Welcome to the January edition of Surbon Signal.
This month, I'm sharing a short overview from the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), with a particular focus on the circular economy, which emerged as a key discussion theme.
1. Circular Economy at WFES – From Strategy to Execution
Having first attended WFES in 2018, it was striking to see how far sustainability has progressed. This year, the circular economy felt like it had firmly moved from strategy into execution.
The phrase itself is appearing more frequently in sustainability discussions and government tenders, and for good reason: circular economy aligns commercial logic with sustainability outcomes.
UAE Signals: What’s Starting to Shift
A few practical shifts stood out:
- Closed-loop plastics are progressing, including food-contact applications, with faster approvals expected. (The reusable plastic cups at the event were a good example.)
- Local loops are being prioritised, such as sourcing wooden pallets within free zones rather than importing them.
- In an increasingly volatile world, waste is being treated as value: sellers avoid disposal costs, buyers access cheaper inputs, and emissions reporting improves.
The final phase of UAE circular economy measures comes into force in 2026, but adoption remains uneven:
- Large organisations are generally keeping pace (for example, on single-use plastics).
- SMEs are still struggling, despite clear communication.
This matters. SMEs are the backbone of the UAE economy, and without targeted support—financial, technical, and digital—there is a real risk of a two-speed transition.
One encouraging sign: the UAE Circular Economy Policy Committee is engaging earlier than many regions, giving industry space to provide feedback before regulation “sets”—a lesson Europe is still working through.
The Need for “Tinder for Resources”
Across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, marketplaces are emerging to match by-products, waste streams, and secondary materials. One speaker neatly described this as “Tinder for resources”, a phrase that stuck.
Globally, more than $2 trillion of resources sit underutilised.
Another line worth repeating:
“Europe sets the standards, the USA sets the tariffs, and the Global South produces.”
One particularly interesting example came from Malaysia, where government policy is enabling cross-sector collaboration: used cooking oil from food and beverage companies is being sold into aviation fuel supply chains. Check out: https://www.thesurpluss.com/ for more information on a digital platform for circular economy.
The Virgin vs Circular Challenge
A persistent headwind remains cost and perception. In many sectors, not just transport:
- Virgin materials are still 10–15% cheaper
- Quality concerns continue to slow adoption
- Durability is critical—especially in the Gulf climate, where packaging lifespans of 12–18 months are under pressure
The takeaway: moving secondary materials into mainstream supply chains requires education well beyond procurement teams. Regulators, operators, and end-users all need confidence in performance.
Education came up repeatedly. Bee’ah, the Omani waste management provider, highlighted the importance of long-term education partnerships alongside industry delivery to educate the wider population on circular economy.
5. Finance, Platforms, and the Missing Middle
Technology alone won’t deliver circularity. What’s needed is alignment between:
- Policy and regulation (carrot + stick)
- Finance and risk-sharing (to unlock capital)
- Platforms and data (to match supply with demand)
Banks remain cautious and largely driven by traditional risk models rather than impact. Green finance tools, tax incentives, and procurement guarantees could play a major role—particularly in the Global South, where systems can scale quickly but funding is often the constraint.
Let's see what 2026 brings. And if you want more on circular economy please check this out.
2 Curated Signals & Reading
Some further reading:
♻️ UAE events eliminate single-use plastics with reusable foodware A UAE-based solution is proving that circular systems can work at scale for large events—removing single-use plastics while maintaining hygiene, efficiency, and commercial viability. A strong example of circular economy principles moving from pilot to practice.
⚡ World’s largest battery-electric ship enters harbour trials Australia has begun harbour trials of the world’s largest battery-electric vessel—an important milestone for maritime decarbonisation. A clear signal that electrification is scaling beyond road and rail into heavy-duty, mission-critical transport.
🚲 Micromobility meets regulation – and friction Two UK stories highlight the unintended consequences of fragmented decision-making in shared mobility:
3) Upcoming Events & Training
📌 20 February – UITP Public Transport Fundamentals, Online
✈️ 17 March – Passenger Terminal Expo, London
🌆 21–23 April – UITP Global Summit, Dubai
Want to connect at an event or discuss your project?Schedule a meeting.
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