World Circular Economy Forum 2017

This ground-breaking event presents the world’s best circular economy solutions and gathers together the most recognised experts and decision makers in the field. 1,500 key people from more than 100 countries shared ideas in Helsinki, Finland, on 5-7 June 2017, at the first ever World Circular Economy Forum.

You need to accept marketing-cookies to watch this video

Open cookie settings

Join World Circular Economy Forum 2018 in Yokohama, Japan on 22-24 October 2018!

VIDEOS

Watch videos from WCEF2017! Here you can see interviews from key speakers and watch the recorded live streams from all the sessions.

Videos

Watch video interviews from WCEF2017!

Videos

Watch the videos of the first day’s sessions!

Videos

Watch the videos of the second day’s sessions!

 

Thank you for joining WCEF2017!

Thank you all for the most amazing three days full of energy and inspiration at the first ever World Circular Economy Forum 2017! At WCEF2017 participants shared experiences on the best solutions that allow businesses to gain a competitive advantage, create more value and generate new growth and jobs in societies around the world. We’re excited to have had the world’s top business leaders, policymakers, researchers and innovators at WCEF2017.

We discussed how the circular economy presents new and unprecedented opportunities to create wealth and well-being, as well as how it is the essential engine behind achieving the ambitious UN Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals.

WCEF2017 host country Finland shared it’s own inspirational story as a global leader as we turn the vision of our circular economy road map into reality and deliver concrete benefits across all sectors of business and society.

Future is made today. Let’s make it a good one!

Finland – Leading the way in circular economy

You need to accept marketing-cookies to watch this video

Open cookie settings

MATERIALS

Here you can find reflections and results of the forum. To see the speaker presentations, go to a specific session in the programme. You can also read the IISD report on WCEF2017.

articles

10 key takeaways from WCEF2017

archived

I went to Finland and all I got was… hope for solving the climate crisis

articles

Rising Asian countries intend to lead global circular economy

articles

The Nordic region proves the circular economy works

articles

Large companies can lead the transition to a circular economy

Picks

YM: Circular economy professionals meet at the World Circular Economy Forum

articles

Ibrahim Thiaw: “Developing countries are circular economy experts”

articles

Achim Steiner: “We live in a moment of great opportunity”

articles

The Arctic circular economy experts

articles

Cities lead the way to a circular economy

articles

We all have a role to play in ‘going circular’

articles

Young people want to see the circular economy in practice

articles

Finnish circular economy companies offer great opportunities for investors

Phenomenon

Ambitious development goals require a circular economy

articles

Finland offers a better version of capitalism

Results of the work

Road map helps Finland’s transition to a circular economy

articles

Leading the cycle – Finnish road map to a circular economy 2016-2025

Ice carousel
news

A giant ice carousel spinning on a frozen lake – “This is how the Finnish people have fun”

PROGRAMME

The World Circular Economy Forum 2017 consists of 17 plenary and parallel sessions showcasing circular economy solutions for business, cities and finance. Three days of discussions, networking, workshops, side events and business excursions. See the currently available presentations on the session pages.

Sunday 4 June

17.00- 20.00

Pre-registration

Monday 5 June

10.00

Doors open

12.00

Grand Opening

FINLANDIA HALL
Integrating Circular Economy to the Global Agenda 2030

13.30

Break (light sandwich lunch)

14.15

Boulevard Sessions

FINLANDIA HALL
Circular Blueprints Gameshow – Driving the Economic Transition in the Nordics & Beyond
HELSINKI HALL
Innovation Challenges for the Circular Economy
RESTAURANT HALL
17 Circular SMEs Meet the 17 SDGs
TERRACE HALL
Collective Impact for Sustainable Consumption and a Circular Economy

15.45

Break

16.30

Plenary

FINLANDIA HALL
Circular Cities

18.00

Finlandia Block Festival (buffet dinner)

