The Circular Economy Show Podcast

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 the Ellen MacArthur Foundation about how this can help to scale a circular economy.We’ll also explore how one initiative has helped address a bottleneck in post-consumer recycling. Hear how companies from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Plastics Mission worked together to develop a unified vision and enable high-quality plastic waste sorting at scale with HolyGrail 1.0. This evolved into HolyGrail 2.0, where joint investment in R&D was crucial in helping it get from concept to market in just a few years.To discuss the project, Sander Defruyt, Lead of Strategy & Thought Leadership for the Plastics Mission, is joined by Gian De Belder, Technical Director of Packaging and Sustainability at Procter & Gamble, and Margherita Trombetti, Project Manager at the European Brands Association (AIM).Watch or listen to the full episode to learn how:Cross-value chain collaboration was essential to align on the technology and achieve scaleGrowing interest allowed participation to grow from 31 companies in HolyGrail 1.0 to 176 in 2.0 The European Brands Association (AIM) facilitated the governance, confidentiality, and communications of 2.0Learn more about this business-led partnership, which was funded through member contributions and philanthropic funding from the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and the City of Copenhagen.Explore the full commercial collaboration collectionIf 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.

This quick roundup highlights a major EU policy breakthrough on textile recycling, pushing brands to contribute to sustainable practices. Retail is revolutionizing with the rise of resale and second-hand shopping, enhancing consumer habits. In the UK, there's a campaign to abolish VAT on repairs, aiming to reduce e-waste and support jobs. The urgency around critical minerals is emphasized, calling for circular strategies amid geopolitical tensions. Lastly, updates from the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations show global efforts toward improved recycling and reuse.

Danielle Holly, Executive Lead for North America at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, shares insights on the burgeoning circular economy across the continent. She highlights how political shifts are propelling practical circular solutions in the US, Canada, and Mexico. The discussion delves into the significance of supply chain resilience and critical minerals as business opportunities. Danielle also addresses the 'say-do' gap and emphasizes the role of community events, like Climate Week NYC, in fostering sustainability among leaders.

In this engaging conversation, Joe Iles, Head of Design Activation at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, sheds light on the transformative power of circular design. He explains how it diverges from traditional methods, emphasizing that designers can eliminate waste and pollution right from the drawing board. Joe discusses the challenges of transitioning to a circular economy, the need to blend sustainability with consumer appeal, and the essential skills designers must harness to drive impactful change. A must-listen for anyone passionate about design and sustainability!

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 accelerating global circular transitionsWhy the circular economy could offer China a ‘triple win’ in achieving its climate ambitions. China probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of a circular economy. But maybe it should be. Read more in ‘The circular economy: a ‘triple play’ solution for achieving China’s climate objectives’This conversation originally featured in episode 166: China, climate, and the circular economy, published in November 2024.We hope you enjoyed the fourth of our five-part Circling Back series. If so, please leave us a review or a comment on Spotify or YouTube. Your support helps us to spread the word about the circular economy.

In this discussion, Julia Okatz from Systemiq and Joss Bleriot of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation explore the transformative power of circular economy strategies for European cities. They cover how integrating nature into urban planning can enhance resilience against climate challenges like heat domes. The conversation also highlights the economic and environmental gains from revitalizing urban biodiversity, while emphasizing adaptable policies that promote sustainability and livability. Get ready to rethink urban spaces for a greener, thriving future!

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 Murphy, Executive Lead of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s business network. Together, they discuss why the end of the ESG hype bubble, far from being the end of business-led action, could mark a real shift in corporate circular economy approaches. Join us to hear about: How the commercial and competitive case for the circular economy is becoming more compelling by the minute And, at the same time, what still needs to happen to shift market-level dynamics at scaleLearn more about CISL.This conversation originally featured in episode 170: ‘What should businesses do to scale a circular economy?’ published in January 2025.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a comment on Spotify or YouTube. Your support helps us to spread the word about the circular economy.

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 turbines and EV batteries but the infrastructure and systems needed to power them. As part of our Circling Back series, over the next five weeks, we’re revisiting some key conversations from our archive that feel especially relevant right now. Join us in Episode 189 to hear:From Ke Wang at the World Resources Institute about why the circular economy is central in the energy transitionHow economics and competitiveness are driving that transition, and examples of where that is already happening in practiceAs the rollout of renewable energy scales at pace, e-waste continues to increase, and the first generation of EV batteries and wind turbines start to reach the end of their lives, we have a window of opportunity to build a better system, based on the principles of a circular economy.Find out more about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's work on Critical MineralsThis conversation originally featured in episode 174: Material security in a circular economy, published in April 2025.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a comment on Spotify or YouTube. Your support helps us to spread the word about the circular economy.

Discover how Arc’teryx is revolutionizing retail with their in-store ReBIRD service, promoting sustainable repairs. Learn why repairs are essential for extending product life and fostering customer loyalty. Dive into the strategic shift towards circular business models and the operational hurdles faced by brands. Explore how these practices are broadening access for diverse customer groups and enhancing engagement in the fashion industry. This shift not only supports sustainability but also tells a compelling story in the outdoor gear market.

Sara Eriksson, a circular business models expert at H&M Group, teams up with Chloe Holland from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to discuss innovative strategies in fashion. They dive into the Fashion ReModel initiative, exploring how brands embrace resale, rental, and repair to keep clothes in circulation. The duo highlights H&M's resale platform, Sellpy, addressing the challenges of shifting to circular models in a linear economy. They also touch on the critical role of policy and finance in scaling these sustainable practices.