The Circular Economy Show Podcast
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation presents The Circular Economy Show, a podcast exploring a new approach to designing, making, and using things. It discusses how we can build an economy that is fit for the 21st century by moving away from the traditional linear model of take-make-dispose. The show features insights from business leaders, policymakers, and academics on the transition to a circular economy.
Episodes
What does circular tourism look like?
Tourism is on the COP31 agenda in Antalya, Türkiye, on 18 November, with zero waste and the circular economy now firmly part of the climate action conversation. So what does a circular economy for tourism look like in practice?This week on The Circular Economy Show, Pippa is joined by Patricia Dueñas from Iberostar Hotels & Resorts and Virginia Fernández-Trapa from UN Tourism. Together, they m
How to evolve (and how not to) with Zaid Hassan
Zaid Hassan has spent 25 years in systems change, and he thinks the field fooled itself. Beautiful diagrams that feel like progress and change nothing. Skills that AI will take first. Joe Iles asks him what actually works, and why he still ends his new book with three words: it's not that hard.Zaid is a strategist, facilitator and writer. He has advised organisations across the globe including the
The stretch problem no fashion company can solve alone
Most of our clothes contain stretch. That stretch usually comes from a fibre called elastane, which is one of the biggest barriers to recycling clothing at scale.In this episode of the Circular Economy Show, Seb Egerton-Read sits down with Georgia Parker of Fashion for Good and Lewis Shuler of Paradise Textiles (Alpine Group) to discuss why the industry reached for elastane by default rather than
Why $100 trillion wasn't enough, and what will actually move markets?
A hundred trillion dollars of capital lined up behind climate. It was never going to be enough. In part two, Jeremy Oppenheim tells Joe what actually moves a market, from Pakistan's solar boom to a copper mine in Mongolia, and why the voluntary playbook the movement leaned on for a decade has run its course.Conversations with a CE/O is a new series on The Circular Economy where the Ellen MacArthur
Ten years in. Here’s what we got wrong.
Jeremy Oppenheim left a top job at the management consulting firm McKinsey&Co in 2016 to become a Founding Partner of and build SYSTEMIQ, at the high water mark of climate optimism. Then came Trump and Brexit. Ten years on, Joe asks him what the movement got right, and what it got badly wrong, from ignoring the politics of decline to vilifying the very incumbents it needed. And most importantl
[Rewind] How to measure marketing success in a circular economy
In a circular economy, products may not be sold just once, but multiple times. This enables businesses to generate more revenue from one item. As a result, businesses are shifting their metrics beyond short-term profit to embrace the long-term strategic advantages of circular business models.
In this episode of The Circular Economy Show, host Fin is joined by Emily Hill, Director of Sustainable Tr
[Rewind] How do we make circular behaviours irresistible?
In this episode of the Circular Economy Show, our guests Georgie Rose from Selfridges and Simon Davies from VISA tell us how they have been working together to find out how to make circular behaviours irresistible for consumers.
Collaborating with Mindworks Marketing to optimise messaging and branding for promoting circular shopping behaviours, Georgie and Simon discuss how their behavioural lab h
[Rewind] How can marketers turn ideas into impactful action?
For years, marketers have been helping to shape how consumers think and feel about products that are driving the linear economy. However in this episode of the Circular Economy Show, we explore how they can harness their skills to unlock the opportunities that the circular economy provides.
We’re joined by experts Deb Caldow, former Global Marketing Director at Diageo, and Rachel O’Reilly, Global
[Rewind] What marketers need to know about driving circular demand
How can businesses sell circular propositions in a world that's rapidly changing? This episode of the Circular Economy Show tackles the marketing challenges and opportunities head-on. Pippa sits down with Jonathan Hall, Managing Partner at Kantar’s Sustainable Transformation Practice, and Amanda Gandolpho, former Head of Brands at bike subscription service Swapfiets, to explore how to connect with
Marketing the circular economy: a four part series
This August on the Circular Economy Show, we’re revisiting four conversations that help to navigate the marketing challenges and opportunities of switching to a circular economy. So listen in if you want to learn how to take something from a good idea to something that actually sells.
How do we break the silos between bio-based policy and circularity?