Tuesday 6 June

8.00

Doors open

9.00

Plenary

FINLANDIA HALL
Circular Business Leaders

10.30

Break

11.00

Boulevard Sessions

FINLANDIA HALL
Economic Research on the Circular Economy
HELSINKI HALL
Forest-Based Bioeconomy and Climate Change Mitigation
RESTAURANT HALL
Transformation to Circular Business Models
TERRACE HALL
Circular by Design – Products in a Circular Economy

12.30

Lunch

13.30

Boulevard Sessions

FINLANDIA HALL
Financing the Circular Economy
HELSINKI HALL
Branding Circularity for Consumer Value
RESTAURANT HALL
Future Technologies for the Circular Economy
TERRACE HALL
Supporting Growth of Circular SMEs

15.00

Break

15.30

Grand Finale

FINLANDIA HALL
Moving Beyond WCEF2017

17.00

End of WCEF2017

18.00

Official WCEF2017 reception by the City of Helsinki

Wednesday 7 June – Side Events

SPEAKERS

We’re excited to have the world’s top business leaders, policymakers, researchers and innovators speaking at WCEF 2017. See the list of all the speakers.

Day 1

people
Hans Bruyninckx
Executive Director, European Environment Agency
people
Cady Coleman
Former Astronaut, NASA
people
Ashok Khosla
Founder and Chairman, Development Alternatives
people
Mikko Kosonen
President, Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra
people
Janez Potočnik
Co-chair, UNEP International Resource Panel
people
Achim Steiner
Director, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford
people
Kimmo Tiilikainen
Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing, Finland
people
Kitty van der Heijden
Director, WRI Europe and Africa

Day 2

people
Amra Balic
Managing Director, Head of EMEA Investment Stewardship at BlackRock
people
Daniel Calleja
Director General for DG Environment, European Commission
people
Isabel Fernandez
Member Management Board and Head of Wholesale Banking, ING
people
Iain Gulland
Chief Executive Officer, Zero Waste Scotland
people
Matti Lievonen
President and CEO, Neste
people
Martin Stuchtey
Founder and Managing Partner, SYSTEMIQ Ltd.

LATEST

Newest new.

Event info

The participants of WCEF2017 made it truly global!

archived

I went to Finland and all I got was… hope for solving the climate crisis

articles

Rising Asian countries intend to lead global circular economy

articles

10 key takeaways from WCEF2017

news

WCEF2017 begins at Finlandia Hall – Top experts in the circular economy meet for the first time

articles

The Nordic region proves the circular economy works

articles

Large companies can lead the transition to a circular economy

articles

Ibrahim Thiaw: “Developing countries are circular economy experts”

articles

Achim Steiner: “We live in a moment of great opportunity”

articles

The Arctic circular economy experts

articles

Cities lead the way to a circular economy

news

The new top circular economy event attracts participants to Finland from all over the world

news

Helsinki Metropolitan one year on the road to being best test bed in the world for smart and clean solutions

articles

We all have a role to play in ‘going circular’

articles

Young people want to see the circular economy in practice

articles

Finnish circular economy companies offer great opportunities for investors

Event info

Take in the midnight light at the WCEF2017 after party at Allas

Event info

Food for thought – and for the belly – at WCEF2017

Event info

Networking at WCEF2017 is easy!

Phenomenon

Ambitious development goals require a circular economy

articles

Finland offers a better version of capitalism

Results of the work

Road map helps Finland’s transition to a circular economy

Event info

Circular economy at the heart of WCEF2017 event planning

Ice carousel
news

A giant ice carousel spinning on a frozen lake – “This is how the Finnish people have fun”

news

The most interesting Finnish companies in the circular economy

articles

Leading the cycle – Finnish road map to a circular economy 2016-2025

news

Sitra nominated for the world’s premier circular economy award

news

New ways for Finland to increase the creation of added value

news

EU’s Katainen: digitalisation could be key in advancing Circular Economy

SIDE EVENTS

A number of side events will be held together with WCEF2017 – check out the list! Side events include site visits and networking activities around a specific topic related to circular economy, for example. Most of the side events take place on Wednesday 7th of June. Side events require separate registration, see the details below. The information is updated continuously.

