Skills and reskilling for circular industries​

Skills and reskilling for circular industries​

16 Sep 2026 at 14:30–15:30 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: People
Focus: Education, Employment, People, 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 Quality education Responsible consumption and production

The session discusses the critical need for circular economy skills in emerging economies, particularly India, to address resource efficiency and job creation.

It highlights the risks of increasing resource extraction and e-waste, alongside the transformative potential of new skills in repair, refurbishment and circular entrepreneurship.

The session aims to connect global evidence with India-specific opportunities for a just and inclusive green transition.

Organiser(s): International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, NetZero Energy Transition Association (NETRA)

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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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Circular bioeconomy: From biomass to value-added products​

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, encouraging innovation and livelihoods, and reducing reliance on finite and resource-intensive materials. However, bio-based production is not automatically sustainable and can affect land-use change, ecosystem degradation, resource competition and unequal outcomes.

This session explores how circular economy principles, context-specific approaches and effective safeguards, combined with robust data, monitoring, evaluation and local knowledge can guide the conversion of biomass, by-products and organic residues into higher-value products while prioritising prevention, reuse and cascading use over lower-value recovery—enabling resource-efficient, nature-positive and socially just results.

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

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Start-up ecosystems for the circular economy​

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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Inclusive circular economy and growth​

Inclusive circular economy and growth​

16 Sep 2026 at 11:30–12:30 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: People
Focus: Employment, People, Resilience, Waste, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Decent work and economic growth No poverty Reduced inequalities Responsible consumption and production Sustainable cities and communities

This session explores how inclusive circular economy policies, business models and partnerships can empower waste pickers and other informal workers as key agents of resource recovery, decent work, and equitable economic growth while advancing a just transition to circularity.

Informal workers are central to material recovery and circular value chains across emerging economies. The session will demonstrate how to strengthen their integration into the circular economy, drawing on India’s experience alongside perspectives from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean as well as examine pathways to improve livelihoods, social protection and resource efficiency through a just transition.

Organiser(s): United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Alliance of Indian Wastepickers (AIW)

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

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.

Join us to gain practical insights from international experience and Indian initiatives to guide strategies for advancing industrial symbiosis.

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

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Employment potential in the circular economy​

Employment potential in the circular economy​

15 Sep 2026 at 15:00–16:00 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: People
Focus: Education, Employment, People, 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

As circular economy strategies gain momentum, new jobs are emerging, linear economy jobs are being displaced and existing circular economy jobs are being transformed, creating both opportunity and urgency around engagement in a circular economy.

This session examines how these changes are unfolding, and addresses the policies, investments and business models needed to make circular economy employment economically viable, technologically advanced and socially inclusive. It offers participants evidence-based insights into good, sustainable work in the circular economy.

Organiser(s): Circle Economy, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)

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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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