P3 From material dependency to material security: Circular strategies for critical raw materials​

P3 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

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P1 India’s circular economy vision​

P1 India’s circular economy vision​

15 Sep 2026 at 10:30–11:30 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Plenary
Focus: Governance, Industry, Resilience, System change, 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 explores India’s vision for advancing the circular economy in a resource-constrained world and the country’s growing role in shaping global circular pathways. As global resource consumption continues to rise, scalable circular solutions are becoming essential for sustainable development, with the Global South playing an increasingly important role in driving innovation and implementation. The session will provide a global perspective on the state of the circular economy while showcasing India’s leadership through national and state-level initiatives, business innovation and industrial strategies that demonstrate how circularity can support economic growth, resilience and resource security.

Organiser(s): Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund

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PS15 Circular bioeconomy: From biomass to value-added products​

PS15 Circular bioeconomy: From biomass to value-added products​

16 Sep 2026 at 14:30–15:30 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: Governance
Focus: Bioeconomy, Industry, Materials, Nature, 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 Life on land Responsible consumption and production

Scaling the circular bioeconomy can support sustainable development by creating value from sustainably sourced biological resources, fostering innovation and livelihoods, and reducing reliance on finite and carbon-intensive resources. However, bio-based production is not inherently sustainable and can drive land-use change, ecosystem degradation, resource competition and unequal outcomes. This session explores how circular economy principles, context-specific approaches, effective safeguards, and robust data, monitoring and evaluation are necessary to shape bioeconomy strategies that are resource-efficient, nature-positive, socially just and grounded in local knowledge and livelihoods.

Organiser(s): United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Africa Circular

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PS16 Start-up ecosystems for the circular economy​

PS16 Start-up ecosystems for the circular economy​

16 Sep 2026 at 14:30–15:30 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: Growth
Focus: Business, Finance, Industry, Resilience, Africa, Asia
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible consumption and production

This session will explore how innovative financing mechanisms and risk-mitigation approaches can accelerate the growth of circular economy start-ups in emerging markets. The conversation will then spotlight practical examples of value chain partnerships that have enabled circular businesses to scale. Participants will leave with an understanding of what makes circular ventures investable, how next-gen blended finance and guarantees can crowd in private capital, and what role large corporates can play in creating demand and market certainty.  

Organiser(s): World Economic Forum

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PS10 Circular economy value chains in the textile sector​

PS10 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 will explore how circular economy approaches can transform textile value chains through innovative policies, business models, financing mechanisms and multi-stakeholder partnerships. Drawing on global and Indian experiences, the discussion will highlight practical strategies for reducing environmental impacts while creating economic opportunities, green jobs and resilient circular textile systems. 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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PS12 Waste as resource: Industrial symbiosis as an engine of circular growth​

PS12 Waste as resource: Industrial symbiosis as an engine of circular growth​

16 Sep 2026 at 11:30–12:30 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: Growth
Focus: Governance, Industry, Materials, 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 Responsible consumption and production

The session will explore practical pathways for advancing industrial symbiosis at scale by addressing the market, system and governance barriers that constrain resource exchange and collaboration among industries. It will examine how waste-to-resource exchange platforms, digital platforms for circular resource management, managed industrial cooperation networks, cluster-based circular economy models and Eco-Industrial Parks can unlock circular resource flows.

Organiser(s): Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC), Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund

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PS7 Closing the loop: advancing circularity in plastic waste management​

PS7 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

This session focuses on practical solutions for advancing circularity in plastic packaging across the value chain, from product design to traceability, advanced sorting and high-quality recycling. It presents technologies, policies and collaborative approaches that enable greater resource efficiency and increased use of recycled plastics. 

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

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PS2 Circular value chains for metals and industrial materials​

PS2 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, policy and finance, 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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