11th Circular Economy Conference in Kenya: Building Resilience Through Circularity
Across Africa, communities and businesses are navigating increasing economic, environmental and social uncertainty. Building resilience in this context requires more than reducing waste; it means creating local systems that keep materials and opportunities circulating.
On 30 September 2026, Sustainable Inclusive Business (SIB) will host its 11th Circular Economy Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together 400+ circular economy professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators, experts, policymakers, businesses and partners to explore how circularity can contribute to stronger, more inclusive and resilient local economies.
As a Conference Organising Partner, TheRockGroup is proud to co-host again this year, with the event focused on towards practical, local implementation that responds to African realities.
Building local resilience through circular systems
With resilience as this year’s central theme, the conference will explore how circular economy approaches can strengthen local economies, create jobs, support entrepreneurship and create new opportunities through better use of resources and stronger collaboration.
Key topics include:
- How can we keep materials and value circulating locally?
- What business models can build resilience while remaining commercially viable?
- How can finance better support circular businesses and infrastructure?
- How can different sectors work together to create new material flows and opportunities?
- What does it take to move circularity from policy and ambition into practical implementation?
The conference brings these questions to life through a program designed around practical experiences and open discussions. Rather than focusing solely on waste, the event looks at the wider socio-economic and environmental opportunities.
What to expect
The program will explore some of the key issues shaping circularity in Kenya and across the region, including circular business models and finance, textile circularity and the second-hand market, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), plastics, material flows and the social-economic dimensions of circularity.
A particular highlight will be the focus on Kenya’s second-hand textile sector, including a live Mitumba showcase and bale-opening demonstration, alongside insights from a new study exploring the sector’s working conditions, environmental impacts, economic opportunities and role within Kenya’s circular economy.
The conference will also examine how circular finance can support SMEs and entrepreneurs, alongside the realities of EPR implementation and how it can become an enabler of innovation, investment and meaningful environmental, social and economic impact.
Connecting the circular economy community
The event is intentionally designed to bring together diverse actors across the system. from entrepreneurs and SMMEs, corporates and industry leaders, policymakers and development agencies, researchers and practitioners, to community organisations, informal sector actors, youth and innovators.
The aim is to create connections that extend beyond the conference itself, generating new partnerships, practical circular business models and pilots, greater visibility for local innovations, actionable campaigns and stronger regional networks focused on circularity in practice.
The conference offers an opportunity to learn from the entrepreneurs, organisations and communities already developing circular solutions on the ground, while exploring how these approaches can be strengthened, connected and scaled.
Event details
Join TheRockGroup and the circular economy community in Nairobi on 30 September.
Date: 30 September 2026
Location: Nairobi Street Kitchen, Mpaka Road, Westlands, Nairobi
TheRockGroup looks forward to contributing our experience in circular economy and sustainable business development, and to learning from the people and organisations working to build more resilient local economies across Africa.
