Webinar Recap – Boards Oversight of the Circular Value Chain: WCEF2025 accelerator session

On May 158, 2025, as part of the World Circular Economy Forum 2025, Boards Impact Forum and Chapter Zero Brazil co-hosted a pivotal accelerator session, bringing together global experts and Nordic and Brazilian board leaders to explore how boards can champion the shift toward a circular economy:

Beatriz Luz, Exchange 4 Change Brazil and founder Instituto Brasileiro de Economia Circular IBEC.
Katarina Lindström, NED RHI Magnesita, former COO Hempel A/S, former NED Gränges.
Minna Halme, Professor of Sustainability Management at Aalto University School of Business, where she heads Sustainability in Business Research.
Lars Husberg, chairman in three private and family owned businesses in Finland.

Boards Impact Forum Operations Director, Fernanda Torre, moderated this session, that offered insights into the strategic integration of circularity into corporate oversight, practical tools for implementation, and the critical role boards play in shaping resilient, future-ready supply chains.

Table of Contents

Circularity as a Strategic Imperative

Professor Minna Halme of Aalto University set the stage by reframing circular economy not just as an environmental imperative, but as a strategic opportunity for companies navigating uncertain times. From geopolitical tensions to climate-related disasters, global supply chains face unprecedented vulnerabilities. Halme argued that circular business models, especially those prioritizing reuse, refurbishment, and redesign, can enhance supply security, reduce dependence on precarious global inputs, and ultimately drive financial value.

She emphasized that higher levels of circularity, such as sharing, reuse, and repair, retain more material and financial value than traditional recycling. These approaches also demand less investment in new industrial capacity, relying instead on innovation in logistics, digitalization, and maintenance ecosystems.

“We must think beyond recycling. Boards should lead the way in developing service-driven, tech-enabled models that keep products in use longer,” Halme noted.

Systems Change from the Ground Up

Beatriz Luz, founder of Exchange 4 Change Brazil and Instituto Brasileiro de Economia Circular (IBEC), offered a grounded Brazilian perspective, sharing lessons from the Circular Economy Hub. Luz highlighted the importance of building multi-sectoral ecosystems where companies, public institutions, and solution providers co-create circular strategies.

Her three key takeaways:

A Common Vision – Alignment across departments and the value chain is essential.
Data and People – Engagement and trust are needed to unlock reliable data for systemic change.
Redefining Roles – Governance must evolve to support collaborative leadership and shared accountability.

Luz introduced the concept of “circular governance,” where boards play a proactive role in enabling cross-functional collaboration, regional roadmaps, and the development of circular business ecosystems.

“Circularity cannot be achieved in isolation. We need new governance models, shared responsibilities, and trust,” she urged.

Reflections from the Boardroom

In the following panel discussion, board members Lars Husberg and Katarina Lindström brought lived experience to the dialogue, exploring how boards can concretely support circular transitions.

Husberg emphasized the importance of future thinking and scenario planning. In family-owned businesses especially, he noted the potential to align long-term stewardship with innovation, if boards are prepared to act as “activators” in their ecosystems.

“We must go beyond sustainability fixes and design for longevity. That requires new infrastructure and business models — and bold leadership from the board,” he said.

Lindström underscored the need to embed circularity into strategy and metrics. She recommended that boards track tangible KPIs like the proportion of recycled inputs and waste reduction outcomes. Yet she cautioned that customer demand may not always align, calling for board-level engagement in stakeholder education and customer dialogue.

“We must educate not only our organizations but our investors and clients. Changing consumption patterns is part of the circular transition,” she reflected.

From Talk to Action: What Boards Can Do

As the conversation moved toward solutions, speakers agreed on a number of actionable takeaways for boards:

Build literacy: Understand the value and business models of circularity, beyond compliance.
Pilot circular models early: Experiment with reuse and refurbishment now, before risks materialize.
Elevate strategy: Ensure circularity is integrated into long-term planning, not siloed in ESG.
Champion ecosystems: Partner across value chains and sectors to unlock scalable change.
Set clear KPIs: Measure and incentivize performance across the circular value chain.

Closing the session, Fernanda Torre reminded participants that systems change requires courageous governance and collaboration.

“This is not only a business imperative, it’s a leadership challenge. Boards must drive the vision, metrics, and culture that make circular value chains the new normal,” she concluded.

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At Boards Impact Forum, we remain committed to supporting NEDs in this evolving landscape, ensuring sustainability and governance go hand in hand.