The World Circular Economy Forum 2026 ended on 16 September in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, after two days of discussions on how to shift towards a circular economy across industries and sectors. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change hosted the event, which brought together nearly 2,700 delegates and 260 speakers from over 60 countries including governments, businesses, startups, universities and civil society organisations. The next edition of the forum will be held at Columbia University in the United States.
What happened at the forum
The forum featured four plenary sessions and 16 parallel sessions that covered financial, technical, technological, social and economic aspects of the circular economy. Discussions included employment generation, inclusivity, gender equity, financing needs and future challenges in moving away from a linear “take-make-dispose” model.
An exhibition running alongside the forum displayed work by 135 national and international exhibitors showing practical implementations of circular solutions. The government announced the launch of the Ecomark logo at the closing ceremony.
In the days following the main forum, 80 accelerator sessions were planned for 17-18 September 2026 to help convert ideas discussed during the event into concrete action plans. These sessions would be organised by various collaborating partners.
What this means for you
The forum’s focus on circular economy principles could influence policies and business practices that affect waste management, product design, employment and resource use in India. If circular solutions are scaled up through the collaborations discussed, they may create new job opportunities in recycling, repair, remanufacturing and other related sectors. Individuals and communities may also see changes in how products are designed and how waste is handled in their localities as companies adopt circular practices.