Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel on Tuesday inaugurated the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 in Gandhinagar, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, innovators and researchers from across the world to advance practical solutions for a circular economy.
The four-day forum, being held from September 15 to 18 under the theme ‘Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity’, is being organised in India for the first time in South Asia.
The forum has brought together more than 3,600 stakeholders from 62 countries, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, policymakers and academicians. The WCEF 2026 exhibition features 135 national and international exhibitors showcasing circular economy solutions.
Addressing the inaugural session, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel said India’s hosting of the forum reflects the country’s growing leadership in the global circular economy. He highlighted Mission LiFE as an important foundation for advancing circularity and expressed confidence that the forum would showcase practical solutions for the world.
Patel also highlighted Gujarat’s efforts to balance environmental conservation with development. Referring to traditional practices, he cited the recycling of offerings at the Somnath Temple into reusable resources as an example of how the principles of reuse and converting waste into wealth have long been embedded in Indian traditions.
He called for WCEF 2026 to embody the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ by developing practical circular solutions that can benefit communities across the world.
Circular economy rooted in India’s traditional practices
In his keynote address, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said circular economy principles are deeply rooted in India’s social and cultural practices.
He described the circular economy as “a new way of looking at an old wisdom”, pointing to the traditional emphasis on repair, reuse and responsible use of resources.
Yadav said the choice is not between economic growth and environmental protection, but about making growth itself more resource-efficient, resilient and sustainable.
He emphasised that the success of a circular economy should not be measured only by the amount of waste recycled, but also by how much value is prevented from being wasted.
Over 83,000 producers registered under EPR frameworks
The Environment Minister highlighted India’s regulatory and digital initiatives to promote circularity, including strengthened sector-specific waste management rules and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanisms.
As of August 2026, more than 83,000 producers and 4,802 recyclers had been registered under various EPR frameworks, with nearly 482.24 lakh metric tonnes of waste processed across regulated waste streams.
Yadav stressed that regulation alone cannot create a circular economy and said circularity must also begin with consumer behaviour.
He said the transition needs to start in the marketplace, continue in homes and eventually become part of everyday habits. He also underlined the need for collaboration across countries and sectors, with knowledge, technology, finance and responsibility moving across borders.
Global cooperation at the centre of circular transition
The Minister highlighted India’s international cooperation on the circular economy, including the Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC) launched during India’s G20 Presidency.
He also said India’s BRICS Chairship has placed circular economy alongside sustainable lifestyles, ecosystem restoration and adaptation as interconnected priorities.
Representatives from Finland and the Netherlands also highlighted the importance of international cooperation and circular value chains.
Finland’s Ambassador to India, Mikko Kivikoski, said circularity has become an integral part of Finland’s national policy and highlighted the country’s efforts to reduce resource consumption. He noted that more than 100 Finnish companies operating in India are working with sustainable technologies and circular principles.
Dutch Deputy Director General for Circular Economy Marieke Spijkerboer said circular transition is an integral part of Dutch industrial policy, with the Netherlands aiming to become fully circular by 2050. She stressed the importance of international cooperation in building circular value chains.
WCEF showcases practical circular solutions
The inaugural session also saw the release of two publications — ‘Best Practices for Reuse of Treated Sewage’ and ‘Driving Sustainability – A Guide to India’s Circular Economy and EPR Initiatives’.
The forum is being jointly organised by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, Government of Finland, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Gujarat and Gujarat Pollution Control Board.
WCEF 2026 is expected to serve as a platform for countries, businesses and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge and develop practical approaches to resource efficiency, waste reduction and sustainable economic growth.
