Circular Indiana’s 3rd Annual Conference

REGISTER for the 2025 Conference Here

Mark your calendars, friends — Circular Indiana’s annual conference is back on September 8th at the Indiana Government Center, and we’re going big on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) this year.

We’re bringing together policymakers, changemakers, and hands-in-the-dirt doers to explore how EPR could reshape Indiana’s waste and recycling systems. You’ll hear directly from state legislators about what’s brewing on the policy front and from folks who’ve been putting circularity into action for years, turning waste streams into revenue streams and proving that sustainability is good for business.

Why go circular? Because it works. Circular practices have the potential to unlock $4.5 trillion in global economic growth by 2030 (Global Economic Forum, 2019) and help companies reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 39% (Circle Economy Foundation, 2024).

Circular design isn't just an environmental win—it’s a smart financial move: manufacturers can cut material costs, and food businesses have slashed food waste by up to 70%, boosting their bottom line (Circle Economy Foundation, 2021; ReFED).

And the cherry on top? Chad Pregracke, the absolute legend who founded Living Lands & Waters, is our keynote speaker. He’s cleaned over 13 million pounds of trash from American rivers and is here to lead, educate, and fire us up for the work ahead. Chad illustrates real-life examples of turning trash into treasure and taking waste streams and transforming them into inputs.

We’ll also have a full-on Sustainability Fair where local businesses show what circularity looks like in the real world—think compostable service ware, textiles-to-insulation startups, closed-loop packaging systems, and food recovery networks that save meals (and money).

Whether you’re a policy nerd, a green biz owner, or just circularity-curious, learn and connect with us. Let’s talk trash, share stories, and build a healthy future for Indiana together.

And after? Meet us for cocktails and snacks at the Indiana State Museum, from 4-6 pm, for a zero-waste cocktail party (yes, really).

More details coming soon. See you in September!

References: https://www.weforum.org/impact/helping-the-circular-economy-become-a-reality/

https://www.circle-economy.com/resources/circularity-gap-report-2021

https://refed.org/uploads/refed_roadmap2030-FINAL.pdf