World’s leading circularity event reveals how to unlock investment

The tenth edition of the World Circular Economy Forum, WCEF2026, held in Gandhinagar, India, identified the conditions needed to unlock investment in circular solutions.

The understanding that investments in circular economy solutions require predictable policies, functioning markets, reliable data and integrated value chains, raised among 2,600 experts.

The world is facing enormous challenges in securing the necessary materials for coming decades. The UN’s International Resource Panel (IRP), a WCEF science partner, has estimated that without urgent and concerted action to change the way resources are used, material resource extraction could increase by almost 60 per cent from 2020 levels by 2060, from 100 to 160 billion, due to lifestyles characterised by overconsumption.

Mahindra executive: Circularity drives greater value creation

Participants at the WCEF2026 identified opportunities to change the vision described by the IRP.

“In addition to virgin raw materials, an increasing number of companies and policymakers are considering circular solutions, such as recognising and using electronic waste as a source of valuable critical raw materials” says Kari Herlevi, Programme Director at the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, the initiator of the WCEF.

The view was confirmed by Ankit Todi, Chief Sustainability Officer of one of India’s largest business conglomerates, Mahindra Group, in his interview for the WCEF.

“We are seeing a lot more, both regulatory support as well as traction in terms of how meaningful this can be, more economic value for the organisation as a whole” he stated.

The 10th edition of the World Circular Economy Forum took place from 15 to 18 September 2026. Following the main event, 75 accelerator sessions bridged the forum’s themes with the daily work needed for a circular transition. The forum also acted as a platform for several international meetings. The WCEF2026 Expo Area brought into the spotlight innovative and scalable circular economy solutions from around the world by 135 exhibitors.

The theme of this year’s forum was “Circular economy: Transition for people and prosperity.” WCEF2026 was organised jointly by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India (MoEFCC) and the Governments of India and Finland, in coordination with the Government of Gujarat and the Gujarat Pollution Control board (GPCB), in collaboration with global and Indian partners.

Circular Awards 2026 to Brazil and Kenya

Annual Circular Awards by the European Union Circular Economy Resource Centre (EU CERC) were given to Brazilian and Kenyan actors. The business awards went to Kijani Testing of Kenya in the Young Woman Entrepreneur category and Indústria Fox of Brazil in the Electronics & ICT category. The policy implementation award winner also came from Brazil: the State of Rio de Janeiro.

The Circular Awards is an annual recognition for public and private sector achievements in advancing the circular economy in EU partner countries. The Business Awards recognise and celebrate innovative circular economy companies, while the Policy Award goes to a public sector entity which effectively implemented a circular economy policy. Winners receive a support package worth up to EUR 10,000 as well as an opportunity to present their work at the World Circular Economy Forum WCEF.

WCEF2027 will be held in New York

The World Circular Economy Forum 2027 will be held in New York on 8–11 June 2027. WCEF2027 will be hosted jointly by the Columbia Climate School and New York University and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. The Government of the Netherlands will continue its longstanding partnership with the WCEF as an Enabling Partner of next year’s edition.

“WCEF2026 in Gandhinagar was an extraordinary collaboration by circularity leaders from India, Finland, and around the world. We are very much looking forward to continuing the conversation and helping to advance circular solutions in New York City at WCEF2027” says Sandra Goldmark, Professor of Practice and Associate Dean of Columbia Climate School.

WCEF2026 logo, photos and background materials

Check the WCEF2026 media page for the logo. Photographs taken during the event have been added to the material bank. On the media page you’ll find also background information about the WCEF and circular economy as well.

Media contacts

Samuli Laita, Media liaison of the WCEF, the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, samuli.laita@sitra.fi, tel. +358 40 5368 650
Deepti Kapil, Additional Director, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India, deepti.kapil@nic.in
Snehal Tripathi, Special Adviser on Communications, Embassy of Finland in New Delhi, snehal.tripathi@gov.fi

For editors

The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) is the world’s leading event on the circular economy. It provides a platform for sharing knowledge and expertise, building networks and partnerships, and advancing the transition to a circular economy. WCEF is an annual event organised by Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, with international partners. The forum brings together leaders from business, government, academia and civil society to explore global issues related to the circular economy and to find solutions to the challenges facing the world.

The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra is an active fund for the future addressing societal challenges that shape our world. Together with partners we develop solutions, enhance well-being and boost economic growth within Earth’s carrying capacity. Founded in 1967, we are an independent public fund operating directly under the supervision of the Finnish Parliament. Sitra has received global recognition for accelerating the world’s transition to a circular economy and is the founder of the World Circular Economy Forum.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, passed by Parliament in September 1974. CPCB is entrusted with the powers and functions under the Water Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and various waste management rules notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.