The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) is a leading global platform bringing together policymakers, business leaders, international organisations, experts, innovators and practitioners to advance the transition towards a circular economy. The annual Forum presents practical solutions and promotes collaboration to accelerate the shift from a linear “take–make–dispose” model towards systems that retain the value of materials, reduce resource consumption and create sustainable economic opportunities.

The 10th edition of WCEF – WCEF2026 – is being held in India from 15–18 September 2026, with the main Forum taking place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on 15–16 September, followed by a series of Accelerator Sessions organised by WCEF collaborators on 17–18 September. The 2026 Forum is being hosted in India under the theme “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity.”

WCEF2026 places particular emphasis on translating circular economy principles into practical, scalable solutions that can transform markets, value chains and business models. Key areas include market transformation, sustainable resource use, policy and leadership, innovation, finance and global partnerships.

The Accelerator Sessions form an important part of WCEF2026 by providing opportunities for deeper engagement on specific circular economy challenges and solutions. These sessions connect the broader global discussions of the Forum with practical initiatives, technologies, business models and policy approaches that can accelerate implementation on the ground.

As part of WCEF2026, the National Productivity Council (NPC), in association with the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI), is organising an online Accelerator Session focusing on the scaling of circular plastics value chains and strengthening the role of recycling clusters in India's transition towards a circular economy.

The session will explore how plastic recycling can be scaled from individual recycling operations into integrated, technology-enabled circular economy ecosystems, with particular attention to MSMEs and recycling clusters.

Recycling clusters have the potential to become important circular economy hubs, bringing together collection, segregation, processing, testing, technology, skills, market linkages and supporting infrastructure. Strengthening such clusters can improve resource efficiency, productivity, environmental performance and the quality of recycled materials while creating new opportunities for MSMEs.

The session will examine the role of technology, innovation and digital solutions in improving the efficiency and transparency of plastic recycling value chains. Particular attention will be given to traceability and digital systems that can help establish greater confidence in the movement and processing of plastic waste and recycled materials.

An important focus will be on high-quality recycling and the creation of circular materials that can meet consistent technical specifications and find viable markets. The discussions will highlight approaches such as advanced sorting and processing, food-grade recycling, quality testing, certification and technologies that can enable recycled polymers to substitute virgin materials in appropriate applications.

The session will also discuss the role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in creating stronger and more effective markets for recycled plastics. The objective is to explore how EPR frameworks can encourage not only collection and recycling volumes, but also better-quality recycling, improved material recovery, responsible processing and greater circularity.

The discussions will bring together perspectives from industry, recycling enterprises, technology providers, policymakers and other stakeholders to identify practical approaches for strengthening plastic recycling ecosystems.

The session will particularly highlight the role of MSMEs, which constitute a significant part of India's recycling ecosystem. Enhancing their access to technology, finance, skills, testing facilities, digital tools and markets can significantly contribute to improving the productivity and environmental performance of the recycling sector.

The session will also explore how recycling clusters can facilitate technology transfer and knowledge sharing, enabling smaller enterprises to adopt improved processing technologies, quality-management systems and environmentally sound recycling practices.

A key objective is to move beyond measuring recycling only in terms of quantities processed and towards a broader understanding of the quality and value of recovered materials. The discussions will consider how recycling systems can maximise material value retention and contribute to the substitution of virgin plastic with quality-assured recycled polymers.

The NPC–MRAI session therefore seeks to contribute to the broader WCEF2026 objective of accelerating practical and scalable circular economy solutions, while highlighting India's experience, opportunities and challenges in developing a more competitive, technologically advanced and environmentally responsible plastics recycling sector.

The programme will provide an opportunity for participants from India and across the world to exchange experiences, technologies, good practices and policy approaches for strengthening circular plastics value chains.

The session is particularly relevant to stakeholders working in plastic waste management, recycling, EPR, circular economy, resource efficiency, MSME development, sustainable manufacturing and environmental management.

Participation in the online session is open to interested stakeholders, subject to registration.