of a frugal decentralised DPP, and test practical readiness tools in an interactive workshop.

Circular for scale: From circular innovation to investment, partnerships and growth

Circular for scale: From circular innovation to investment, partnerships and growth

17 Sep 2026 at 14:00–16:00 (UTC+5:00)
Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre (Seminar Hall 1)   , Gandinagar, India
Session type: In person in Gandhinagar and online
Focus: Business, Design, Industry, Materials, Asia, Europe
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Related Sustainable Development Goals
Climate action Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible consumption and production

Organiser(s): EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component Programme,
Centre for Responsible Business, Sustainability Standards

Why do some circular businesses scale while others remain pilots? This session explores how enterprises in South and Southeast Asia build market access, partnerships, financing and investment readiness, with practical insights for businesses, investors, policymakers and support organisations.

Governance framework for the circular economy​

Governance framework for the circular economy​

15 Sep 2026 at 16:30–17:30 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Plenary
Focus: Business, Design, Governance, System change, 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 Peace, justice and strong institutions Responsible consumption and production

This session explores the governance frameworks, policy instruments and regulatory approaches that enable the transition to a circular economy.

Effective governance is essential for creating the conditions that drive circular business models, sustainable product design, secondary material markets and investment, while ensuring implementation across national, state and local levels.

The session will showcase how policy frameworks such as circular economy road maps, extended producer responsibility, ecodesign regulations, fiscal incentives and digital compliance mechanisms can accelerate the transition from ambition to action.

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

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Circular economy value chains in the textile sector​

Circular economy value chains in the textile sector​

16 Sep 2026 at 11:30–12:30 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: Business
Focus: Design, Finance, Industry, System change, 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

This session explores how circular economy approaches can transform textile value chains through innovative policies, business models, financing mechanisms and partnerships, covering topics from sustainable eco-design and regenerative sourcing to automated sorting and closed-loop recycling technologies.

Drawing on global and Indian experiences, the discussion will examine how to address challenges related to resource consumption, waste generation and environmental impacts while creating economic opportunities, green jobs and resilient circular textile systems, and supporting global sustainability goals.

Participants will gain insights into scaling circularity through collaboration among governments, industry, financial institutions and international organisations.

Organiser(s): United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

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Ecodesign for sustainable products and a circular economy​

Ecodesign for sustainable products and a circular economy​

16 Sep 2026 at 11:30–12:30 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: Governance
Focus: Business, Design, Governance, System change, Asia, Europe, North America
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Affordable and clean energy Industry, innovation and infrastructure Partnerships for the goals Responsible consumption and production

This session explores how policy frameworks and regulatory approaches can advance circular and sustainable products while remaining practical and inclusive across global value chains.

Bringing together perspectives from India, the European Union and other regions, the discussion will examine how ecodesign policies can shape markets, drive innovation and improve product sustainability while responding to emerging requirements on durability, repairability, resource efficiency and recyclability and addressing the challenges related to compliance costs, testing and certification infrastructure, access to technology, finance and technical skills.

The session highlights how proportionate requirements, transition finance, capacity-building, shared infrastructure and international cooperation can help organisations participate competitively in circular markets.

Organiser(s): Chatham House, Sitra the Finnish Innovation Fund, UNEP PAGE India – Partnership for Action on Green Economy

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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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Closing the loop: advancing circularity in plastic waste management​

Closing the loop: advancing circularity in plastic waste management​

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

Plastic waste remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, yet it also presents an unprecedented opportunity for economic and industrial innovation.

This session explores strategies, technologies and policy frameworks designed to transition from a linear model to a fully circular plastics economy, while sharing practical solutions for advancing circularity in plastic packaging across the value chain, from product design to traceability, advanced sorting and high-quality recycling.

Transforming plastic waste management requires combining innovative technology, robust policy and cross-sector collaboration to drive resource efficiency and scale the adoption of recycled materials.

Organiser(s): Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC), Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

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