The Circular Economy Show Podcast

We can’t recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis. We need a circular economy for plastic — one that eliminates problematic and unnecessary plastic, innovates to ensure the plastic we do need is reusable, recyclable, or compostable, and circulates the plastic items we use to keep it in the economy and out of the environment.Unilever, which has signed the Foundation’s Global Commitment to create a circular economy for plastic, has increased the recycled content in its packaging from 1% to over 11% — with a target of 25% by 2025. The company has also pledged to halve the amount of virgin plastic it uses.In this episode, Pablo Costa, Vice President for Packaging at Unilever, discusses the company’s ambitions and challenges, the importance of CEO leadership, and the need for innovation and collaboration to scale circular economy solutions and bring them to consumers.Pablo also reveals the moment that changed his professional life — when he saw a plastic bottle from one of his brands on a remote beach while holidaying with his family — and the circular economy legacy he would like to leave at Unilever.--Find out more about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Global CommitmentLearn more about a circular economy for plastic packaging 

Across this mini series on the podcast, we’ve been exploring the potential of a circular economy that is regenerative by design and discussed examples of where it is already happening today.In this episode, we dig into what will be needed to make that happen. Featuring perspectives from a large business, city policymakers and investors - but also successful circular economy startups - we aim to challenge the perception that this is only about activating more money and explore the wider shift that is needed to really make the economics work.Guests include; Safia Qureshi (ClubZero), Jessica Viera (Apeel), Oriana Ramano (OECD), Lamia Sbiti (ReLondon), Jamie Butterworth (Circularity Capital), Georgia Sherwin (Closed Loop), and Aline Casegrande (ABinBev).This is the final part of a four-part podcast series revisiting some of the highlights from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Innovation Day event at the Roundhouse on March 31st. Subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode!Learn more about Club ZeroWatch Seb's conversation with Oriana Ramano from OECD) and Lamia Sbiti from ReLondonSee Emily's conversation with Jamie Butterworth from Circularity Capital and Georgia Sherwin from Closed LoopFind out more about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

What if the materials we used were not finite? What if the more material we used, the better it was for the environment? And what might it take to make this a reality at the scale of fossil-based materials today?In this podcast, we explore these themes and more in the context of a regenerative material landscape that is increasingly moving from concept to actuality with an ever growing number of solutions hitting the market. We’re joined by guests with real seaweed and mushroom-based solutions in the marketplace, as well as the people behind the world’s largest open source database of regenerative materials.The conversation is hosted by Materiom’s Liz Corbin and guests include; Alysia Garmulewicz (Materiom), Julia Marsh (Sway) and Ehab Sayed (Biohm).This is part three of a four-part podcast series revisiting some of the highlights from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Innovation Day event at the Roundhouse on March 31st. Subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode!--Hear more from Alysia in this episode of the podcastFind out more about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Fast fashion is arguably one of the poster children of a linear economy, but circular economy innovation is already hitting the market and demonstrating that a different future is possible. In this episode, we explore some of the innovations that are disrupting the market from rental to resale to entirely different conceptions of the sector.In part two of a four part series on this podcast, we'll hear how and where circular economy innovation is happening today demonstrating the possibility of a future fashion industry where businesses make money without making new clothes.Guests include ByRotation's Eshita Kabra-Davis, Vestiaire Collective's Dounia Wone, Fashion for Good's Brittany Burns, Diana Armini from the H&M Foundation and Josefine Olsson from Accenture.This is part two of a four-part podcast series revisiting some of the highlights from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Innovation Day event at the Roundhouse on March 31st. Subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode!--Find out more about a circular economy for fashionLearn more about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation 

The Foundation’s Big Food Redesign report showcases the possibility of healthier food that provides greater resilience, better outcomes for farmers, all whilst contributing to the efforts to reverse biodiversity loss and tackle climate change. In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Gaelle Le Gelard from the Foundation, Andy Cato and George Lamb from Wildfarmed who are actively practices regenerative agriculture on over 100 farms, and Guus Ter Haar from ReNature. In part one of a four part series on this podcast, we are revisiting some of the highlights from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Innovation Day event at the Roundhouse on March 31st. Hear how circular economy innovation that is regenerative by design can be better for the economy, reverse biodiversity loss and tackle climate change.

In this episode, we explore topics including life-friendly chemistry, optimising materials using AI, and how we can develop and scale biomaterial use. Alysia Garmulewicz — the Founder of Materiom, and Associate Professor of High Tech Entrepreneurship at the Facultad de Administración y Economía, Universidad de Santiago de Chile — joins us to explain more.--Visit Materiom's websiteWatch Alysia speaking at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Summit 21Learn more about the Foundation

All the food we eat is designed. Food brands and supermarkets design everything we eat — how it looks and tastes, and how good it is for us and for nature. The top ten food brands and supermarkets influence 40% of agricultural land use in the UK and EU — which means they have the power to make nature-positive food the norm.So, what do we mean by ‘regenerative natural systems’ — and how does it tackle global challenges including climate change and biodiversity loss?In this episode, Patrick Holden, Founding Director of the Sustainable Food Trust, joins us to discuss the role of leading food companies in adopting regenerative agricultural practices, the role of farmers, and the role of policy and finance in supporting the scaled transformation towards regenerative farming — plus the need for clear metrics and labelling to help consumers understand how nature-friendly their food is.--Watch Patrick in conversation with the Foundation's Emma ChowCatch up on the 'Fix the economy, fix the climate' session from Summit 21Find out more about the Ellen MacArthur FoundationFollow the Ellen MacArthur Foundation online:YouTubeTwitterLinkedInFacebookInstagram

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted that linear supply chains in a linear economy are brittle and vulnerable to shocks. In this episode, Bill McRaith — the former CSO of PVH, the US company that owns fashion brands including Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger — explains how the circular economy offers opportunities to transition from fragile supply chains to more resilient supply ‘lattices.’Tune in to hear Bill’s advice to companies that are trying to restructure their supply chains — and the change in mindset it requires in global boardrooms.--Learn more about the Ellen MacArthur FoundationWatch Bill speaking at the Foundation's Summit21Explore how the circular economy offers a recovery strategy from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic

Why are we still demolishing buildings when we can design for deconstruction? In this episode, Arup structural engineer Grace Di Benedetto explains that we need to change our mindset and recognise buildings as valuable sources of materials rather than rubble.Together, we discuss material passports and the structural engineering opportunities offered by the circular economy.--Find out more about a circular economy for the built environmentWatch Grace on the Circular Economy ShowLearn more about the work of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Renewable energy is vital in order to address climate change, but it’s only half the story. Almost half of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the way we make and use things — we need a circular economy to tackle those emissions and achieve the targets set out in the Paris Agreement.In this episode, Ellen MacArthur is joined by Christiana Figueres, Global Optimism Co-founder and former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Together, they discuss the crucial role of the circular economy in the fight against climate change, financing climate action, Christiana’s role in the Paris Agreement — and why we should be optimistic about the future.--Find out more about circular economy and climate changeFollow Christiana on TwitterHear Ellen on the Global Optimism podcastLearn more about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation