On June 25th-26th, 2019 Professor Amar Mohanty was invited to attend the Great Lakes Circular Economy Forum hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Approximately 150 delegates attended the event, as the forum was an invitation-only event that aimed to promote the transition to a circular economy in the Great Lakes Region of North America.

The Great Lakes region is uniquely positioned for a transition to a circular economy because of its tightly integrated industries and its strong cross-border collaborations. Shifting towards circularity holds great promise for improving resource efficiency, promoting innovation and helping drive economic growth. As the largest body of freshwater on the planet, maximizing sustainability and minimizing waste in the Great Lakes region is essential for safeguarding our future.