GCC Circular Economy Awards & Forum 2024-2025
Learn, network and adopt principles of Circular Economy at the Forum on
20 February 2025, Dubai, UAE.
Celebrate Circularity
Learn the best practices from Circular Economy champions around the world.
Register to attendCircular Economy In Action Forum Ceremony
To celebrate circularity we will recognize the organizations in each of the three Award Categories during the event that combines the Circular Economy Forum and Award Ceremony.
Circular Economy Forum and Award Ceremony is the first event in the GCC region bringing together Circular Economy leaders, pioneers, practitioners, explorers, and researchers across industries and supply chains to celebrate circularity.
The event program will consist of keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, networking opportunities and the Award Ceremony, where we will honour achievements of the outstanding Award nominees. Selected Award applicants will have an opportunity to share their strategies for institutionalising Circularity in their operations, and present their proven circular projects, products and practices. In addition to showcasing the most impactful circular solutions in the GCC, the Forum will also include a session dedicated to the Governmental policies and regulations in the region.
When and where?
20th February 2025, Copthorne Lakeview Hotel, Dubai.
FORUM Speakers
Anne Rademaker
Owner, Rademaker Consulting, NETHERLANDS
Implementing Digital Product Passports in construction sector - Main take-away
In the push towards a circular economy, data plays a pivotal role in tracing assets and creating product passports, which serve as digital identities for products throughout their lifecycle. This presentation explores how product passports not only comply with emerging legislation but also enhance transparency and value for all stakeholders involved. By ensuring high-quality reuse of assets, product passports can lead to significant environmental benefits and financial gains, contributing to a more sustainable and efficient economy.
However, the implementation of product passports is not without challenges. This session will share practical examples, tips, best practices, and lessons learned from real-world applications. Attendees will gain valuable insights into overcoming obstacles and effectively leveraging data to drive the circular economy forward.
Sahar Mansoor
Founder, Bare Necessities Zero Waste Solutions Pvt. Ltd., INDIA
Redesigning everyday necessities for circularity
Bare Necessities tackles global garbage crisis, where single-use plastic packaging clogs landfills and waterways through zero waste products and sustainability education, offering handcrafted alternatives to conventional plastic-packaged home care products.
Developed earth-friendly powder-to-liquid home care products reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80-90%.
10% active ingredients, when mixed with tap water, create effective, eco-friendly home care solutions. Packaging the products in compostable sachets and using forever glass dispensers, Bare Necessities aims to eliminate waste from the system.
This revolutionary approach minimizes retail space, shipping constraints, and reduces packaging footprints, all while offering convenience and cost savings to the customers. The products are made with ethically, locally, and naturally sourced ingredients by a strong, women-run manufacturing team, ensuring responsible end-of-life disposal.
Aliyu Mohammed Ali
CEO, Ehfaaz, UAE
10 ways to turn waste into profit at Ehfaaz
Ehfaaz is pioneering a radical shift towards a profitable and regenerative Circular Economy. This presentation unveils Ehfaaz's groundbreaking multi-revenue ecosystem, demonstrating transformation of seemingly worthless waste into 10 distinct revenue streams, each underpinned by core Circular Economy principles.
Presentation will dive into the practical application of these principles, showcasing how Ehfaaz designs out waste and pollution, keeps products and materials in use, regenerates natural systems and supports the UAE Circular Economy Policy.
Not only Ehfaaz diverted over 5,000 tons of organic waste from landfills, but also increased perter company revenue by 15% and saved the waste disposal costs for its clients by 20%.
Attendees will gain valuable insights into the financial viability of circularity, the power of innovation to tackle waste challenges, and practical strategies for building a profitable, resilient, and environmentally responsible business model.
