The Circular Economy Show Podcast

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 friends and colleagues.If you’d like to get in touch, email us at podcast@emf.orgExplore the episodes discussed:Ep 159: How to build a nature-positive circular economy for Europe Read the paper.Ep 157: Inside the world of industrial symbiosis Ep 149: Scaling refill and return with GoUnpackagedWe also mentioned our episode with Vincent from Dunia Bora - who features in episode 150: Creating nature-positive nutrition from cacti with Dunia Bora.Watch the Redesigning Food Series, which Fin mentioned.

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, emphasising investment, collaboration, and showcasing technologies. Both discuss the importance of scalability, impact measurement, and the commercial viability of biomaterials, with Brett noting the potential of chemistry-based approaches and Amy highlighting innovative startups including Epoch Biodesign.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.

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 outcomes of the INC-5 negotiations for a global plastics treaty, the role businesses play in addressing plastic packaging pollution, and why a global, legally-binding treaty is necessary to address this global challenge.Listen to episode 165 to find out more about why the INC-5 negotiations matter, or visit the Ellen MacArthur Foundation website.Find out more about a circular economy for plastic.Check out the Outrage + Optimism podcast.

In this discussion, guest Lei Chen, an expert from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's China office, dives deep into the intersection of the circular economy and climate goals in China. He reveals how a comprehensive circular economy framework can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while securing vital raw materials for renewable energy. Chen also highlights a 'triple play' approach to enhance economic resilience and sustainability. Listeners gain insights into strategic policy shifts and the importance of collaboration for impactful climate action.

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 world’s plastic waste crisis.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. 

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.

Durability is more than just a physical trait; it encompasses emotional connections, too. The discussion dives into how sustainable design can prolong product life and reduce waste. Insights on the circular fashion model using jeans illustrate the challenge of measuring durability and the role of innovative materials. In personal tech, emotional bonds play a crucial role in brand loyalty. Overall, the focus is on integrating longevity into product design to enhance circular business models and meet consumer needs.

Discover the critical distinctions between sustainability and the circular economy. Uncover the misconceptions around recycling and why it shouldn't be the sole focus. Explore the need for a transformative approach to resource management that prioritizes reuse and waste elimination. Learn about the varying interpretations of the circular economy and the call for a more integrated strategy. Finally, understand how educating society can lead to a cultural shift, making circular economy principles a part of everyday conversations.

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, peeling off some layers, and unravelling some common misconceptions around the circular economy – at both an ideological level and in implementation terms too. 

Megan Dawson-Elli is a Product Sustainability Manager at Tapestry, while Steven Bethell is the Co-founder of Bank and Vogue. They dive into their exciting partnership that birthed the Coach Soho bag, made from post-consumer denim. Listeners will discover how innovative design and collaboration led to a remarkable 95% reduction in water usage and 80% less carbon emissions compared to conventional denim. Their conversation highlights the critical role of teamwork in achieving sustainable fashion and the commercial success of circular design.