Road to Finlandia Circular Latin America

This Accelerator Session showcases how Finland is strengthening circular economy partnerships across Latin America through the Finlandia Circular Platform and the Team Finland network.

With a strong focus on local success stories, the session will bring together Finnish organizations, Team Finland representatives, and leading companies from across Latin America to explore how international collaboration can turn circular economy ambitions into practical solutions and business opportunities.

Through concrete cases from the region, including examples from the mining, infrastructure, petrochemical and plastics sectors, participants will discover how circular solutions are already being implemented in Latin America, the opportunities they create, and how Finnish expertise can contribute to scaling these initiatives.

The session will also introduce the Finlandia Circular Platform, a initiative designed to connect stakeholders, share knowledge, showcase successful solutions, and accelerate circular economy cooperation between Finland and Latin America.

Time zone reference: The session will take place on 17 September 2026, 08:00–09:30 (Lima, Peru – PET, UTC-5). This corresponds to

• 07:00–08:30 in Mexico City (CDMX)

• 08:00–09:30 in Bogotá (COT)

• 09:00–10:30 in New York (EDT)

• 10:00–11:30 in Brasília (BRT), Buenos Aires (ART) and Santiago (Chile – CLST)

• 16:00–17:30 in Helsinki (EEST)

• 18:30–20:00 in Gandhinagar (IST)

AGENDA

08:00 – 08:10 | Opening Remarks

• Eija Rotinen, Ambassador of Finland in Colombia 

08:10 – 08:20 | Introduction of the Finlandia Circular Platform

Overview of the platform, its objectives, and upcoming regional initiatives.

• Roberto Requejo, Senior Trade Advisor, Andean Region, Panama and DR. 

08:20 – 08:35 | Team Finland Latin America: Market Opportunities, Success Stories & What’s Ahead

Key circular economy opportunities in Latin America, concrete success stories involving Finnish solutions, and upcoming events and activities shaping the region’s circular economy agenda.

• Heidi Virta, Head of Trade Latin America,  Consulate of Finland in Sao Paulo

08:35 - 08:50 | Waste to Value case by Vale

• Franciso Manesco, Strategic Mining Projects Manager, Vale

08:50 – 09:05 | Success Story: Modified Asphalt for Road Infrastructure by ISA

• Nathalia Gómez Andrade, Corporate Sustainability Directorate by ISA

09:05 – 09:20 | Local Success Story by Braskem

• Yuri Tomina Carvalho, Circular Economy Leader South America, Braskem

09:20 – 09:30 Closing Remarks

• Veikko Kiljunen, Ambassador of Finland in Argentina

Who Should Attend?

• Policymakers and public sector representatives

• Businesses and investors interested in circular economy solutions

• Development organizations and multilateral institutions

• Academia and innovation ecosystems

• Stakeholders seeking collaboration opportunities between Finland and Latin America

  
  

Join us to discover how cross-regional partnerships are transforming circular economy ambitions into concrete action across Latin America.

The event will be conducted in English. No simultaneous translation will be provided.

This event/webinar is an accelerator session at the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 (wcef2026.com). WCEF2026 will gather forward-looking thinkers and doers and present the game-changers in the circular economy. The forum will be held from 15 to 18 September 2026 in Gandhinagar, the capitol of Gujarat, India. WCEF2026 is organised jointly by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), operating under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change of India, together with global and local partners. Free of charge, open to all online.