The Circular Economy Show Podcast artwork

The Circular Economy Show Podcast

161 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 18 ratings

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation welcomes you to The Circular Economy Show, a podcast about a new way to design, make, and use things, and how we can build an economy that's fit for the 21st century.

Society & Culture Government biomimicry circulareconomy design economics economy manufacturing circular design sustainability climate change disruptive business
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Episodes

The psychology of ownership in the circular economy

March 26, 2024 00:20 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MB

In part two of our series sharing some of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's most popular articles, we dig deep into the psychology behind why we like to own things. We’ll also explore the alternatives that the circular economy offers. Read the article here

How the circular economy helps us stay within planetary boundaries

March 19, 2024 00:20 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MB

In our new three-part series, we’re sharing three of the most popular articles written by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s editorial team. In today’s episode, we explore how a circular economy can keep us stay within the nine planetary boundaries set out by the Stockholm Resilience Centre, such as climate change, novel entities (otherwise known as pollution) and ocean acidification. Read the full article

Designing for the customer: Fashion lessons from Zimbabwe with Rudo Nondo

March 05, 2024 00:15 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MB

In this episode, we hear from Rudo Nondo, a creative design practitioner and the acting Managing Director of Fashion Revolution. She tells us how her upbringing in Zimbabwe has shaped her clothing philosophy and explains why she’s passionate about circular design for fashion. Learn more about Rudo Nondo in the Foundation’s Fashion Book Watch our Circular Economy Show episode with Rudo Nondo

Redesigning food systems for nature to thrive

February 27, 2024 00:20 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MB

Is there a better way to produce our food? Today, we circle back to one episode of our award-nominated Redesigning Food series in this episode. We’ll rediscover what a circular economy for food would look like, meet the people working to make it happen, and we’ll look at how it can be scaled to feed a growing population. Find out more about the Big Food Redesign Challenge, which has now entered its production phase. Successful participants are working hard to turn their product designs into...

Lily Cole & Ellen MacArthur: why we need optimism to shift mindsets

February 20, 2024 00:20 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MB

How can optimism and creativity help us transition to a circular economy? In this episode, model, actress and activist, Lily Cole joins Ellen MacArthur and Emma Chow to discuss her journey from fashion model to environmental activist. They discuss progress towards a circular economy, emphasising collaborative efforts among businesses, citizens, and policymakers.  Join us as we delve into the possibilities and challenges of transitioning to a more circular world. Thanks for tuning in to the ...

Repairing our belongings: applying circular design

February 13, 2024 00:20 - 15 minutes - 14 MB

What if we could design our belongings to elongate their useful life? In this episode, we delve into the world of repair, shifting the focus from disposable products to ones that are designed to be repaired. Join us as we explore the potential for third-party repairs to flourish. Hear from Conny Bakker, Professor of Design Methodology for Sustainability and Circular Economy at TU Delft and Sojo’s co-founder Josephine Phillips, who are both calling for repair to play a greater part in our eco...

The power of biomaterials: 3 regenerative design solutions

February 06, 2024 00:00 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MB

How do we shift today’s economic system to one that helps to regenerate nature? In this episode, we’ll meet three companies developing materials that work in harmony with our environment and learn how such innovations can be scaled. Co-founder of Materiom, Liz Corbin, spoke to her fellow co-founders Alysia Garmulewicz, Julia Marsh from Sway and Ehab Sayed from Biohm at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Innovation Day in 2022. Your feedback helps us reach more people interested in the circul...

Regenerative fashion: embracing a system shift for designers

January 30, 2024 05:00 - 18 minutes - 17 MB

In this week's episode, we circle back to understand the third principle of a circular economy: 'regenerating nature', and its application in the fashion industry. Our guest, Josie Warden, former Head of Regenerative Design at the RSA, joins us as we explore how circular design offers a way to create a fashion industry that can flourish in harmony with nature. Learn more about The RSA and their work to create an impact.  If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more like it, please tak...

Christiana Figueres and Ellen MacArthur: Closing the loop to fight climate change

January 23, 2024 05:00 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MB

In this first episode of our Circling Back season, Christiana Figueres and Ellen MacArthur bring us an inspiring conversation about the role of circular thinking in addressing the causes of climate change and in finding its solutions. Join us as we explore the role of the circular economy in decarbonisation and the need for optimism to fix our climate. If you want to hear from more insightful guests like Christiana Figueres, please leave us a review! Let's spread the word and inspire positi...

