Our predictions, because all crystal balls are circular

What does this year have in store (and restore) for the circular economy? We asked some of our favorite experts on the subject what they see coming.

“2026 is the year reuse moves from ‘this just makes sense’ to ‘let’s actually do it’ — shifting from good intention to business as usual by building the systems that let materials move, confidently and continuously, from one project to the next.”
— Carly Connor, founder & CEO, Green Salvaged Materials, Toronto

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“While the market is still feeling ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, I’m seeing a lot of owners, developers, designers and project teams proving the financial and planetary benefits of circularity. We’re learning that verified data is critical in proving the business case and logistics of circularity, but with those in place circularity in practice can be magic.”
— Ren Decherney, Director, Built Environment, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, Amsterdam

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“Prioritising reuse in the workplace sends a clear message to employees, making sustainability tangible and helping to create a ripple effect across an organisation..”
— Hélène Carpentier, founder & director, Circular Workplaces, London

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“Our economy can’t handle shocks the way it used to and the brands that figure out how to be profitable across multiple product life-cycles will win. Everyone else won’t have a customer.”
— Garr Punnett, Founder @ Loop Layer / Co-Host @ The Selling Circular Podcast, Chicago

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“2026 is the year circularity stops being framed as reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, or anything that signals compromise. It becomes a forward-looking standard where high design, exceptional manufacturing, and circular principles are inseparable. Not an alternative, not a trade-off, just how great products are made.”
— Andy Delisi, vice president, Envirotech, Toronto

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“As material costs continue to climb and resources tighten as a result of tariffs and other economic and supply realities in 2026, I believe we’ll see circularity move from idealistic aspiration to practical solution. It will take some time, but many of the experts and thought leaders I talk to believe in the next 5-10 years we will see circularity go mainstream, powered by digital material tracking, smarter design for disassembly, and economic realities that make throwing perfectly good materials into landfills simply too expensive.”
— Jim Schneider, executive director, PCI Mountain States, Denver

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“The top four reasons furniture will continue to go to landfill:

1. Poor planning
2. The planning was rather poor
3. Most everyone involved planned poorly
4. Decom professionals were not procured.”
   —  Joel Stein, owner, Whole Cubes, Chicago

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“In 2026, reuse gets easier. Specifying reclaimed materials will no longer require a peace offering from Tim’s.”*
— Meredith Moore, founder & CEO, Ouroboros Deconstruction, Toronto

(*Cansplaining: This means a coffee from Tim Hortons)

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“I’m seeing circular construction really lifting off all across New York State in 2026!”
— Casey Plasker, founder & chief impact officer, Circularly, New York

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“Increasingly, designers and owners are recognizing the old adage ‘the most sustainable product is the one you don’t have to make.’ Adding low value recycled content to a high impact product design doesn’t encourage a circular economy to the same extent that building the business models to advance re-sale or maintaining economic value in existing material in circulation.”
— Joey Shea, Sales Director, Contract Seating, Gen Phoenix, Peterborough, UK

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“I predict a growing number of designers and architects specifying deconstruction and material reuse, especially in small-scale renovations where the connection between owner and building is more direct. Reused materials carry memory, making the past physically present while showing that the future is built by adding new chapters to what already exists rather than erasing it, a story that smart designers can deliberately weave into their storytelling.”
— Raphael Lopoukhine, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Circular Economy Leadership Canada, Toronto

We’re always looking for case studies, actionable tips, and news items about the circular workplace. Reach out at hello@circularworkplace.com to join our coalition.