Circular Economy Research Internship - UN & EU Horizon Europe Projects (Remote)

WHY THIS INTERNSHIP IS DIFFERENT

Remote · 6 months · Start December 2026 or January 2027 · Full-time, or flexible for students Most sustainability internships keep you on the sidelines. This one puts you inside live policy work. For six months you will research and write for a United Nations circular economy project and for BELOOP, an EU Horizon Europe research project where Circular Innovation Lab leads the work package on uptake and impact. You will leave with published work under your own name, real experience of how UN and EU projects run, and a working relationship with practitioners who advise governments on circular economy policy.

ABOUT CIRCULAR INNOVATION LAB

Circular Innovation Lab is a research and policy think tank based in Denmark and India, accelerating the transition to a circular economy. We work with national governments, UN agencies (UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, FAO) and international organisations. Our partners and collaborators include the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the United Nations, Chatham House, WRAP and the Global Environment Facility. Our focus sectors are textiles, electronics, plastics, construction, food and AI. Our work includes:

• National circular economy roadmaps and action plans (including support to the Government of Viet Nam on its National Action Plan on Circular Economy to 2035)
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy design
• Hazardous chemicals in supply chains and green chemistry
• Critical raw materials and Digital Product Passports
• Capacity building for governments and institutions
• Research and publications through our imprint, Circular Press, including our recent report The AI Linearity Paradox

WHO YOU WILL LEARN FROM

You will work directly with our co-founders, who began their circular economy careers on the India National Roadmap with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation:

• Apoorva Arya, CEO: environmental economist with over 10 years in circular economy, environmental policy and finance, and Coordinating Lead Author of the Circularity Transformation Pathways chapter of UNEP's Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7)
• Arpit Bhutani, COO: circular economy practitioner with industry and policy work across South East Asia, India, Costa Rica and North Africa, TEDx speaker and author of a book on sustainability standards

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Research and analyse policy, regulation and market data for a UN circular economy project
• Contribute to scoping and situational analysis for the BELOOP Horizon Europe project
• Draft policy briefs, insight articles and sections of reports and white papers
• Co-author publications on Circular Press, credited under your name
• Track global circular economy developments and turn them into short, sharp analysis
• Prepare inputs for stakeholder meetings, workshops and events with international partners

WHAT YOU WILL GAIN

• A portfolio of published work under your name: articles, briefs, and contributions to reports
• Hands-on UN and EU project experience, including how international projects are scoped, delivered and reported
• Close work with senior experts who advise governments and UN agencies, with direct feedback on your writing and analysis
• Policy expertise in demand: EPR, chemicals, critical raw materials, ecodesign and circular economy governance
• A global network across a multicultural team (Indian, Spanish, Chilean, Danish, Portuguese) and our partners
• A strong next step. Our former interns have gone on to UN agencies, European think tanks, sustainability consultancies, international NGOs, and government and academic institutions

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We work with trust and autonomy. You will get real responsibility, not micromanagement. This suits people who:

• Write clearly and well in English, and enjoy turning complex material into readable analysis
• Have a genuine, sustained interest in the circular economy and sustainability policy
• Are analytical, careful with sources, and hold a high bar for quality
• Take ownership, manage their own time and meet deadlines without being chased

Helpful background: studies or experience in sustainability, environmental science, economics, public policy, law, engineering or related fields; prior research or academic writing.

PRACTICAL DETAILS

• Start: December 2026 or January 2027 (flexible)
• Duration: 6 months
• Location: Fully remote
• Commitment: Full-time preferred. For strong candidates who are still studying, we are open to a flexible arrangement.
• Remuneration: Unpaid

HOW TO APPLY

Send your CV, a short motivation letter (what draws you to circular economy policy, and which of our focus areas interests you most), and 1–2 writing samples if you have them (a university essay or thesis extract is fine).