Italian momentum meets European ambition
At the 8th Annual Conference of the Italian Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ICESP), held on 25 March 2026 in Rome, where Ladeja Godina Košir joined remotely, she highlighted a key insight: what is happening in Italy today is not isolated — it is deeply aligned with, and complementary to, the broader European circular transition.
In her keynote, she emphasised that Italian efforts to identify, validate and scale circular economy good practices strongly resonate with what is being developed at EU level, particularly through platforms such as European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform. The real opportunity now lies in better connecting these layers — national ecosystems and European frameworks — into more coordinated and impactful action.
Italy as a laboratory of circular transformation
Italy stands out as one of the countries that has developed a clear and context-driven pathway towards circular transformation. What makes this approach particularly powerful is its ability to build on existing strengths:
the identity and quality associated with Made in Italy,
a long-standing tradition of design and craftsmanship,
rich cultural heritage,
and a strong culture of creativity and innovation — spanning sectors from gastronomy and fashion to advanced industry.
Rather than starting from scratch, Italy is reinterpreting its economic and cultural DNA through a circular lens, turning tradition into a driver of future competitiveness.
From alignment to acceleration
The ICESP conference once again confirmed that Europe does not lack good practices. What is needed now is alignment, coordination and scaling. Italy’s example shows that when circular economy is rooted in identity, culture and industrial strength, it becomes more than a sustainability agenda — it becomes a strategic development pathway.
The next step is clear: to connect these national pathways more effectively at European level — and accelerate the transition together.