Finland looks to bolster circular economy in India

Finland is looking to deepen partnerships with Indian companies in circular economy, clean energy, waste management and sustainable technologies as the two countries explore new opportunities under the evolving India-EU trade landscape.

The Finnish trade and technology proposition took centre stage on the second day of the India Circular Economy Forum 2026 (ICEF2026) in New Delhi, held under the theme “Harmonising Value Chains: The New India-EU Trade Era.” The discussions also served as a precursor to the World Circular Economy Forum 2026, which will be held in Gujarat next month.

Dr Antti Herlevi, Counselor for Trade and Investments (Water, Forest and Circular Economy) at the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi, said circular economy should be viewed not only through an environmental lens but also as an economic and industrial opportunity.

“Circular economy is not just an environmental agenda; it is an economic and industrial one,” Herlevi said, highlighting Finland’s experience in developing circular solutions.

More than 100 Finnish companies are already active in India across areas including clean energy, waste management, recycling, digital solutions and sustainable design. Herlevi said the growing Indian market offered significant scope for Finnish companies to work with local partners and combine technology, expertise and innovation.

“As the Indian market continues to grow rapidly, there is a significant opportunity for Finnish businesses to work alongside local partners in India,” he said.

The forum also featured a dedicated business-to-business session connecting Finnish technology providers with Indian enterprises. Finnish companies including Peikko, Nokia, Normet, Mirasys and Lamor participated in the discussions, alongside Indian firms such as Orbigreen Techsource, LoopM Alternatives, Re:Gen Collective and Syaahi Uniforms.

The talks focused on potential collaboration, investment and technology partnerships, including solutions to help businesses meet environmental compliance requirements and strengthen ESG and circularity performance.

With material demand and pressure on natural resources increasing, Finland sees India as a key market for scaling resource-efficient technologies and developing resilient, circular value chains. The engagement also reflects growing opportunities for India-Finland cooperation as economic ties between India and the European Union evolve.