Did you know that grape seeds can be roasted and transformed into a rich, delicious juice? That leftover sheep wool is being repurposed to make highly effective protective packaging? Or that the plant Artemisia plays a pivotal, life-saving role in the treatment of malaria?
These are not just fascinating pieces of trivia, they are tangible, real-world solutions that set the stage at ChangeNow 2026. For the Deepnest team, navigating this global stage of environmental and social innovation was nothing short of a rollercoaster. It was a three-day journey of learnings and meetings with key partners across the waste value chain, proving that the tools to fix our most pressing material challenges are already here
Desk originally from the French National Furniture Collection, transformed by the artist Valentine H. Despointes using upcycled leather.
One of the red threads binding the summit together was the omnipresence of conversations around waste and the material impact every organisation leaves behind. It was implied in each conversation, whether addressed directly through technical solutions or implicitly as a symptom of broader systemic failures.
We saw this duality clearly during a captivating keynote by cosmographer Maxime Blondeau. Speaking on the modern realities of human movement, Blondeau illustrated the impact of overtourism on protected areas like Santorini. His presentation served as a stark reminder that waste is not merely physical trash; it is the indirect depletion and degradation of shared ecosystems.
On the direct action front, the Producer Responsibility Organisations Ecologic provided a great masterclass in behavioural science. Their workshop dissected the psychology of consumer incentives, exploring the nuanced influence of penalties versus rewards when encouraging the public to properly sort waste.
Quentin Bellet, Public Relations Manager, notably mentioned a study conducted by Lizhen Qiu in 2025, which examines what drives pro-environmental behaviour in China, focusing on self-efficacy, collective efficacy, and personal and social norms. It finds that social norms (what others do) are the strongest predictor, followed by personal moral norms, with both significantly influencing environmentally friendly actions. Additionally, people are more likely to act sustainably when they believe their actions matter (self-efficacy). The consensus was clear: building systemic infrastructure is only half the battle; we must master consumer engagement to make it work.
Perhaps the most resonant tone of the event was set by circular economy leader Kate Raworth, author of Donut Economics.
Perhaps the most resonant tone of the event was set by circular economy leader Kate Raworth, author of Donut Economics.
During a powerful call for collective action, she urged all of us to "leave our heads and feel more." This sentiment, the vital need to bridge the intellectual understanding of climate crises with the emotional drive required to solve them, echoed throughout the Grand Palais..
This emotional connection was also palpable during the eloquence competition hosted by the Jane Goodall Institute. Amidst technical panels, it was inspiring to hear students speak with such clarity, conviction, and passion, tasked with captivating their audience using Jane Goodall’s iconic quotes. Listening to these young advocates articulate the urgent need for systemic change was a great example in powerful communication, serving as a grounding reminder of exactly who these innovations are being built for.
A shift was evident on the exhibition floor of the Grand Palais in Paris: the conversation has moved from identifying problems to deploying scalable solutions. Major brands and institutional investors were actively scouting the floor to equip themselves with the tools to be used across their operations and supply chain. Startups were the true vanguard of the summit, presenting localised solutions to global waste problems:
Beneath the optimism, a critical theme emerged in both private investor circles and public forums: the growing reality of "ESG and sustainability fatigue." As corporate reporting mandates increase, many professionals feel bogged down by regulatory red tape, losing sight of the actual environmental impact they set out to achieve.
The antidote prescribed at ChangeNow 2026 was definitive: we need real-world data.
To combat this fatigue, organisations must transition from abstract ESG box-ticking to showcasing verifiable, on-the-ground impact. They need empirical proof that the initiatives they are funding, building, or managing are relevant and actively moving the needle. By transforming opaque waste systems into clear, actionable intelligence, we equip decision-makers with the exact real-world data needed to validate their efforts, cut through the fatigue, and reignite their sustainability drive.
At Deepnest, we leave ChangeNow 2026 deeply invigorated. The waste value chain is undeniably complex, but the convergence of brilliant startup innovation, and a renewed demand for the kind of robust, data-driven impact we facilitate proves that a circular future might be more within our grasp than we think.