For years, the circular economy conversation has generated significant research, policy development, and business action around finite materials. But the same attention has not been given to bio-based materials. How can products and components made from these materials circulate and create value in a circular economy?
In this episode of The Circular Economy Show, Fin is joined by Guilherme Suerteg
Driving circularity: shared infrastructure for scalable change
Individual pilots are great, but they don't scale themselves. So, how do you shift an entire system to move an unmovable market?
This week on the Circular Economy Show, Lou and Fin explore the critical foundation of shared infrastructure. Whether it’s launching scalable refill coalitions with Aldi and Ocado, aggregating future demand to bring 90% emission-reducing fuel to ocean transport, or rewri
EV batteries, bio-based materials, and the jobs nobody talks about | Circular Snapshots
This month: three stories worth your time.
The WEF published a piece on EV battery recycling that reframes the whole conversation. These batteries contain the critical minerals governments are scrambling to secure. The recycled minerals market could be worth $200 billion by 2050. That value needs to be designed for now, not chased later.
Up until now the policy agenda for bio-based materials,
How does business benefit from regenerative practices?
In this episode of the Circular Economy Show, Pippa speaks with JJ Freijo, Chief Sustainability and Product Innovation Officer at Brambles. JJ explains how the company rents, rather than sells, pallets, crates and containers, creating a continuous loop of reuse across global supply chains.
Having achieved 100% certified timber procurement across 64 countries, Brambles began asking a bolder questio
Is it game over for the CSO?
Today, amid cost inflation, geopolitical conflict, and an ever-changing global business landscape we are staring down a massive shift in corporate sustainability and it’s starting to prompt some pretty big questions.
Does navigating the triple threat of media, politics, and boardroom backlash mean we need to change the playbook?
In this episode Lou is joined by Mark Lancelot from Better Business
From niche to necessity: the circular economy's strategic moment
Trade wars, resource shortages, and the AI-driven scramble for critical minerals are exposing the fragility of our current economy. And for businesses still operating on a linear model, the vulnerabilities are becoming impossible to ignore. The global economy isn’t just being disrupted, it’s being restructured.
In this episode, Seb is joined by Julia Binder, Professor of Transformation at IMD Bu
Circular Snapshots: Mexico’s landmark circular economy law and more
This edition of Circular Snapshots covers a lot of ground. Mexico passed landmark circular economy legislation in January — and it deserves far more attention than it got. We also look at Circle Economy's latest report, which puts a €25.4 trillion price tag on the value destroyed every year by our linear economy, and the EU Circular Economy Act as it heads toward autumn adoption.
Plus a quick run
Can paper fix the flexibles problem?
Flexible plastics are hard to collect, harder to recycle, and leaking into our oceans at scale. Could paper step in? And can it do so without creating a whole new problem?
In this episode, Pippa is joined by Laura Smith, Programme Manager for Plastics and Packaging at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Jonathan Gill, Global Head of Sustainability, Plastics, at Unilever and Valerie Langer, Strategic L
E-waste: the circular economy’s golden opportunity
E-waste is our fastest-growing waste stream, expanding five times faster than we can recycle it. But it's also one of our greatest untapped opportunities.
With the demand for critical minerals showing no signs of stopping, recovering materials from the billions of dollars’ worth of mobile phones hibernating in our drawers is increasingly important.
In this episode, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s
How do we fund the shift to a circular economy?
Why is it that despite the success of individual circular business models, we simply aren’t seeing a wider shift across the entire economy? In this episode Lou is joined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Strategic Finance and investment team, Emily Healy and Joe Rodgers.
Together, the team explores how systemic investing and capital orchestration could be the tools we need to take this transitio
Circularity: a competitive edge in the era of tariffs?
In a world of rising tariffs and supply chain disruption, could circularity be one of the smartest business moves a company can make? Danielle Holly, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s North America Lead, is joined by Tensie Whelan, founder of the Center for Sustainable Business at NYU Stern and former President of the Rainforest Alliance, to explore this and more.
Tensie explains the ROSI (Return o
Inside IKEA's strategy: building a resilient circular business
What if buying second-hand felt exactly like buying new?
