Circular Economy (CE) considerations (design out waste & pollution; keep materials and products in use, and regenerate natural systems) are emerging as a key factor in facilitating a resource efficient, resilient and equitable growth for countries involved in global supply chains. While the discourse on CE principles has primarily emanated from countries in the Global North, countries in the Global South, as major producer economies, have different incentives and needs when it comes to applying CE principles. There is need for awareness and capacity building, technology and business model innovation, more conducive policies and regulations and availability of requisite finance. CE principles also provide the opportunity to facilitate inclusive and equitable growth through creation of new employment opportunities, upskilling/reskilling and factoring in the requirements of just transition.

This session, designed as a panel discussion, aims to bring perspectives from countries of the Global South (India, Kenya and Vietnam) to highlight the opportunities, challenges and potential solutions and collaborations to adopt Circular Economy practices on a large scale. The panellists will touch upon the following key questions:

• What are the opportunities presented by CE practices for economic growth in your country? What are the risks of not adopting CE practices? Can you touch upon some initiatives (innovations, policies, or business models) that are encouraging CE?
• What are the major barriers to adopting CE practices on a large scale? Can you highlight some solutions that would help or are being considered?
• How can actors from the Global North support economies in the Global South to transition towards circular practices?

This event is aimed at various stakeholders from the Global North (policy actors, academia and private sector players such as large brands and supply chain companies), emerging CE actors in the Global South, and international organisations that can drive the CE discourse in emerging and developing economies.