The World Circular Economy Forum 2026 (WCEF2026) concluded in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, with a call for greater collaboration and faster implementation of circular economy solutions. The two-day forum brought together around 2,700 delegates and 260 speakers from more than 60 countries, representing governments, international organisations, industry, start-ups, academia and civil society.

At the inauguration, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said India’s approach to the circular economy was rooted in long-standing practices of reuse, repair and resource conservation. He described circularity as “a new way of looking at an old wisdom”, highlighting the principles of “repair before replace, reuse before discard, and recover before waste”. Yadav said the transition should not be viewed as a choice between economic growth and environmental protection, but as an opportunity to make growth more resource-efficient, resilient and sustainable. He also emphasised that the true measure of a circular economy should not be how much waste is recycled, but how little value is allowed to be wasted.

The closing session highlighted the need to move from commitments to practical action. Gujarat Minister of State for Forest and Environment, Climate Change and Transport, Pravinbhai Mali, said the impact of the forum would ultimately depend on collaborations on the ground. He described the circular economy not only as an environmental agenda, but also as an economic opportunity and a societal responsibility.

Finland’s Cabinet Minister for Climate and the Environment, Sari Multala, highlighted the focus on inclusion and the people dimension of the transition. She also pointed to the need for practical partnerships, business collaborations, innovation and investment to turn circular economy ideas into scalable solutions.

According to Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board, Dr Amandeep Garg, the forum featured four plenary sessions and 16 parallel sessions covering financial, technical, technological, social and economic aspects of the circular economy. Discussions included employment, inclusivity, gender equity, financing, material security, innovation, entrepreneurship and skills development.

The parallel sessions translated these themes into sector-specific discussions across various waste streams, with emphasis on reskilling, digital technologies, finance, value-chain partnerships and citizen participation.

The concurrent exhibition featured 135 national and international exhibitors. A further 80 accelerator sessions are scheduled for September 17–18 to develop practical pathways from ideas generated during the forum. WCEF 2027 will be hosted by Columbia University in the United States.