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 together policymakers, businesses, researchers and innovators from around the world to discuss resource-efficient and sustainable economic growth.
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. It is also the first edition of the WCEF to be held in South Asia, with more than 3,600 stakeholders from 62 countries participating in discussions on circular economy solutions.
The forum has brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, policymakers and academics from different sectors. An exhibition featuring 135 national and international exhibitors is also being held alongside the forum, showcasing practical solutions aimed at promoting circularity and more sustainable approaches to the use of resources.
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Speaking at the inaugural session, Chief Minister Patel said hosting the WCEF in South Asia reflected India’s growing global leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the forum should embody the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ by developing practical circular economy solutions for countries around the world. Patel also highlighted Gujarat’s efforts to balance industrial development with environmental conservation, citing initiatives in renewable energy, waste and water management and resource efficiency.
Yadav stressed that achieving circularity required cooperation between countries and across sectors, as no country, company or community could close the resource loop independently. He said knowledge, technology, finance and responsibility needed to move across borders and sectors. The minister also highlighted India’s regulatory reforms and digital compliance systems, including Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks covering different waste streams.
According to Yadav, more than 83,000 producers and 4,802 recyclers had been registered under various EPR frameworks as of August 2026, with nearly 482.24 lakh metric tonnes of waste processed across regulated waste streams. The forum also witnessed 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.
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