Sunil Thawani
CEO, Quality Indeed Consulting Ltd., UAE
1. Circular strategies to Net Zero
50%+ emissions and 90% bio diversity losses are linked to material extraction. With material extraction projected to rise and with 90%+ materials being wasted, lost or remain unavailable for reuse, the presentation will cover Circular Economy Pathways covering "Demand and Supply side" such as need for new mindsets, Circular sourcing and procurement, Financing circular projects, Designing Eco friendly & sustainable products, Tools like Digital Product Passport etc. Presentation will be supported with credible well researched facts, real life inspiring examples, best practices across industries and regions and resulting impact.
2. ISO 59000 Standards for Circular Economy
With over 200 different definitions and ways of explaining Circular Economy how can an organization develop a common understanding about the subject and develop management systems to go Circular.
Given the business need, importance and huge promising potential of Circular Economy ISO developed ISO 59000 series of standards.
Presentation will provide a short overview about the ISO 59000 such as its key elements for an organization to transition from linear to circular economy, how it is different from conventional ISO structure, challenges of implementing them, benefits for an organization etc.
Christopher Abraham and Students
CEO, SP Jain Global School of Management, UAE
Employment Opportunities in Circular Economy in the UAE - Research findings, UAE
Inspired by the emerging Economy of the Future – Circular Economy – group of students at S P Jain School of Global Management took up and completed the research to understand:
• Drivers of employment of Circular Economy professionals in various segments of the industries in the UAE
• Types of competencies needed at different levels in different types of organisations such as Government, Academia, Industry
• Readiness of the UAE organisations to hire Circular Economy professionals to support the UAE Circular Economy
• Levels of compensation various sectors of the industry are willing to pay to Circular Economy professionals at different levels
• Way forward with recommendations based on the research outcomes.
Karel J. Golta
CEO, Indeed Innovation, Germany
CircX: Designing Human-Centered Experiences for a Circular Economy
How can we make the circular economy irresistible? Can circular experiences transform users from passive consumers to active co-owners? Join me to explore how experience design unlocks the circular world's true potential.
In the shift toward a circular economy, success hinges not only on closing material loops but also on fostering human connections to circular solutions. CircX bridges this gap by focusing on Circular Experiences, ensuring users embrace and sustain the transition from product consumers to co-owners within circular systems. This talk explores how CircX integrates physical and digital touchpoints to create engaging product-service systems, fostering long-lasting relationships between people, products, and brands. Using an in-depth case study and additional industry examples, I will demonstrate how CircX reshapes linear products into circular ones, driving environmental impact while benefiting both producers and consumers. Discover how designing for memorable, holistic experiences can advance a thriving, circular future.
Sunil Thawani
Founder GCC Circular Economy Award & CEO, Quality Indeed Consulting Ltd., UAE
Marina Pugacheva
Circular Economy Awards Manager
Janvi Cheenapalli
Marketing and Management Specialist
Meet Our Team
Meet the passionate champions committed to inspire organizations to transition to Circular Economy locally and globally.
We design and deliver programs, projects, and articles on Circular Economy. We are optimistic that circularity is the way forward to environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
Our Contribution to Circular Economy
We are committed to leading the transformation towards a Circular Economy across industries in the GCC region and beyond.
We help organizations implement Circular Economy models, provide trainings, workshops, awareness sessions and publications.
Developed Circular House Guidelines to design, construct, maintain and deconstruct buildings according to the principles of Circular Economy. The project was released during COP28, UAE, December 2023.
Delivered speech on “Transitioning from Linear to Circular Economy - Challenges & Opportunities” at the 2nd Edition of The EFQM Middle East Summit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, October 2023.
Delivered interactive webinar “Linear to Circular Economy” for Saudi Quality Council, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, June 2023.
Delivered webinar for Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, “Linear to Circular Economy”, Dubai, UAE, July 2023.
Addressing “Post COP28 Management and Sustainability Hackathon” on “Circularity in Supply Chain”, S P Jain School of Global Management, January 2024
Delivered speech titled “Quality Professionals’ Contribution to Circular Economy” at ASQ EMEA 2024 Conference” UAE, February 2024.