In this episode of the Circular Economy Show, we explore how IKEA is embedding circular principles into its core commercial strategy. Fin is joined by Conor Hill, Global Director for Circular and Sustainable Living at IKEA, who shares how the brand is delivering measurable impact, all while making circularity affordable and accessible for th
How to measure marketing success in a circular economy
In a circular economy, products may not be sold just once, but multiple times. This enables businesses to generate more revenue from one item. As a result, businesses are shifting their metrics beyond short-term profit to embrace the long-term strategic advantages of circular business models.
In this episode of The Circular Economy Show, host Fin is joined by Emily Hill, Director of Sustainable Tr
Policy unplugged: Implementing circular economy policy with Joss Blériot
We are currently seeing a shift where circular economy policy is moving out of purely environmental ministries and into the hands of economic planning authorities and ministries of industry.
In this episode, Lou is joined by Joss Blériot, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Executive Policy Lead, who cuts through the noise of global headlines and looks at what’s actually moving on the ground.
Togethe
Circular economy, biodiversity, and the road to COP17
Biodiversity loss is accelerating at an alarming rate, but could circular economy solutions help turn things around?
In this episode of The Circular Economy Show, Lou speaks with Marianne Kettunen, Biodiversity Lead for Policy at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and Bianca Brasil, Programme Manager at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
They explore why around 90% of biodiver
What’s next for the plastics industry?
Over the past decade, leading businesses have shown that progress on plastic pollution is possible. And while individual company action has been successful, even the most ambitious businesses are running up against the same obstacles.
As a result, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has rallied leading businesses behind an evidence-based, ‘2030 Plastics Agenda for Business.’
In this episode of the Circ
The hidden drivers enabling the circular economy
What do some of the more surprising stories of scale teach us about implementing the circular economy?
In this episode of the Circular Economy Show, Fin is joined by Rachel O’Reilly, Global Human Sustainability Design Director at Accenture, to discuss their upcoming report. The report, titled ‘Circularity is Working’ provides direction on how to improve the consumer adoption of circularity.
From m
Circular snapshots: Competitiveness, critical minerals & textiles EPR
Welcome back to The Circular Economy Show and another episode of Circular Snapshots, where we unpack the headlines shaping the transition to a circular economy.This month, Seb explores the EU’s upcoming Circular Economy Act and its shift toward positioning circularity as industrial strategy, not just environmental policy. We look at new global data revealing rapid growth in national circular econo
The critical minerals crunch: How do we secure the future of clean energy?
Wen-Yu Weng, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Critical Minerals Lead, joins Lou to explain why critical minerals are currently taking centre stage in global political conversations. They explore:How we can create secure and resilient supply chains to close the gap on fast growing demandThe circular opportunities that currently lie in shaping supply chains to capture value right nowThe enabling fa
What’s next for the circular economy in 2026?
Join Seb as he speaks to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s CEO, Jonquil Hackenberg about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the circular economy in 2026.What are your priorities for 2026? Let us know in the comments or on our LinkedIn page.
2025 in review: unlocking the circular economy opportunity
It's been a pivotal year for the circular economy, full of big ideas and practical breakthroughs.Before we fully dive into 2026, we’re hitting pause for a moment of reflection.Join Fin, Lou, and Pippa who have hand-picked their favourite, most insightful, and memorable moments from the conversations they’ve had this year.This episode may show condensed snippets, but it is packed with big ideas, pr
Circular Snapshots | COP30 and progress in the circular economy
It’s easy to look at the news headlines and feel like everything is going backwards, but in this episode we ask you to look a little deeper and see the story beneath the headlines. Progress is possible and happening everywhere from plastics to fashion to the automotive sector, and even at COP.Listen in to hear:Whether COP still matters, and if so, for what?Why Honda’s circularity center in Ohio is
Why should retailers embrace the circular economy? | Conversations from Climate Week New York
Recorded live at Climate Week New York, in this episode we ask ‘why should retailers embrace the circular economy?’The global food system is responsible for a third of greenhouse gas emissions, and is vulnerable to supply chain shocks. Our guests discuss why circularity must be easier, more convenient, and more irresistible than the linear option, and why retailers and brands need to invest in sha
What's tech got to do with it? | Conversations from Climate Week New York
