Event Overview: Review of the circular economy in 2025 and outlook for 2026 with original insights based on global and domestic trends【Circular Economy Hub】

Circular Economy Hub has been hosting the monthly online learning program series “Circular X” since 2021, offering opportunities to explore the future of circular economy practices across various industries and sectors.

The theme for December 2025 was “Review of the circular economy in 2025 and outlook for 2026 with original insights based on global and domestic trends.”

Editorial team reviews the circular economy in Japan and globally in 2025 and looks ahead to key developments in 2026

In 2025, a wide range of events and developments related to the circular economy took place both in Japan and around the world. In Japan, progress was seen in the legal framework, including revisions to the Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources and the full enforcement of the Act on the Advancement of Sophistication of Recycling Businesses. In addition, the circular economy was prominently highlighted at Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, contributing to broader public awareness of circular economy concepts.

Looking globally, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation entered into force in the European Union in February 2025. The European Commission also launched a public consultation in August toward the formulation of a Circular Economy Act scheduled in 2026, further advancing legislative efforts related to the circular economy. In December, the first edition of the Global Circularity Protocol for business was released at COP30 held in Belem, Brazil, signaling accelerating momentum toward international rulemaking and standardization for the circular economy.

Furthermore, as procurement risks surrounding critical minerals essential for decarbonization and green and digital societies became increasingly evident worldwide, the circular economy gained further importance as a key driver from the perspective of resource and economic security.

In this edition of Circular X, the Circular Economy Hub editorial team reviewed these domestic and global developments related to the circular economy in 2025 from its own perspective. Building on this review, the session also shared key topics to watch in 2026 and discussed the outlook for the circular economy going forward.

Speakers

Kiyokazu Nasu

CEO of Circle Design Inc. and Editor in Chief of Circular Economy Hub. He is a member of the Global Circularity Protocol Frontrunner Coalition, which was newly established to advance the implementation of the Global Circularity Protocol, and is engaged in supporting companies with circularity assessment.

Yu Kato

CEO of Harch Inc. He has worked on projects that visualize resource circulation and has collaborated with Circle Economy in the Netherlands and Gamagori City to develop Japans first employment focused circular economy transition indicator, the Circular Employment Dashboard known as the Gamagori Data Explorer. He has also been involved in developing the Circular City Transition Indicator.

[Reference] Circular Economy Hub held Circular X “Review of the circular economy in 2025 and outlook for 2026 with original insights based on global and domestic trends” | Circular Economy Hub (in Japanese)
[Related Site] Circular Economy Hub (in Japanese)