New Series: Circling Back

January 18, 2024 12:40 - 37 seconds - 594 KB

Welcome back to the Circular Economy Show! In our first series of the year, we're circling back to some of our most exciting conversations with leading thinkers from the world of technology, fashion, material design and climate. Join us every Tuesday for a new episode. Subscribe to the Circular Economy Show so you never miss an episode. If you've been enjoying the show, we would love it if you could take a moment to leave us a review. Your support helps us accelerate the transition to a ci...

2023 in review: A year exploring the circular economy

December 19, 2023 00:00 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MB

This year on the Circular Economy Show Podcast we’ve heard from people working across many different industries, from farming to fashion, policy to plastics. In this episode, we explore some of our favourite moments from 2023.  Thanks for joining us this year. We’ll be back in 2024 with more stories from the circular economy. If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can email us at [email protected] Have a listen to all episodes mentioned during this episode:  Ep 104: Could we grow a buil...

Patrick McDowell: Meet the designer taking circular fashion to the catwalk

December 12, 2023 05:00 - 9 minutes - 8.8 MB

In the final episode of our fashion series, we go to London to meet Patrick McDowell, a pioneering British high-end designer who has been applying circular design for fashion since starting their career. They tell us about their journey and their vision for the future of the fashion industry. Learn more about Patrick McDowell’s brand and journey Have a look at Patrick's collection for Rambert Dance Company

How Troquer became Latin America’s leading preloved fashion start-up

December 05, 2023 05:00 - 9 minutes - 8.63 MB

In the second episode of our fashion series, we head to Mexico City to meet Troquer’s co-founders, Lucia and Ytzia. They discuss how they’ve become Latin America’s leading resale marketplace for quality fashion items and the challenges they’ve faced on their journey. Learn more about Troquer

Rental, Resale, Recommerce: ACS’ journey towards circular fashion solutions

November 28, 2023 05:00 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MB

Welcome to our new fashion series, where we'll meet three companies working towards a circular economy for fashion. In this first episode, we visit Europe's largest circular fashion hub, Advanced Clothing Solutions (ACS), to learn how they’re helping businesses to make money without making new clothes.   Learn more about ACS

Let’s collaborate: How Jaguar Land Rover is creating circular partnerships

November 21, 2023 05:00 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MB

In this episode, we hear from Reuben Chorley, Sustainable Industrial Operations Director at Jaguar Land Rover. Together we will dive deeper into the world of i-Pace Jaguar car batteries, and how these are being given a second life in the renewable energy sector.    Back to basics: Circulate products and materials  

Use your imagination: Julie Hjort's mission to design a circular future

November 14, 2023 05:00 - 9 minutes - 8.45 MB

Time for something a little different in this episode! Join us as we head to Copenhagen to meet Julie Hjort, Director of Sustainable Transformation at the Danish Design Center. From her office in the Danish capital, Julie reflects on how design is key to creating new pathways towards a circular economy, and how she works with her multi-disciplinary team to find solutions to tricky problems.    Learn more about the Danish Design Center

How banks can help the transition to a circular economy with Intesa Sanpaolo

November 07, 2023 05:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MB

In this episode, we’ll join Gianmarco, Luigi and Cristina from the Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo to learn how the circular economy has become a strategic priority for them and discuss the critical connection between the circular economy, biodiversity loss and climate mitigation in relation to finance.   Learn more about the Foundation’s work on financing the circular economy.

Progress, challenges and solutions: Learnings from five years of the Global Commitment with Sander Defruyt

October 31, 2023 05:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MB

In 2018, the Foundation alongside the UN Environment Programme launched the Global Commitment, the biggest global voluntary effort to tackle plastic waste and pollution. In this podcast episode, we hear from Sander Defruyt, Plastics Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, who reflects on the progress and learnings to date from five years of the Global Commitment, the need for a legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution, and what makes him feel optimistic about the last five year...

Welcome to the Circular Economy Show Podcast

October 24, 2023 05:00 - 31 seconds - 499 KB

Welcome to The Circular Economy Show Podcast. Join the team from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation as each week we explore the innovations that can address issues such as climate change, waste, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Get ready to be inspired, informed, and empowered. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Changing the way we buy and use technology with Back Market

October 17, 2023 05:00 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MB

In this week’s episode, Jess Mevel travels to Bordeaux, France, to learn how Back Market is working to make refurbished tech better than new. Back Market is an online marketplace founded in 2014, who are on a mission to help make refurbished electronic products more reliable, affordable, and better than new.

Building landscapes for nature with Arup’s Neil Harwood

October 10, 2023 05:00 - 5 minutes - 4.7 MB

To conclude this bite-sized series on regenerative design, in this week’s episode, Neil Harwood, Associate Director at Arup, elaborates on his company’s efforts to deliver nature-positive projects in different parts of the world. We’ll have an insight into their results with A30 in Cornwall and the Sea Wall project in Shenzhen, South China. Arup is a global collective of designers, engineering and sustainability consultants, advisors and experts dedicated to sustainable development, and to ...

