Gandhinagar, Sep 15 (IANS) Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday inaugurated the 10th edition of the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 in Gandhinagar, bringing policymakers, businesses, researchers and innovators from across the world together to discuss ways of making economic growth more resource-efficient and sustainable.
The four-day forum, being held from September 15 to 18 under the theme ‘Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity’, is being hosted in India for the first time and is the first WCEF to be held in South Asia.
More than 3,600 cross-sectoral stakeholders from 62 countries are participating in the forum, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, policymakers, academics and other stakeholders.
The event is also hosting an exhibition featuring 135 national and international exhibitors showcasing practical circular economy solutions.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Patel said the hosting of WCEF in South Asia reflected India’s growing global leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said, “Thee forum should embody the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ by developing practical circular economy solutions for the world.”
Patel also highlighted Gujarat’s experience in balancing industrial development with environmental conservation.
He said the state’s initiatives in areas including renewable energy, waste and water management and resource efficiency offered examples that could be shared internationally.
Yadav said circularity required cooperation across countries and sectors, as no country, company or community could close the resource loop on its own. “Knowledge, technology, finance and responsibility need to move across borders and sectors,” he said.
The minister said India’s approach to circularity was supported by regulatory reforms and digital compliance systems, including Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks for various waste streams.
“As of August 2026, more than 83,000 producers and 4,802 recyclers were registered under various EPR frameworks, with nearly 482.24 lakh metric tonnes of waste processed across regulated waste streams,” he said.
The forum 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 event is being jointly organised by the Central Pollution Control Board, Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, Government of Finland, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Gujarat Government and Gujarat Pollution Control Board.
