While circular economy principles are gaining traction worldwide, Bulgaria still faces significant roadblocks in adopting these models. The lack of symbiosis between companies is a major challenge—one company’s waste could be another’s raw material, yet businesses rarely collaborate on this level. Additionally, expertise and access to reliable information in the field remain limited, making it difficult for companies to transition.
Another key issue? Investment in circular hardware solutions. While digital solutions are attracting funds, the physical infrastructure needed to close material loops often struggle to gain investor confidence. These questions were discussed during the fourth edition of the ESG&FRIENDS 2025 forum, organized by the first media platform for promoting ESG in Bulgaria, ESGnews.bg.
Denimir Dimitrov, author at ESGnews.bg, and Ellen Wasylina, founder and CEO of Trocadero Forum Institute, examined the gaps and opportunities in the circular economy space.
The Role of Education
One of the strongest points we emphasized during my talk was education. If we want the circular economy to become mainstream, we must embed it into the school system—not just as a separate subject, but as a fundamental part of every discipline. Students today are not being prepared for the climate challenges they will face tomorrow. If we don’t equip them with the right tools now, they will struggle to create meaningful change in the future.
Key takeaways from the panel:
- Collaboration is missing. Businesses need to see waste as an opportunity, not a problem.
- Knowledge and expertise are lacking. Without education and accessible data, progress will be slow.
- Investors are hesitant about hardware. Yet, real circular solutions require physical infrastructure.
- Schools are behind. The next generation must be properly educated on sustainability from an early age.
The Way Forward: What can we do?
- Push the circular agenda further. This means more policies, incentives, and awareness.
- Develop technology that meets real needs. Circular solutions must be scalable and practical.
- Invest in education. We must provide students with the knowledge and tools to become future leaders in sustainability.
The circular economy is not a trend, it’s a necessity. Bulgaria has a chance to lead in this space, but only if we commit to long-term, systemic change. Together we can make circular business models the new standard.