Making the case for Biomimicry with Janine Benyus

October 03, 2023 05:00 - 4 minutes - 3.98 MB

In the penultimate episode of our bite-sized series on regenerative design, this week we hear from Janine Benyus, author of Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, on how to combine ambition and biomimicry to create regenerative infrastructures in our cities.    Learn more about the connection between circular economy, biomimicry, and doughnut economics Find out more about biomimicry and the work of Janine Benyus

Scaling regenerative design for a circular economy with Nicole Miller

September 26, 2023 05:00 - 3 minutes - 3.54 MB

As part of our bite-sized series on regenerative design, this week, we hear from Nicole Miller at Biomimicry 3.8's Project Positive about key ways it can be scaled within companies and communities. Project Positive is a group of change agents dedicated to raising the bar on what acting sustainably means—driven by a sense of urgency to move beyond arbitrary reduction goals to science-based targets and actions that are generous to the ecosystems, employees, and communities we operate.  Learn...

Inspired by nature: Creating a regenerative built environment with Michael Pawlyn

September 19, 2023 05:00 - 4 minutes - 4.28 MB

In this week’s bite-sized episode we hear from Michael Pawlyn, known for his work in biomimetic architecture and innovation. Michael uses nature-inspired design to create fundamentally different results for business, people and the environment in spaces and buildings.   Ep 92: Redesigning the future

Moving towards a regenerative future with Kate Raworth

September 13, 2023 05:00 - 6 minutes - 5.61 MB

What dynamics prevent us from moving from a linear to a circular economy? In this episode, Kate Raworth, author of the book Doughnut Economics, shares with us an inspiring reflection on how we need to collectively rethink our economy to ensure that no one falls short of life's essentials without overshooting the boundaries of our environment.   Shifting mindsets: a regenerative future - Summit 22 Systems and the circular economy: Deep dive    

How is the circular economy gaining momentum in US policy?

September 05, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 9.21 MB

In this episode, we hear from Costa Samaras from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, to learn how policy is helping the circular economy to take hold in the USA.   Find out more about the role of policy in the circular economy.  

Growing ambition in the food system with Unilever and The Sustainable Food Trust

August 29, 2023 05:00 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MB

As the brand behind products including Ben and Jerry’s, Hellmann’s and Marmite, Unilever represents an important opportunity to scale a circular economy for food. In this episode, we’ll hear from the company’s Vice President & Managing Director, Eric Soubeiran, about how the business is shifting towards a regenerative and nature-positive approach in the creation of its products. We’ll also hear from The Sustainable Food Trust’s Patrick Holden, who partnered with the Ellen MacArthur Foundatio...

Changing the story with Waterbear and WPP

August 22, 2023 05:00 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MB

How can we use storytelling to get people to move away from the problems of a linear economy to explore the solutions offered by a circular one? In this episode, we’ll hear from Sam Sutaria, chief executive of streaming platform Waterbear, and Hannah Harrison, Chief Sustainability Officer at WPP, about the opportunities around sharing experiences from the circular economy. Visit the Circular Economy Show Podcast back catalogue Explore the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s channel, Full Circle, ...

Es Devlin on the power of art to inspire change

August 15, 2023 05:00 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MB

When we talk about the circular economy, we often think about the technical aspects of transitioning away from the linear economy. In this episode, the artist Es Devlin talks to curator and author Francesca Gavin about the power of art to inspire change.  Find out more about the power of art in driving systems change Learn more about how art can change the economy for the better

London’s approach to a circular economy for food

June 27, 2023 05:00 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MB

As we heard in our recent Redesigning Food series, our food system needs to be redesigned to help nature and people thrive. In our final episode from London, we meet Julie Brown, Director of Growing Communities, and Danny Fisher from Better Food Shed, about how they’re working to supply Londoners with healthy, regeneratively-produced fruit and vegetables. Find out more about circular economy in cities

How is London developing a circular economy for buildings?

June 20, 2023 05:00 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MB

One of the biggest challenges facing London is the need to provide housing and infrastructure for the city's residents and workers. To deal with increasing demand, we need our buildings to be designed with the circular economy at their heart. In this episode we’ll hear from Andrea Charlson, ReLondon's former Commercial Manager and Built Environment Lead, and Meanwhile Space’s Executive Director, Eddie Bridgeman, about how they are putting a circular economy approach into action. - Useful ...

How does ReLondon engage Londoners with the circular economy?

