Manufacturers worldwide are confronting a fundamental question: can circular economy principles deliver genuine competitive returns, or do they merely add compliance costs that erode margins?
As global circularity rates decline from 9.1% in 2018 to 7.2% in 2023—even as sustainability mandates intensify—the gap between circular ambition and circular reality has never been wider.

• Can digital traceability, closed-loop manufacturing, and advanced recycling deliver real economic and ecological benefits—or just add compliance costs?
• Will renewable energy, green hydrogen, and circular practices scale profitably, or force trade-offs between sustainability and margins?
• Can AR/VR, AI, and IoT unlock productivity while supporting net-zero goals—or simply accelerate resource use under a green narrative?
• How can policy, investment, and supply-chain transparency create authentic competitive advantage rather than relying on subsidies?