Publication: Circular Economy Perspectives in Solar Value Chains: circular business models for photovoltaic and solar water heating systems

Solar PV and solar water heating systems are scaling fast. The ones going up today will define the material flows of the coming decades, 60–78 million tonnes of cumulative PV material by 2050 (IRENA), so decisions on design, service and recovery cannot wait. The next phase is about how these systems perform, endure and retain value over time, and the publication sets out the circular business models that make this possible at each of those stages, from solar-as-a-service delivery and preventive maintenance to certified second-life markets and high-value material recovery. Published by UNIDO, funded by the European Union.

When: 15 September 2026 at 15:00–16:00 IST
Session: Circularity in Energy Production
Contact: Michael Barla, Communications and Knowledge Manager, UNIDO, m.barla@unido.org

EU CERC Circular Awards 2026

The EU Circular Economy Resource Centre (EU CERC) will award leading policy achievements and business solutions annually at WCEF. The winners will receive a prize worth up to €10,000 including participation in the WCEF, tailored exchange and coaching as well as visibility and promotion. The three award categories are policy implementation award, circular business in electronics and ICT sector, and a young woman entrepreneur.

Policy award announcement

When: 16 September 2026 at 11:30–12:30 IST
Session: Waste as resource: Industrial symbiosis as an engine of circular growth
Contact: Tim Forslund, Sitra, tim.forslund@sitra.fi

Business award announcements

When: 16 September 2026 at 16:00–17:00 IST
Session: Catalysts of change: Youth leadership and innovations in the circular economy
Contact: Frederik van den Bosch, Enabel, frederik.vandenbosch@enabel.be

Book: Designing for Dhara: An Indian framework for a circular and regenerative future

The book presents a timely and necessary rethinking of the circular economy through the lens of design, culture and context, positioning India at the forefront of shaping regenerative development pathways. It introduces a unique and original concept: Designing for Dhara (Dhara meaning Earth), which builds on global circular design principles while grounding them in India’s traditional ethos of balance with nature, frugality and collective responsibility.

When: 16 September 2026 at 19–21 IST
Session: Designign for Dhara | Book Launch
Contact: Himanshu Singh, Publication Manager, BlueRose Publishers, desk05@bluerosepublishers.com, +91 7 969 108 865

Policy guide and toolkit to promote upstream circular economy action

The circular transition will not be won at the end of the value chain, but at its beginning. Developed under UNIDO’s Partnerships for Sustainable Inclusive and Circular Supply Chains (PASS) project, the Addressing the Source guide and toolkit equips policymakers with the governance approaches, policy instruments and practical tools needed to shift from downstream fixes to upstream action, where the greatest opportunities for reducing resource use and environmental impacts are determined. Available both as a comprehensive report and an interactive online platform, the toolkit will support governments in designing coherent, participatory and impactful policies that accelerate the transition to circular and sustainable supply chains.

When: 17 September 2026 at 10:00–13:00 IST
Session: Four Shifts to Unlock the Upstream Circular Economy
Contact: Daniele Serra, UNIDO, D.SERRA@unido.org

Circular finance stories by the EU CERC

Circular finance can feel abstract. The European Union’s Circular Resource Centre (EU CERC) has taken a strategic snapshot of the circular economy financing landscape, collecting real journeys to make it concrete. These circular finance stories share how specific institutions have actually financed the circular economy. The organisations range from multilateral development banks, development finance institutions and commercial banks to public-research networks, philanthropies and corporate-backed funds. This is no theory but real-life examples on what pushed them to move, the strategy they chose, how they executed it and what other financiers can take away.

Each story follows one institution, from the moment circularity became a strategic lever to the lessons it leaves behind. The stories are served in three easy-to use formats: long-form on the web, narrated in audio and packaged as a print-ready booklet to pass on. Key insights include five priority pillars, drawn from fieldwork with more than 20 financial organisations, each with 3 insights from the field and 2 things financiers can start doing right away.

When: 17 September at 14:00–16:00 IST
Session: Financing circularity: Growing opportunities for financiers
Contact: Frederik van den Bosch, Enabel, frederik.vandenbosch@enabel.be

100 circular economy business cases in Southeast Asia

The ASEAN Circular Economy Business Alliance (ACEBA) will showcase its collection of 100 curated business cases, demonstrating how companies across Southeast Asia are benefiting from adopting circular economy practices. From circular design, resource efficiency and waste reduction to new circular business models and processes, these cases highlight practical solutions and business leadership supporting the region’s transition to a more circular economy. Explore the business cases and access the growing ACEBA collection.

When: 17 September 2026 at 14:00–16:00 IST
Session: Scaling Circular Business: From Innovation to Investment and Partnerships
Contact: Dr Sara Gabai, SWITCH-ASIA, sara@switch-asia.eu

Event announcement: 10 best Nordic circular investment cases

This announced event will reveal the 10 best cases of Nordic Circular Investments with proven returns, successful business models and measurable impact. Through the cases, the announced event will showcase what it takes to make circular solutions more investable and scalable.

When: 17 September 2026 at 17:30–19:00
Session: Building and financing circular value chains: Live cases from India and the Nordics
Contact: Alisa Mick, Mixi, alisa@mixicenter.com

Circular bioeconomy innovation challenge 2026

The circular bioeconomy innovation challenge 2026 is led by International Water Management Institution (IWMI), with Pusa Krishi as a partner, in collaboration with BAIF Development Research Foundation and with support from the CGIAR multifunctional landscapes programme, inviting startups, entrepreneurs and community-led innovators. Top 4 finalists will get the opportunity to pitch live at the WCEF2026 Accelerator Session in New Delhi, presenting their innovations to a global audience and gaining visibility for solutions that can shape the future of the circular bioeconomy.

When: 18 September 2026 at 10:00–13:00 IST
Session: Scaling inclusive circular bioeconomy solutions
Contact: Tanmoy Bhaduri, IWMI, T.Bhaduri@cgiar.org

3 new studies supported by PAGE

How can evidence translate into better policy, investment and business decisions? Three new studies supported by the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) will bring fresh evidence to the conversation by examining the following three perspectives:

• Markets: What will it take to make secondary materials markets more competitive and investment-ready?
• Jobs: How many people already work in the circular economy, and where are the opportunities for workers?
• Economy: What does scaling circular approaches mean for growth, employment, resource use and emissions?
  

When: 18 September 2026 at 11:00–12:30 IST (07:30–09:00 CEST)
Session: Circular economy: From evidence to transformation
Contact: Manisha Choudhary, UN PAGE, manisha.choudhary@un.org