WCEF2026 accelerator session: Breaking the toxic cycle: opportunities for the circular economy

​The transition to a circular economy is creating new jobs in reuse, repair, recycling and resource recovery. Yet many of the workers making circularity possible, from waste pickers and plastic recyclers to textile waste sorters and e-waste dismantlers, face significant exposure to hazardous chemicals.

​This session will explore:

​(a) How, if left unaddressed, circular economy activities might continue to reproduce the health and environmental harms of the linear economy?

​(b) Which (circular) strategies can effectively reduce toxic exposure within circular systems and improve well-being and safety outcomes for workers and consumers?

​Bringing together experts from industry, worker organisations and civil society, the panel will draw on examples from textiles, e-waste and plastics sectors from various countries. Participants will gain practical insights towards creating circular value chains that are both resource-efficient and safe for the people who power them.

This event is an accelerator session at the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 (wcef2026.com). On social media, you can follow the event with #WCEF2026.