Recorded live during Climate Week NYC, this episode explores how technology can accelerate the transition to a circular economy, not as a bolt-on fix, but as a built-in business strategy. Host Danielle Holly, Executive Lead for North America at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, is joined by Jen Huffstetler (Chief Sustainability Officer, HP), Jim Sullivan (Head of Product Management, SAP), and Vrusha
Why do circular business models fail to scale? Going it alone
This is the fourth and final part of our mini series on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s new report: How not to fail: Avoiding 10 common pitfalls when scaling circular business models.In this episode, the report’s lead researchers, Maddy Oliver and Ella Hedley, explain how success at scale demands more than a strong model – what really matters is who is empowered to deliver it and how well are the
Why do circular business models fail to scale? Relying on a narrow business case
Circular business models can drive new revenue streams, build brand strength, customer loyalty, and market traction, while also unlocking value through resource efficiency, cost savings, and reduced risk to supply chain volatility. But there is often too much focus on short-term gains in revenue or sustainability and waste reduction metrics, while overlooking their full business value. In the thir
Why do circular business models fail to scale? Strategic misalignment
Circular business models often fail when they’re designed without factoring how the business works, what the customers want, and what the product requires. These need to be considered together, not in isolation, to ensure that delivery, adoption, and revenue generation are possible at scale.Thinking about fit might feel obvious, but in this episode, we hear how many businesses often overlook these
Why do circular business models fail to scale? Don’t think too small
What makes circular business models fail to scale? In this new four-part series, we’ll be exploring the common mistakes businesses make on their journey towards circularity.Based on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s new report: How not to fail: Avoiding 10 common pitfalls when scaling circular business models, Pippa is joined by Maddy Oliver and Ella Hedley, who led the research on the paper.You’ll
Stop minding your own business
Have the current political and economic shocks actually created enormous opportunities for change?Can businesses currently working on transforming themselves, work together on driving an entire market transformation?And what role can the rest of us play in resetting the system and helping to shape that change?In this episode, Jonquil Hackenberg, CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and Lindsay H
HolyGrail: see it, sort it, scale it
Scaling the circular economy requires more companies to launch circular products and services, but many competitors transitioning towards the circular economy face similar barriers to scale.One way to address this is commercial collaboration, where businesses work together on issues that are not tied to their competitive advantage.In this episode, we’ll hear from Sarah Dodge and Mark Buckley from
Circular Snapshots: EU policy breakthrough
It was a busy summer for the circular economy. In this episode, Seb brings you up to speed with some of the headlines and all in less than 10 minutes!Listen in to hear about:- The latest EU policy breakthrough: EPR for textiles- How new business models continue to gain traction across the retail sector- Why a group is advocating to scrap VAT on repairs in the UK- Why all of the news around critica
The view in North America and Climate Week NYC
As Climate Week NYC kicks off, what’s momentum like for the circular economy in North America?In this episode, Pippa’s joined by Danielle Holly, Executive Lead for North America at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, to explore how circularity is moving from theory to practice across the continent — and why that matters for business leaders looking ahead.They discuss:Circular economy progress in the U
How designers can hardwire their skills for a circular economy | Circling Back
Waste and pollution aren’t accidents—they’re the result of design. Which means we can design them out.Design is where it all begins – and where real change can happen. In this episode, host Pippa sits down with Joe Iles, Head of Design Activation at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, to discuss what circular design really means. In this episode hear about: How it differs from the traditional approach
The circular economy: a ‘triple play’ climate solution for China | Circling Back
Amid rising emissions, rising temperatures, and the rapid rollout of material-intensive renewable energy systems that promise to curb them both, climate mitigation and adaptation are a central priority for China’s government. In this episode, host Seb talks to Lei Chen from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s China team. They go behind the headlines to look at:The role China could play in acceleratin
Are circular cities the key to future-proofing Europe? | Circling Back
Could rethinking our cities through a circular lens be the key to future-proofing Europe whilst offering exciting investment opportunities?Join us in the third of our five-part Circling Back series of the Circular Economy Show, to hear host Lou Waldegrave speak with Julia Okatz from Systemiq and Joss Bleriot, Executive Lead for Policy and Institutions at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.They discuss
