Challenges and Development Pathways for Circular Economy in Armenia in Context of International Forum

Over 150 participants from over 40 countries attended Armenia’s first international forum on circular economy, held at UWC Dilijan International School.

The event was organized within the framework of "CirculUP! Building Capacity and Raising Awareness to Popularise Circular Economy in Armenia" project, funded by the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia.

“As you may know, about 90% of waste generated in Armenia ends up in landfills or dumping sites. This leads to resource waste, environmental damage, and health risks. Through this program, we aim to introduce the best practices from the European Union. Circular economy has been implemented in the EU since 2015, and during that time, we have accumulated valuable experience, allowing us to see how resources can be saved, economic benefits gained, and new jobs created,” said Zuzana Sorocinova, representative of the EU Delegation to Armenia.

“In Armenia, our experience shows what it means to move beyond pilot projects and build real ecosystems where policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, and citizens collaboratively design long-term solutions,” Tatiana Glad, Executive Director of Impact Hub Global, noted.

 “We see great potential for introducing circular economy in Armenia, especially in the agriculture, tourism, and textile sectors. This is not just environmental work—it is also a business opportunity. If such products are presented correctly, they can be successfully marketed in European and U.S. markets,” Gevorg Poghosyan, Executive Director of Impact Hub Yerevan, noted. He expressed hope that the forum would become an annual event and lead to new achievements.

Participants also highlighted the value of such formats. Narine Khalatyan, Head of the Chair of Environment and Sustainable Development at the Armenian State University of Economics, said:

“Our department also prioritizes this topic. We integrate circular economy into several course subjects. Recently, we even organized a university-wide discussion on this issue. We are doing our part to contribute to the transition toward a circular economic model.

This event gave us the opportunity to connect with experts in the field and establish future collaboration.

The project will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our academic process-helping us organize more effective courses, engage students, and increase faculty involvement. It will also help focus our research efforts on this important topic, including the development of specialized academic modules.”

To promote circular practices in business, over 20 companies and NGOs have already received grants totaling over €500,000. In addition, over 100 startups, SMEs, and civil society organizations have received training on the basics of circular economy.

As part of the project, the Armenian Circular Economy Coalition (ACEC) has been established, fostering active cooperation with government bodies to develop sector-specific policies. In 2025, the project plans to conduct an in-depth study to assess the potential of circular economy development in Armenia and ensure data accessibility for key stakeholders.