Monday 5 June

Building Partnerships for Advancing Circular Economy and Eco-innovation Approaches
Organisers: RECPnet, UNIDO and UN Environment
Time: 8.00-11.00
Location: Hotel Crowne Plaza, Helsinki

Tuesday 6 June

Official WCEF2017 reception
Organiser: the City of Helsinki
Time: 18.00-19.30
Location: Helsinki City Hall, Banquet Hall, Pohjoisesplanadi 11-13, Helsinki

New_InnoNet Project Matchmaking Event
Organisers: Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, PNO Consultants, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Time: 17.30-21.00
Location: Finlandia Hall, Room Veranda 4, Mannerheimintie 13e, Helsinki

Night of Circular Solutions
Organisers: Sitra & Helsinki Think Company
Time: 18.00-06/09.00
Location: Helsinki City Centre and Allas sea pool

Wednesday 7 June

3rd EU Circular Economy Parthership Meeting under Urban Agenda
Organiser: EU Circular Economy Partnership secretariat, chaired by the City of Oslo and Ecorys
Location: Ministry of Economic Affairs, Etelä- Esplanadi 4, Helsinki

Rewiring progress – A Next Era seminar
Organisers: The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and the Nordic think tank Demos Helsinki
Time
: 8.00-10.00
Location: Demos Helsinki office, Mechelininkatu 3d, Helsinki, Finland

Circular Economy Showroom – Where circular meets digital
Organiser
: Deloitte
Time: 8.30-11.30
Location: Finlandia Hall, Veranda 4, Helsinki

New Innovation Ecosystems and Circular Solutions to Boost the Bioeconomy
Organisers: OECD and several other co-organisers
Time: 8.30-17.30
Location: Scandic Park, Mannerheimintie 13e, 00100 Helsinki

Promoting Green Investments: Matchmaking opportunities for SMEs and EU-funded Projects in the Circular Economy
Organisers: EU SWITCH-Asia Network Facility and EASME
Time: 8.30-16.30
Location: Sitra auditorium, Itämerenkatu 11-13, Helsinki

High quality fuels and chemicals from waste and residue materials
Organiser:
Neste
Time: 9.00-13.00
Location: Neste Kilpilahti refinery, Porvoo

The H2020 NEW_InnoNet Project Final Conference
Organisers
: Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, PNO Consultants, VTT
Time: 9.00-13.00
Location: Kilta Sali, Lapinrinne 1, 00180 Helsinki

Circular Business Models in the Mobile Phone Industry
Organisers: PlanMiljø and the Nordic Council of Ministers
Time: 9.30-16.30
Location: Compass Room, Scandic Grand Marina, Katajanokanlaituri 7, Helsinki

Dissemination of the ’Mineral Intelligence Capacity Analysis’ (MICA) project
Organiser
: MICA workpackage (WP) 7 lead: EGS, WP1 lead: GEUS
Time: 9.30-12.00
Location: Vanha Ylioppilastalo (Old Student House, 2nd floor), Mannerheimintie 3, 00100 Helsinki

Energy in Circular Economy
Organiser: Helen LTD
Time: 9.30-12.00
Location: Helen LTD, Kampinkuja 2, Helsinki and site visit to the underground heating and cooling plant

Next-Generation Leadership in the Circular Economy –  How should it look like?
Organiser
: NELIS Nordics
Time: 12.00-17.30
Location: HUB13, Kaisaniemenkatu 13, 00100 Helsinki

Excursion: Piloting the Future of Bioeconomy
Organiser
: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Time: 13.00-15.30
Location: VTT Bioruukki Pilot Centre, Ruukinmestarintie 2, 02330 Espoo

Visit to the Circular Economy Village
Organiser
: Fortum Waste Solutions Oy
Time: 13.00-15.30
Location: Kuulojankatu 1, Riihimäki

Investing in the transition: Disruptions, asset stranding and equity valuation
Organiser
: SEB
Time: 13.30-16.00
Location: Sitra, Auditorium, Itämerenkatu 11-13, 00180 Helsinki

NETWORKING

WCEF2017 is the place to be and to meet future partners and experts on circular economy.  Explore the circular economy solutions presented at the marketplace, share your ideas and visions on the Opportunities Stage and meet interesting new people at the event.

