CIRCLE Expeditionary Summit in Vancouver, British Columbia
October 14-16, 2025
OPLN's dedicated learning platform - the U.S. Circular Policy Leadership Network (CIRCLE) - will bring multi-stakeholder leaders to Vancouver, British Columbia to gain hands-on experience with circular policy implementation.
Participants will explore a single system through expert panels & presentations, on-site facility visits, town hall-style technical discussions, and dynamic networking sessions.
CIRCLE summits take immersive approach to foster alignment and learning, inspire innovation, and build capacity for system-level circular economy approaches. An initial program for our October 2025 Expeditionary Summit will be released shortly.
This trip will connect U.S. circular policy leaders directly with stakeholders across British Columbia's extended producer responsibility (EPR), deposit return system (DRS), and refill & reuse ecosystems.
British Columbia has deposit return system (DRS) dating to the 1970s and was the first jurisdiction in North America to establish a producer-funded and managed packaging recycling system in 2014, making it a critical case study for circular policies. Site visits and Q&A sessions with Producer Responsibility Organization, regulator, and value chain leadership will uncover how legislation, technologies, and stakeholder responsibilities have evolved.
Hands-on Learning
CIRCLE summits promote cross-stakeholder knowledge sharing to inform policy, investment, and partnerships at U.S. state and federal levels. Recommended attendees include:
- Legislators, staff, and policy advisors
- Sustainability, compliance, procurement, and government affairs leads for CPGs and retailers
- Sustainability, compliance, procurement and government affairs leads for materials producers (conventional plastic, glass, aluminum, paper, and other alternatives or non-plastic substitutes)
- Material recyclers and waste management representatives
- Policy and sustainability leads for NGOs
This is an in-person event. The experience will complement facility tours with engaging panels and Q&A sessions with leaders from Vancouver's EPR and DRS systems.
- Tuesday, October 14, 2025: Participants arrive in the morning/early afternoon and participate in a scene-setting session on Vancouver EPR and DRS systems, followed by dinner, refreshments, and networking.
- Wednesday, October 15, 2025: Participants engage in panels and Q&A with EPR system leadership. In the afternoon, participants will join site visits and an evening of debriefing and networking sessions.
- Thursday, October 16, 2025: Morning panels & Q&A will connect participants directly with Vancouver's DRS leaders. Afternoon site visits and technical discussions will allow participants to contextual learning for their home states. The trip will close with a final dinner and networking session.
All meals beginning with dinner on Tuesday, October 14 through dinner on Thursday, October 16 are provided.
This is an invite-only event available to OPLN members, invited category experts and NGOs, and legislators and policy advisors. Contributions in addition to membership may be associated with industry member participation. Please complete formal registration through the link that will be provided via email.
OPLN will consider opening additional spaces based on demand. If you would like to get involved in this event or discuss OPLN membership, please complete our Express Interest form and the right team member will be in contact - we look forward to connecting.
Learn More
Want to learn more about CIRCLE and our previous expeditions?
Visit our CIRCLE homepage to read our trip reports, understand our virtual convenings, and see the leadership engaged to date.
