World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026

Why in News?

India hosted the 10^th edition of the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF 2026) at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, marks the first time the global flagship event is being hosted in South Asia.

• Theme - “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity”. 
• Jointly organized by –
  • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),
  • Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra (the creator of WCEF), the Government of Finland,
  • the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC),
  • the Government of Gujarat, and
  • the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB).
• Framework – It was structured around a "2+2 day" dual-format framework.
• The forum bridges India's domestic environmental paradigms, such as
  • Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), and
  • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan with global expertise, venture capital, and cross-border clean-tech partnerships.
• Main Forum Programme - Consists of 4 Plenary Sessions addressing cross-cutting, high-level global themes alongside 16 Parallel Sessions.
• Features a curated Expo Space showcasing practical, scalable circular technologies and business models from Indian and international organizations.
• Accelerator & Partner Sessions - Hosted by global collaborators in Gandhinagar, online, and through satellite WCEF Studios worldwide to translate policy frameworks into actionable industrial roadmaps.

The Four Core Thematic Tracks

• People Track (Inclusion, Skills & Jobs)- Focuses on human-centric transitions, workforce upskilling for green jobs, and integrating informal waste workers into formal waste management systems.
• Examines how youth leadership and behavioral changes drive sustainable consumption models.
• Business Track (Transforming Value Chains) - Explores sustainable product design, industrial symbiosis, material recovery, and remanufacturing across key sectors (textiles, electronics, plastics, and automotive).
• Promotes business models that shift from selling physical products to offering "product-as-a-service" (PaaS).
• Governance Track (Policy & Institutional Rules) - Focuses on regulatory enablers, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks, circular public procurement, and harmonizing cross-border waste trade standards.
• Discusses metrics, life-cycle assessments, and science-based policy interventions to prevent non-tariff trade barriers.
• Growth Track (Scale & Capital Allocation) - Addresses scaling circular solutions through blended finance, sovereign green bonds, risk-guarantee mechanisms, and venture capital.
• Connects public-private investment frameworks to build resilient material supply chains across developing economies.
• Significance - Provides a platform for Global South nations to co-design circular economy policies, ensuring that international environmental standards account for local economic realities and informal sector dynamics.

Reference

DD News | World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in Gandhinagar