State of Bioeconomy & Circular Markets | Milan Longevity Summit 2026

*The circular economy has moved from ambition to business strategy. But how much of the economy is actually becoming circular?* As pressure grows to reduce dependence on finite resources, cut waste, decarbonise value chains, and regenerate natural systems, the *bioeconomy and circular economy* are becoming increasingly important to the way companies think about growth, innovation, and competitiveness. In this fireside chat from the *Vitality Stage at the Milan Longevity Summit 2026*, *Eric Ezechieli*, Co-founder and Co-director of Nativa, joins *Emanuele Bompan*, Editor in Chief of Renewable Matter, to take stock of where the transition stands today. The conversation explores how circular and regenerative principles are moving into real business models, products, materials, supply chains, and corporate strategies, and where the greatest opportunities for innovation are emerging. Which circular models are proving commercially viable? How are companies redesigning products and value chains around resources rather than waste? Where is the bioeconomy creating entirely new markets? And what continues to prevent promising solutions from reaching meaningful scale? The discussion also examines a broader evolution in the role of business. Moving towards a circular and regenerative economy is not simply about making existing models less harmful. It requires companies to reconsider *how value is created, what resources that value depends on, and what happens throughout the full lifecycle of the products and services they bring to market.* *Participants:* • Eric Ezechieli – Co-founder & Co-director, Nativa • Moderated by Emanuele Bompan – Editor in Chief, Renewable Matter Ultimately, the transition to circularity will be measured not by commitments, but by what reaches the market. *The opportunity is to turn resource constraints and environmental pressures into a new generation of businesses, products, and value chains designed to thrive within the limits of a living planet.* _The *Vitality Stage* at the Milan Longevity Summit explores how innovation moves from ideas and scientific breakthroughs into the markets, technologies, products, services, and business models shaping healthier lives and a healthier planet._ *Learn more about the Milan Longevity Summit:* https://www.milanlongevitysummit.org #MilanLongevitySummit #CircularEconomy #Bioeconomy #CircularInnovation #RegenerativeBusiness #SustainableBusiness #FutureOfBusiness #Innovation #Vitality #OneHealth