India, Finland explore partnerships to boost circular value chains

New Delhi: The India Circular Economy Forum 2026 (ICEF2026) held in New Delhi placed Finland-India collaboration at the centre of discussions on circular economy, sustainable business and resource-efficient growth.

Held under the theme _“Harmonising Value Chains: The New India-EU Trade Era”, the forum convened policymakers, business leaders, investors, circular economy practitioners and international experts to explore how India and Finland can deepen cooperation in building competitive, resilient and circular value chains amid the evolving India-EU economic landscape. The forum is a precursor to the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026.

Dr Antti Herlevi, Counselor for Trade and Investments for Water, Forest and Circular Economy at the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi, said circular economy is an economic and industrial agenda, not just an environmental one.

“Finland has a long history of developing circular solutions. More than 100 Finnish companies are already active in India across clean energy, waste management, recycling, digital solutions and sustainable design,” he said.

“As the Indian market grows rapidly, there is significant opportunity for Finnish businesses to work with local partners. By combining expertise and innovation, we can support resource-efficient growth. In a world of rising material demand, our shared technologies can help retain value, reduce resource use and contribute to a more sustainable future.”

As India-EU economic engagement evolves, businesses face changing expectations on environment, sustainability and resource efficiency. Discussions at ICEF2026 highlighted how circularity, traceability and responsible value chains can strengthen long-term competitiveness while opening new opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

The forum provided actionable insights for businesses to meet environmental compliance and improve ESG and circularity performance. A dedicated B2B session connected Finnish expertise with Indian scale to advance circular solutions.

Major Finnish companies including Peikko, Nokia, Normet, Mirasys and Lamor, along with Indian firms such as Orbigreen Techsource, LoopM Alternatives, Re:Gen Collective and Syaahi Uniforms, participated in discussions focused on cross-border collaboration and linking Indian enterprises to the global circular economy ecosystem.

For India, the transition to a circular economy is both an environmental imperative and a major economic opportunity. ICEF2026 provided a platform for industry, startups, academia, policymakers and international stakeholders to identify practical pathways for embedding circularity across operations and supply chains.

Shalini Goyal Bhalla, Founder and Managing Director of the International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE), said India is at a key stage in its circular transition.
“Circularity must move beyond waste management. It needs to be integrated into product design, value chains, resource use, skills and new business models,” she said.
“At ICCE, our focus is on bridging policy, industry and implementation so circular principles translate into measurable value. Platforms like ICEF help move the conversation from intent to action. As India strengthens manufacturing and global partnerships, embedding resource efficiency and circular design will be critical to building a competitive and resilient economy.”

The forum also examined how circular economy principles can help businesses improve resource efficiency, manage regulatory and market risks, strengthen ESG performance and identify new growth opportunities.

ICEF is an annual platform showcasing leading circular economy solutions from across India. It brings together industry, startups, academia and government to advance practical strategies for implementing circularity. Through discussions, workshops and networking, the forum helps businesses strengthen compliance, improve ESG and circularity performance, and build collaborations to support India’s transition to a sustainable economy.

For the first time in South Asia, WCEF 2026 will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from September 15 to 18. The 10th edition places India at the forefront of scaling circular solutions for a resource-constrained world.

WCEF2026 is jointly organized by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and the Central Pollution Control Board, with support from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, in coordination with the Government of Gujarat and global partners.