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The circular economy is poised to unlock $4.5 trillion of economic growth by 2030, and as much as $25 trillion by 2050. It could boost companies’ competitiveness and profitability, make global supply chains more resilient, and create over a million jobs in the next decade.
The Circular Economy Solutions Series will bring together leaders and innovators in the public and private sectors to address challenges and capitalize on the economic opportunities. Join us to advance breakthrough solutions and initiatives that can be used as a model in Canada and beyond.
The Circular Economy Solutions Series will also serve as an important stepping-stone on the road to the World Circular Economy Forum being hosted in Toronto (September 13 – 15, 2021) and beyond.


What to Expect
The Circular Economy Solutions Series is a unique, strategic platform for action – looking to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Canada through knowledge-sharing and curated activities and workshops.
The Solutions Series will be highly outcome-focused, designed to leverage the power of collaboration to tackle barriers, advance opportunities, inspire innovation, and generate momentum.
The Solutions Series will centre around ‘tracks’ focused on key themes and sectors that are critical to advancing the circular economy. The key objectives and focus for each track will be co-developed by Solutions Series partners and sponsors, with activities designed to drive toward those objectives.
Initial tracks include:
- Circular North America
- Circular Plastics
- Built Environment
- Circular Food Systems
- Metals and Minerals
- Circular Business Leaders Showcase
Connect with industry peers and thought-leaders through virtual dialogues, breakout discussions, roundtables, workshops, information webinars, and curated matchmaking.
Help shape the dialogue and action! We want to work with you to advance the circular economy solutions that are critical to Canada and North America. Join the Solutions Series and help us build out the themes (tracks), topics, and activations. Please contact Paul Shorthouse for more information and to share your ideas and suggestions.
Upcoming Events

SOLUTIONS PATHWAYS WORKSHOP FOR CIRCULAR PLASTICS IN CANADA
Date/Time: Wednesday, February 3, 2021, 9:00am-11am PT / 10:00am-12:00pm MT / 12:00pm-2:00pm ET
This WCEF 2021 Side Event will be a solutions-oriented, interactive, virtual workshop focused on the ‘Innovation Pathways’ to achieving a more circular plastics economy in Canada – based on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s (EMF) handbook: “Upstream Innovation: a guide to packaging solutions”. The workshop will feature a keynote from EMF’s Innovation Team, combined with other expert insights into practical applications of upstream innovation for plastics packaging, and six interactive breakout sessions that will allow participants to strategize together on how to scale ideas and overcome barriers to plastics packaging innovation in Canada.
Following opening remarks, participants will be divided into breakout sessions. Choose your preferred breakout room when you register. Options include: Elimination, Reuse, Reuse Business Models, Substitutions and Compostables, Mechanical Recycling, and Chemical Recycling. Guided by industry insights and experienced facilitators in each focus area, participants will roll up their sleeves for breakout workshop challenges and opportunities before reporting back to the full group. A final random round of breakouts will allow for discussion of cross-cutting barriers and opportunities.
An official side event of the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2021, this virtual workshop will build on the first WCEF Plastics Side Event (“A Brave Conversation”) hosted by the Circular Economy Solution Series in November 2020, and link with existing circular plastics efforts in Canada.
Speakers:
- (Keynote) Josephine Christoffersen, New Plastics Economy Innovation Team, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
- Katrina Shum, Sustainability Officer, North America, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics
- Jennifer DuBuisson, Senior Director, Government & Public Affairs Americas, LEGO
- Amy Sandhu, Head of Sustainability and Government Relations, BASF Canada
- Jocelyn Doucet, CEO, Pyrowave
- Paul van der Werf, Senior Consultant, AET Group
- Jean-Luc Lavergne, CEO, Lavergne Group