The competitive case for circular economy: From peripheral to pivotal | Circling Back
The circular economy can no longer be sidelined as a ‘nice to have’. Not only can it future-proof individual business operations, it can also help entire industries stay competitive and resilient in a fast-changing world. In this episode we’re going back to the beginning of the year, when Seb caught up with Lindsay Hooper, CEO for the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and Joe Murp
Stabilising the supply of critical minerals | Circling Back
In this episode we’re bringing together two top-of-mind topics: the scramble for critical minerals, and how circular economy strategies can help us secure and stabilise their supply. Humans have been mining metals and minerals for thousands of years. Today, critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements are essential for not only renewable energy products like wind
“It’s a no-brainer”: Arc’teryx on bringing repairs in-store
Building circular business models - where products are rented, repaired, resold and remade - is key to transforming our economy from a take, make, waste linear system, to a circular one. In this episode of the Circular Economy Show, we’re seeing what this looks like in practice with Canadian outdoor clothing and equipment company Arc’teryx.Pippa heads to Arc’teryx’s flagship store in London to lea
How H&M Group is exploring circular business models in The Fashion ReModel
How do we keep clothes in use at their highest value and make money without having to make new clothes? In this episode of The Circular Economy Show, we explore the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s demonstration project, the Fashion ReModel, and hear from one of its participants: H&M Group.Pippa is joined by Chloe Holland from the Foundation’s fashion team to discuss how The Fashion ReModel participan
How do we make circular behaviours irresistible?
In this episode of the Circular Economy Show, our guests Georgie Rose from Selfridges and Simon Davies from VISA tell us how they have been working together to find out.Collaborating with Mindworks Marketing to optimise messaging and branding for promoting circular shopping behaviours, Georgie and Simon discuss how their behavioural lab has been bridging the gap between customer intent and action.
How can marketers turn ideas into impactful action?
For years, marketers have been helping to shape how consumers think and feel about products that are driving the linear economy. However in this episode of the Circular Economy Show, we explore how they can harness their skills to unlock the opportunities that the circular economy provides. We’re joined by experts Deb Caldow, Global Marketing Director at Diageo, and Rachel O’Reilly, Global Researc
Stepping into action: Meet The Footwear Collective
In this episode of the Circular Economy Show, we explore the intersection between fashion, business, and technology - revealing why shoes are central to systemic innovation. Live from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Network event in Amsterdam, Kenny Arnold is joined by Dr Yuly Fuentes-Medel and Lewis Campbell from The Footwear Collective. Together, they unpack the urgent need for innovation and col
‘Waiting isn't an option’: the role of retail in future-proofing our food system
To truly transform the food system, we need retailers to sell food that enables nature to thrive.In this episode, learn how leading retailers from around the world are embracing circular design for food, and facing the challenges that occur on the journey.Our guests are Helly McAlister, Senior Buyer at Fortnum & Mason, and Susy Yoshimura, Senior Sustainability Director at Grupo Carrefour Brazil, t
The climate benefits of circularity: What we're missing
The circular economy is one of the most powerful tools we have to tackle the climate crisis—but you wouldn’t know it from the carbon accounts.In this episode, we’re joined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s João Murilo Silva Merico, who explains how current accounting frameworks—like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol—often fail to recognise or reward the emissions benefits of circular practices such as
Circular Snapshot: What a $3500 iPhone tells us about the circular economy
The circular economy is no longer just a theory; it’s becoming a reality across an increasing number of sectors, from tech and materials to retail and marketing. In this episode, Seb shares four recent stories highlighting the importance of a circular economy across businesses.Join us to find out:-How rethinking product design could help future-proof tech such as iPhones-Why it’s necessary to incr
Becoming a circular economist with Vojtech Vosecky
In order to bring the circular economy to life, we need more circular economists. But what does that mean? Who might these circular economists be? And what are their opportunities and challenges?In this episode of the Circular Economy Show, we hear from “The Circular Economist”, Vojtech Vosecky, author of the newsletter The Loop. He has built his career around bringing the circular economy, workin
How are small start-ups, SMEs, and large corporations working together to change the food system?
