Background
A decade ago, the 1st ISIE Americas Conference took place in Bogotá, Colombia, setting the stage for dialogue on Industrial Ecology and Green Growth in the Americas. Since then, this journey has continued. In 2018, Costa Rica brought a focus on Industrial Symbiosis, and, in 2020, Perú highlighted Industrial Ecology for Sustainable and Resilient Cities. Each of these conferences has strengthened ties within our ISIE community — a community shaped by diversity, creativity, and a shared vision for sustainability.
We are pleased to announce the 4th ISIE Americas & the Caribbean Conference in 2026, back to its origins, in Bogotá, Colombia.
This conference will ask a crucial question: How can Circular Economy research, advance industry and public policy best practices respond to the sustainability challenges facing the Americas and the Caribbean today?
By the end of the conference, we aim to outline clear pathways for continuing collaboration, using the Americas as an example of how the Global North and South regions can work together by advancing resource circularity and security in formal and informal economic systems.
Why Circular Economy Matters for the Americas & the Caribbean
We find ourselves in a world marked by growing uncertainty and fragmentation. Disruptive events, geopolitical tensions, and environmental crises challenge our ability to collaborate across borders, and therefore limits our reliance on functioning supply-chains and regional systems. But precisely because of these challenges, the role of the ISIE community has never been more vital, especially when Circular Economy has become a key paradigm for enabling a sustainable future in the Americas and the Caribbean, bringing potential economic, social and environmental benefits to the region and the rest of the world.
Conference Themes
We welcome contributions that advance a systems-based understanding and foster innovation in how Circular Economy research and practice can respond to the sustainability challenges facing the Americas and the Caribbean. Submissions may explore the application of Industrial Ecology tools to circular transitions, assess governance and equity aspects, or present applied examples that connect research, policy, and practice toward a more circular and sustainable future, which can be related, but not limited to:
- Applying Industrial Ecology Tools to Circular Economy Research in the Americas and the Caribbean: Developing and applying methods such as Material Flow Analysis, Life Cycle Assessment, and Input-Output Analysis to assess Circular Economy systems at the national, regional, supply-chain, and corporate levels, assessing the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of circular transitions.
- Transdisciplinary Approaches for Circular Innovation: Advancing transdisciplinary data systems, indicators, and models that integrate insights from engineering, economics, social sciences, and environmental studies, bridging scientific, policy, and industry perspectives to generate holistic knowledge for Circular Economy research in the region.
- Assessing the Contributions of the Informal Economy: Exploring how informal repair, reuse, and recycling practices contribute to circularity across the Americas. We invite innovations in measuring, mapping, and analyzing these practices, recognizing their role in advancing inclusive and socially grounded circular transitions.
- Enabling Mechanisms for a Just and Equitable Transition: Examining the governance structures, participatory processes, and institutional frameworks needed to ensure a just, equitable, and inclusive circular transition, including case studies on social innovation, public policy, and financing mechanisms for equitable circular development.
- Showcasing Circular Businesses and Best Practices: Presenting industry-driven, company-level, and local applications of circular strategies in the Americas and the Caribbean, emphasizing engagement with practitioners, companies, and policymakers who are driving real-world transitions toward circular production and consumption.
- Integrating Local and Ancestral Circular Knowledge: Highlighting empirical evidence and lived experiences from indigenous and local communities that have long practiced forms of circularity, acknowledging their contributions and exploring how these lessons can inspire context-sensitive, culturally grounded circular transitions in the Americas and beyond.
Why Participate
- Exchange experiences in Circular Economy research and practices across the Americas & the Caribbean.
- Connect perspectives from the Global North and South regions in the Americas and the Caribbean.
- Bridge industry perspectives to academic developments by opening a space where experiences and challenges from industry feed into academic research.
Conference Location and Format
The conference will be hosted by the School of Management of Universidad de los Andes, bringing the regional conversation on Circular Economy and sustainability in one of the most (biologically and culturally) diverse countries in the region. Colombia is a living example in both challenges and opportunities a circularity transition in the Latin American context, offering lessons not only for Latin American countries, but also North America, the Caribbean, and worldwide.
The conference will be held in a physical format, providing in-person sessions to enable engagement from researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the region and worldwide. This format will feature plenary talks, thematic sessions, interactive workshops, and local field visits in inspiring circular initiatives around the city of Bogotá.
Organisers & Partnerships
The conference is organised by the School of Management of Universidad de los Andes (Colombia) in collaboration with:
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, CML, from Leiden University (The Netherlands)
- Peruvian Life Cycle Assessment and Industrial Ecology Network, PELCAN, from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (Perú)
- University of Waterloo (Canada)
- SPHERA (United States)
This event is organized in partnership and support from the International Society for Industrial Ecology (ISIE).
Submission Details and Sponsorship
We invite submissions of extended abstracts of ~500 words that present original research, case studies, modelling approaches, or practice-based insights aligned with the conference themes. Contributions may include:
- Oral presentations showcasing analytical, empirical, or conceptual work;
- Panel discussions, special sessions, and workshops designed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge exchange.
Abstracts should clearly describe the objectives, methods, and key findings or insights, and demonstrate their relevance to the conference theme of Circular Economy transition in the Americas & the Caribbean.
Details on deadline for submission, registration, cost-sharing arrangements, and sponsorship will be announced soon.
Conference Co-chairs: Glenn A. Aguilar-Hernandez and Bart van Hoof
Organizing committee: Ramzy Kahhat,Valentina Prado, Simron Singh