Marketplace – Explore circular economy solutions

The marketplace at WCEF2017 is an exhibition area where selected organisations and companies around the world bring their circular economy solutions into the spotlight. Check out who is coming to the marketplace and prepare yourself for interesting conversations!

Marketplace host

CACE

Marketplace host

FISU Network

Marketplace host

FLOOW2, World’s Reset Button

Marketplace host

GIZ GmbH

Marketplace host

Globe Hope Oy

Marketplace host

Ministry of the Environment, Finland

Marketplace host

Neste

Marketplace host

RePack

Expo area host

Sitra

Marketplace host

SwitchMed

Marketplace host

Team Finland

Marketplace host

TEDA Eco Center

Marketplace host

The Circulars

Marketplace host

The European Commission

Expo area host

The European Environment Agency – EEA

Marketplace host

The Nordic Council of Ministers

Expo area host

Unilever

Marketplace host

WBCSD

Marketplace host

WEEE Forum aisbl

Marketplace host

World Resources Forum Association (WRFA)

Marketplace host

Yhteinen pöytä (Shared table -initiative)

Marketplace host

Zero Waste Scotland

Opportunities Stage – Pitch your idea

If you have an insight or idea to share, bring it to the Opportunities Stage! You can book a time slot for a three-minute speech on the spot, hop on the stage and inspire people. Or just come by to listen and discuss the ideas of tomorrow. Go up to the stage host to book a slot – just look for the Opportunities Stage sign!

The open mic sessions are:
Monday at 13.35-16.25 & 18.00-19.00
Tuesday at 10.35-15.25

Lakeside Chats – Matchmaking at the event

Meet future partners and experts on circular economy at WCEF2017. You can arrange face-to-face meetings with other event participants at the Lakeside Chats area with the help of the Brella Networking Tool, which you can find through the WCEF2017 app or by registering here!

INFO

Travel and accommodation

World Circular Economy Forum 2017 takes place at Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Finland. Helsinki can easily be reached from anywhere in the world. Several hotels within walking distance of the conference venue offer special conference rates. More information about travel and accommodation and special conference rates in WCEF Event Info.

Finlandia Hall – the eco-friendly venue of WCEF 2017

Finlandia Hall, the venue of World Circular Economy Forum 2017, is a dynamic, multipurpose venue located in the centre of Helsinki. Read more about location and transportation to Finlandia Hall on the website of the venue. Finlandia Hall is one of the most iconic buildings designed by world-renowned Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto.

Finlandia Hall is committed to pursuing ecological responsibility in all its operations. For example solar panels were installed on the roof of the venue in December 2016. Finlandia Hall is among the first event centres in Europe to utilise solar energy for the energy needed in the premises. More information about social responsibility principles at Finlandia Hall.

PRESS

WCEF2017 press accreditation is closed. For more information, requests for interviews etc., please contact Communications Specialist Sanna Autere.

CONTACT US

people
Kirsi Pönni
Specialist, Global collaboration, Sustainability solutions
people
Ernesto Hartikainen
people
Sanna Autere
people
Samuli Laita
Senior Lead, Communications and Public Affairs
people
Mari Pantsar
people
Kari Herlevi
Project Director, Global collaboration, Sustainability solutions
people
Tuula Sjöstedt
Specialist, Communications and Public Affairs

Organisers

Co-organisers

What's this about?