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Big Food Redesign Challenge set out to demonstrate how redesigning products in line with circular economy principles, can create a food system that allows nature to thrive.In this episode, hear from one of those redesigners, Chloe Stewart from Nibs etc, alongside Katie Carson, Director of Corporate Affairs for Food and Climate Policy at Tetra Pak, to learn more abo
How storytelling drives the circular economy transformation inside and out
The idea that stories are powerful is an uncontroversial idea. But what does it really mean to harness story to shift mindsets and inspire positive action towards a circular economy inside and outside of an organisation? In this episode, hear from Poppy Mason-Watts, Chief Growth Officer at WaterBear and Alex Cramwinckel, Global Circularity Strategy Lead at Heineken to find out:Why storytelling is
Beyond business as usual: Biodiversity, collaboration and visionary leadership in the food system
The future of food is not predetermined – it's being shaped by the decisions being made today. This episode challenges food industry decision-makers to embrace a new vision for their businesses and the sector as a whole, whether your organisation is big or small. With insights from Rob Cameron, Global Head of ESG Engagement at Nestlé, and Sean Patrick, founder of Gabanna Foodworks, we examine the
Driving demand for circular economy: What marketers need to know | Kantar and Swapfiets
How can businesses sell circular propositions in a world that's rapidly changing? This episode of the Circular Economy Show tackles the marketing challenges and opportunities head-on. Pippa sits down with Jonathan Hall, Managing Partner at Kantar’s Sustainable Transformation Practice, and Amanda Gandolfo, Head of Brands at bike subscription service Swapfiets, to explore how to connect with today's
Exploring fashion rental and resale with ACS and SuperCycle
Circular business models hold immense potential to reshape the fashion industry. In this episode, we explore the exciting opportunities for brands in rental and resale, moving beyond the challenges of getting started. Host Emma Elobeid is joined by guests Andrew Rough from Advanced Clothing Solutions (ACS) and Ryan Atkins from SuperCycle to discuss how brands can capitalise on this shift to unlock
Material security in a circular economy | Energy and competitiveness
Find out about the critical role that the circular economy can play in the shift to renewable energy, pairing the EU’s decarbonisation agenda with economic competitiveness and material security.In this episode, host Seb hears from Ke Wang from the World Resources Institute (WRI) about:Why the circular economy is important in the energy transitionHow this is fundamentally driven by economics and co
Food for thought | How do we fix our broken food system?
The food industry is one of the biggest drivers of biodiversity loss and accounts for a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. But what if food could be designed to regenerate nature rather than harming it? That’s the vision behind the Big Food Redesign Challenge. In this episode of The Circular Economy Show, our guest host Lucy Parker, Senior Partner and Sustainable Business Global Lead at Bru
Circular design essentials: What every designer needs to know
Circular design is a hot topic, but moving beyond the buzzwords to practical implementation can be a real challenge. In this episode, we go deep with Joe Iles, Head of Design Activation at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, to unpack the essential principles and skills every designer should have in their toolkit.Joe shares a compelling perspective on circular design - it's not just about creating dur
What’s stopping Scotland from scaling a circular economy?
In this episode of the Circular Economy Show we meet Zero Waste Scotland, who are working with government, businesses, and communities to make the shift to a circular economy as easy as possible for all. We're joined by Peter McCafferty, Business Support Manager at Zero Waste Scotland, and Dr Michaela Hruskova from the University of Stirling. Together we'll discuss the barriers that are stopping b
What should businesses do to scale a circular economy?
How do we move from pilots and beyond the ESG hype bubble to scale the implementation of the circular economy and how do businesses lead in this space? In this episode of the Circular Economy Show, host Seb is joined by Lindsay Hooper, CEO for the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), and Joe Murphy, Executive Lead of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s business network.Together,
2024 in review: A year exploring the circular economy
Join Fin, Lou and Pippa from the Circular Economy Show as we look back at a year in the circular economy. In this episode, the team shares highlights from this year’s show, and talks about some of the moments you might have missed. Thanks for listening to the Circular Economy Show from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Help us grow our audience in 2025 by sharing your favourite episode with your fri
What does it take to scale biomaterials?
