The Republic of Mauritius is taking a significant step forward in the implementation of its National Circular Economy Roadmap with the operationalisation of a structuring project implemented by Expertise France, and funded by the European Union (EU) to the amount of €3.5 million (MUR 380,282,000). The project is being carried out in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, as well as Business Mauritius.

In that context, a workshop to discuss and validate the Inception Report for the EU Project for the implementation of the Circular Economy Roadmap in the Republic of Mauritius opened, yesterday, at the Le Labourdonnais Hotel in Port Louis.

The event was attended by several distinguished personalities, including the Director of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr Jogeeswar Seewoobaduth; the Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the EU to the Republic of Mauritius, Mrs Maria Louisa Troncoso; and the Project Assistant for Sustainability and Inclusive Growth at Business Mauritius, Mrs Irina Cotte. Also present were senior officials from various Ministries, a participant from Rodrigues, and a team of consultants from Expertise France. The gathering also brought together the private sector, academia, civil society, and non-governmental organisations.

In his address, Mr Seewoobaduth said that this ambitious initiative aims to support the country’s transition towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development model by reducing waste, enhancing resource efficiency, and fostering innovation in key sectors, particularly construction.

He outlined the main expected outcomes of the project, namely the development of legislation on circular economy, strengthening institutional capacity on circular practices, the preparation of a communication strategy for awareness raising, the development of monitoring and evaluation tools to track progress, and the provision of business support to help the private sector adopt circular models and improve access to finance. He added that work had already started on several components, particularly the circular economy legislation.

Mr Seewoobaduth further explained that the project would focus on the priority sector of construction and real estate, with the objective of transforming practices in the construction sector, including building design, materials used, and the management of construction and demolition waste. He emphasised that the construction sector is a major contributor to global carbon emissions and that adopting circular practices such as design-for-disassembly, modular construction, and sustainable materials would help reduce raw material extraction, minimise waste, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts, he noted, are aligned with Mauritius’ Nationally Determined Contributions, which aim to divert 5% of construction waste by 2030 and 25% by 2035.

He also stressed that the transition to a circular economy would not be possible without strong collaboration with the private sector, businesses, and industry, which play a key role in developing circular products, services, and innovative production and recovery systems. He underlined the importance of partnerships with development partners to build green and circular skills, particularly through collaboration with institutions involved in Technical and Vocational Education and Training, with the aim of encouraging youth to engage in repair, recycling, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and eco-entrepreneurship.

For her part, Mrs Maria Louisa Troncoso underscored the urgent need to transition from a linear economic model to a circular economy, stressing that the current “take, make, dispose” approach is no longer sustainable. She pointed out that the linear model contributes significantly to resource depletion, environmental degradation, and climate change, generating over two billion tonnes of waste annually. By contrast, a circular economy promotes the efficient use of resources, minimises waste, and supports the regeneration of natural systems. Such a transition, she noted, would not only help reduce emissions but also strengthen supply chains and foster long-term economic resilience.

As for Mrs Irina Cotte, she said that the Circular Economy Roadmap will play a key role in helping Mauritius optimise its resources and reduce dependency on fossil fuels. She dwelt on the broader impact of the project on climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, women’s empowerment, and the reduction of inequalities.

Mrs Cotte further indicated that the project has two main specific objectives, namely: improving the institutional and regulatory frameworks for the implementation of the national Circular Economy Roadmap and Action Plan; and increasing the effectiveness of circular economy initiatives within the built environment value chain, with particular emphasis on supporting women entrepreneurs.

The project is being implemented over a period of 46 months, spanning from September 2025 to July 2029, and is expected to contribute significantly to the country’s transition towards a more sustainable and resource-efficient economy.

27 March 2026

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Topics: Environment