WCEF2023 – Circular solutions for nature and the economy

The circular economy event of the year, World Circular Economy Forum 2023 will be held in Helsinki, Finland from 30 May to 2 June. The Forum gathers together forward-looking thinkers and doers and presents the game-changers in the circular economy. Co-organised by Nordic Innovation and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, with international partners, WCEF2023 is free of charge and open to all online.

Hosted from 30 May to 2 June in Messukeskus, Helsinki, the World Circular Economy Forum 2023 will provide a unique opportunity to create momentum for a nature-positive future. The Forum will present a focused agenda and harness our collective energies on accelerating the needed transition over the coming years, showcasing global change makers and building the capacity to collaborate. WCEF2023 will mark the seventh iteration of the annual Forum and occurs at a pivotal moment for economies, societies and our planet.

Plenty of examples of the circular economy

We already know why the circular economy is a must, but the world needs examples. WCEF2023 will focus on the how, inviting especially businesses, financiers and youth to pinpoint the potential and bottlenecks of advancing circular solutions. The Forum will facilitate conversations and create a wider understanding on how the circular economy allows us to tackle some of the complex root causes of resource overconsumption, pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss all at once.

The forum will explore circular solutions for nature and the economy, covering a variety of topics, such as: finance, accounting and metrics, everyday life and health, future skills, regenerative agriculture and forestry, finite materials and energy, mining, trade, strategies and road maps, fashion and textiles, food, construction and the built environment, plastics and packaging, electronics, and hydrogen. The third and fourth day are reserved for partner-led programmes that can take place anywhere around the world or online.

"The successful business of the future is strongly based on the circular economy. The benefits of the circular economy are easy to understand, but how do you put the principles of the circular economy into practice and gather the necessary networks. WCEF makes it easier to find answers and meet the challenge. The change ahead is big and inevitable, affecting the whole society and different industries", says Business Finland's Account Lead Jussi Åkerberg.

"Is Finland skiing behind or ahead in this change? Finland as a society and Finnish companies as international agents of change may be at the forefront of development, but success does not happen by itself. Information, cooperation, open-mindedness, innovations and a change of attitudes are needed. Business Finland is doing its part to support Finnish companies towards a circular economy, let's make Finland a circular economy pioneer together!" urges Åkerberg.

Online, free of charge

To enable participation from around the world, WCEF2023 will be live-streamed online, open to all and free of charge. Attendance in person is by invitation only.

In addition to the main event, Side Events can be organised throughout the year, excluding the forum days. 

Register for online participation