In this episode of the Circular Economy Show we discuss Arda Biomaterials' journey of transforming beer by-products into sustainable materials. Brett Cotten, co-founder at Arda, details the company's origins, challenges, and successes, including raising pre-seed investment in 2023 and scaling operations. Amy Tsang from The Mills Fabrica highlights their 360-degree support for innovators, emphasisi
What happened at INC-5? With Ellen MacArthur and Christiana Figueres
In this special episode of The Circular Economy Show, we’re sharing a conversation between Ellen MacArthur and Christiana Figueres from the climate podcast Outrage + Optimism.Christiana was Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change from 2010 to 2016, where she oversaw the delivery of the historic Paris Agreement. In this episode, the pair reflect on the outco
China, climate, and the circular economy
In this episode, we discuss the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s latest publication, The circular economy: A 'triple play' solution for achieving China's climate objectives. We’ll explore how adopting a comprehensive circular economy framework can play a pivotal role in achieving both China’s climate and economic goals. Lei Chen and Seb Egerton-Read highlight the triple play benefits of applying the c
Plastic pollution: What is INC-5 and why does it matter?
At the end of this month in Busan, Korea, INC-5 will take place. For the fifth and final time, the United Nations international negotiating committee will reunite to create a legally binding global treaty that ends plastic pollution.In this episode, Marta Longhurst, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Treaty Manager, tells us what opportunities a well designed treaty could unlock to tackle the
Can the circular economy help bridge the climate adaptation gap?
The circular economy can be a powerful climate mitigation strategy. But what about the other side of the climate action coin? In this episode, we explore the connection between circular economy activities and climate adaptation outcomes.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review or a comment on Spotify or YouTube. Your support helps us to spread the word about the circular economy.
Decoding durability in a circular economy: more life, more memories
When we talk about durable materials, products, and services, what do we really mean? This episode unpacks the physical and emotional dimensions of durability and explores how this key design principle can help set circular business models up for long-term success. Would you like to know more about Back Market, the circular business model example mentioned in this episode? Listen to our episode 12
Sustainability and the circular economy: what’s the difference?
Is the circular economy just another form of sustainability? In this premiere episode of the Circular Curious season, Emma Elobeid and Lou Waldegrave explore the key overlaps and core differences between sustainability and the circular economy and discuss some of the common pitfalls in conflating these two vital yet distinct practices. Would you like to learn more about the key ideas that form the
New season: Circular Curious
Ever wondered what the difference is between sustainability and the circular economy? Or whether circular economy activities can help us adapt to the effects of climate change at the same time as tackling it at source? Have you ever considered what we really mean by designing for durability? In this season of the Circular Economy Show for the circular curious, we’ll be talking around the edges, pe
What’s in your Soho bag? Unpacking the role of collaboration in circular product design
In this episode of The Circular Economy Show, we uncover the power of collaboration in scaling the design of products that are fit for a circular economy. Host Pippa Shawley is joined by Megan Dawson-Elli, Product Sustainability Manager at Tapestry, and Steven Bethell, Co-founder of Bank and Vogue, to discuss their groundbreaking partnership that led to the creation of Coach’s sellout Soho bag. Le
How can the US lead the circular economy transition?
With New York Climate Week underway, this episode of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circular Economy Show, dives into the growing momentum of the circular economy in the US.Host Pippa Shawley is joined by Jon Smieja, Vice President of Circularity at Trellis Group and Danielle Holly, North America Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Together, they’ll discuss the need for systemic change, the
How to build a nature-positive circular economy for Europe
In this episode of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circular Economy Show, we’ll explore the critical relationship between a healthy economy and a thriving natural environment. With biodiversity declining at unprecedented rates, we will delve into the Foundation’s latest report, "Building Prosperity: Unlocking the Potential for a Nature Positive Circular Economy for Europe." We’ll be joined by Jul
New season: Wider Outlooks
Get ready for the launch of our new season on The Circular Economy Show! Join us as we explore wider outlooks for the circular economy. We’ll hear about the case for a circular economy in the US and how rethinking the way we build in Europe offers huge potential for change. Plus we’ll explore how collaboration, when done right, can help companies scale their circular ambitions.The new season start
Shaping the future with the performance economy | The origins of the circular economy
At the heart of the circular economy is the need to retain the value of goods and materials, so that we can slow down the use of the Earth’s resources. Selling performance instead of products could be a way to achieve this. In this season’s finale, we’ll discuss this and other insights from Walter Stahel, author of The Performance Economy. Join us as we discuss how retaining the value of goods and
