Turning the Circle Green

Kolkata, 8 January 2026: The 19th ICC Environment Partnership Summit & Environment Excellence Awards, themed “Adopting Circular Economy for a Sustainable Future,” convened policymakers, industry leaders, financial institutions and academics in Kolkata to underline the urgent need to shift from the linear “take-make-dispose” model to a circular economy that balances environmental protection with economic growth and long-term sustainability, with speakers including Ms Roshni Sen, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary (Additional Charge), Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal, Mr Sanjay Budhia, Past President, ICC, Dr Rajeev Singh, Director General, ICC, Mr Aloke Mookherjea, Chairman, Jury Board, ICC Environment Excellence Award, Mr Saikat Basu, CEO, Consultivo, Mr PK Bhardwaj, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Prof (Dr) Anirban Gupta of IIEST Shibpur and Prof (Dr) K M Agarwal, Director, IISWBM, all stressing that circularity is no longer optional but an economic and industrial imperative; Ms Sen described the theme as timely and critical, highlighting West Bengal’s initiatives on the four Rs, zero-waste industrial practices, expansion of plastic, hazardous and e-waste management, operational and upcoming recycling infrastructure, full compliance under Extended Producer Responsibility, digital monitoring through the Swachch Saathi app and large-scale skilling under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0; speakers from industry and finance emphasised design-led circularity, industrial symbiosis, right-to-repair, climate-resilient finance and green jobs, noting that while less than 10 per cent of global resources are recycled, circular models can unlock massive economic value and resource security; ICC leaders said the summit and awards celebrate organisations translating sustainability into action and inspire wider adoption, reinforcing the message that future growth will be measured not by what is consumed, but by what is preserved.