Opening ceremony

Opening ceremony

15 Sep 2026 at 09:30–10:30 (UTC+5:30)
Concention Hall
Session type: Plenary
Focus: Education, Employment, Governance, Materials, Waste, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Clean water and sanitation Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Partnerships for the goals Responsible consumption and production

The opening session will bring together distinguished national and international leaders, policymakers and key stakeholders to set the stage for a global dialogue. After a ceremonial opening, we will showcase circular economy initiatives and publications, highlighting India’s priorities, global cooperation and opportunities for accelerating circularity. The session will set the tone for the discussions, knowledge exchange and collaborative action throughout the forum.

Organiser(s): Central Pollution Control Board of India (CPCB), Sitra the Finnish Innovation Fund, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India (MoEFCC)

Meet the experts

Unlocking capital for circular growth

Unlocking capital for circular growth

18 Sep 2026 at 10:00–12:00 (UTC+5:30)
Karnavati University, Uvarsad, near Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
Session type: In person in Gandhinagar and online
Focus: Business, Finance, Industry, Materials, Asia
Related Sustainable Development Goals
Climate action Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible consumption and production Sustainable cities and communities

How can innovative finance accelerate the circular economy? This roundtable brings together circular enterprises, MSMEs, investors and policymakers to explore Circularity-Linked Bonds (CLBs), Circularity-Linked Loans, blended finance and risk-sharing solutions that can unlock capital and scale circular value chains.

From urban waste to critical mineral reserves

From urban waste to critical mineral reserves

17 Sep 2026 at 11:00–12:30 (UTC+5:30)
National Institute of Design (NID), Gandhinagar, India
Session type: In person in Gandhinagar and online
Focus: Critical raw materials, Data and AI, Industry, Materials, System change, Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean
Related Sustainable Development Goals
Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Sustainable cities and communities

Urban areas are becoming an increasingly important source of secondary materials, yet much of this potential remains underutilised. This session brings together Indian and global experiences to explore how urban mining can move beyond waste management towards the recovery of critical resources.

Hidden trade-offs in circular transitions

Hidden trade-offs in circular transitions

17 Sep 2026 at 16:00–18:00 (UTC+5:30)
IIT Palakkad, Palakkad, India
Session type: In person elsewhere and online
Focus: Built environment, Employment, Governance, Industry, Materials, Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean
Related Sustainable Development Goals
Climate action Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Reduced inequalities Responsible consumption and production

Circular economy policies can shift emissions, jobs and value across borders. This session explores hidden trade-offs such as rebound, job shifts, asset lock-in and uneven value capture across regions. Discussions will help shape a practical lens for fairer circular economy policies.

From silicon to system: Experience upskilling through circular chipsets

From silicon to system: Experience upskilling through circular chipsets

17 Sep 2026 at 14:00–17:00 (UTC+5:30)
Online, Gandhinagar, India
Session type: Online only
Focus: Critical raw materials, Design, Education, Materials, System change, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
Related Sustainable Development Goals
Industry, innovation and infrastructure Quality education Responsible consumption and production

This accelerator session helps build essential circular skills, using the chipset’s life cycle as a case study to explore shifting industries from linear to circular. No tech background needed: the chipset is just the lens and the capabilities you gain apply to any industry ready to close the loop.

Circular public procurement for sustainable consumption and production

Circular public procurement for sustainable consumption and production

18 Sep 2026 at 14:00–15:30 (UTC+5:30)
Online , New Delhi, India
Session type: Online only
Focus: Business, Governance, Industry, Materials, System change, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
Related Sustainable Development Goals
Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible consumption and production

This session shares Indian and global lessons on how information instruments such as ecolabels, combined with market-promotion instruments such as public procurement, can help advance circular economy goals and contribute to sustainable consumption and production.

Circular value chains for metals and industrial materials in Odisha

Circular value chains for metals and industrial materials in Odisha

18 Sep 2026 at 15:00–17:30 (UTC+5:30)
virtual, Bhubaneswar, India
Session type: Online only
Focus: Built environment, Business, Employment, Materials, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
Related Sustainable Development Goals
Clean water and sanitation Climate action Responsible consumption and production

Exploration of Odisha’s steel, aluminium and mineral industries are transforming industrial wastes into valuable resources through circular value chains.

Circular fashion: Building the ecosystem

Circular fashion: Building the ecosystem

17 Sep 2026 at 14:00–16:00 (UTC+5:30)
Online, Online, India
Session type: Online only
Focus: Business, Design, Industry, Materials, Asia, Europe
Related Sustainable Development Goals
Climate action Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Reduced inequalities Responsible consumption and production

Discover how India’s textile hubs, recyclers and brands can weave a true circular fashion ecosystem from waste to wear. Learn the barriers, business models and real examples shaping this shift. Whether you’re a designer, manufacturer, brand or policymaker, this session shows why circularity is a practical economic strategy.

Circular economy and rating systems: Are we measuring what really matters?

Circular economy and rating systems: Are we measuring what really matters?

18 Sep 2026 at 14:00–15:30 (UTC+5:30)
Online, Bangalore, India
Session type: Online only
Focus: Built environment, Design, Materials, Nature, People, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
Related Sustainable Development Goals
Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible consumption and production Sustainable cities and communities

Circularity matters – Are rating systems truly advancing circularity, or just rewarding compliance? This panel explores how built environment frameworks can move beyond waste, recycled content and checklists to measure lifecycle value, reuse, adaptability, embodied carbon and real circular outcomes.

Campus regeneration and green skills: Transforming universities into labs for a circular future

Campus regeneration and green skills: Transforming universities into labs for a circular future

18 Sep 2026 at 10:00–12:00 (UTC+5:00)
Gujarat Law University, Gandhinagar, India
Session type: In person in Gandhinagar and online
Focus: Bioeconomy, Data and AI, Education, Governance, Materials, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
Related Sustainable Development Goals
Partnerships for the goals Quality education Responsible consumption and production Sustainable cities and communities

Organiser(s): International Council For Circular Economy (ICCE) Association of Indian Universities (AIU)

This accelerator session brings together leading universities to demonstrate how regeneration, circular resource management and green skills development can transform higher education institutions into living laboratories for a regenerative future.