June 13, 2023 05:00 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MB

Wayne Hubbard, CEO of ReLondon, is on a mission to help Londoners revolutionise their relationship with stuff. His organisation, which is a partnership of the Mayor of London and the London boroughs, is designed to transform the city into a leading low carbon circular economy, and to improve its waste and resource management. In this episode we’ll hear from Wayne and his colleague Ali Moore, ReLondon’s Head of Communications and Behaviour Change, about some of the initiatives they’ve taken ...

How has Hackney prioritised the circular economy?

June 06, 2023 06:00 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MB

In this episode, we visit the London Borough of Hackney to find out about the possibilities for a circular economy in the UK’s capital city. We’ll hear from the borough’s mayor, Philip Glanville, about how the area is looking beyond waste and recycling in transitioning to a circular economy. We’ll also meet Charlotte Thorpe from social enterprise Library of Things to find out more about the initiative and why it’s proving popular in London. Let us know what you’d like to hear about in fut...

Ending plastic pollution: setting the agenda for a UN treaty

June 01, 2023 11:42 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MB

With the second round of negotiations for a UN treaty to end plastic pollution underway, in this episode we’ll explore how the INC-2 event taking place in Paris this week marks a crucial stage in the negotiations. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF has convened the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty to bring together businesses and financial institutions committed to supporting the development of an ambitious, effective and legally binding UN treaty to end plastic pollution...

How can we feed 10 billion people? | Redesigning Food series

May 23, 2023 05:15 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MB

Over the last four episodes, we’ve heard how we need to change our food system to one that is nature-positive. But how can we scale a circular economy for food to feed the global population, which the UN estimate will reach 10 billion by 2057? In the final episode of our Redesigning Food series, we hear from Professor Tim Benton, Research Director of the Environment and Society Programme at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, and Mikel Hancock, Walmart’s Senior Dire...

Add to basket: How retailers are working towards a circular economy for food | Redesigning Food series

May 16, 2023 05:00 - 20 minutes - 19 MB

What if there were no bad choices in your shopping basket? What if every bite of food had been designed in a way that helped to regenerate nature? In this episode, we hear from Waitrose and Natoora about the steps they’re taking towards a circular economy for food. This episode was supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Learn more about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s food work Sign up to hear about The Big Food Redesign Challenge, launching soon. Find out more about our gu...

Teas, Peas, and Chutneys — what do nature-friendly products look like? | Redesigning Food series

May 09, 2023 05:00 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MB

In a circular economy, food ingredients should be diverse, low-impact, upcycled, and produced in a regenerative system. But what does that look like in practice? In this episode we meet three brands - Rubies in the Rubble, Grounded Ingredients and Hodemedod’s, to find out how they are applying the principles of Circular Design for Food to their products. This episodes was supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Learn more about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s food work Sign u...

How can farmers help to regenerate nature? | Redesigning Food series

May 02, 2023 05:00 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MB

What is regenerative production? And how can farmers help address the damaging effects our industrialised food system has on the climate and biodiversity? In this episode, we’ll hear from Philippe Birker, co-founder of Climate Farmers, an organisation working to empower farmers. We also visit Nunwell Home Farm to learn how they are using regenerative methods to improve biodiversity and soil health on their farm. This episode was supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Find out ...

Is there a better way to produce our food? | Redesigning Food series

April 25, 2023 06:00 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MB

Welcome to the first episode of our new series looking at the need to redesign our food system. In the episode, we look at what’s wrong with the current system, and learn how a circular economy for food can help address some of today’s biggest global issues, such as biodiversity loss and climate change. We’re joined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Food Lead, Reniera O'Donnell, Ecology, Social, Governance Advisor, Dr Catherine Chong and we’ll also hear from Climate Farmers Co-Founder Phil...

Trailer: Our Redesigning Food series launches next week

April 21, 2023 08:40 - 53 seconds - 836 KB

Our current linear food system is failing us. It is the primary driver of biodiversity loss, accounts for a third of greenhouse gas emissions and, while 10% of the planet’s population goes hungry, we waste almost one-third of the food we produce. What if there was a better way? What if we could produce food to help nature thrive? In a new five-part podcast series, we’ll explore how a circular economy for food can help address these challenges. Join us from Tuesday 25th April, as we meet t...

Busting the myths of circular design for fashion

April 11, 2023 07:00 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MB

The current fashion system is broken. Every year the fashion industry misses out on hundreds of billions of dollars and contributes significantly to waste and pollution through the linear take-make-waste economy. In this episode, Chloe Anderson from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s fashion team joins us to discuss the business opportunities around applying circular principles to the fashion industry, and helps address some of the myths around these ideas. Complete our listener survey  Buy...

Creating better packaging from seaweed with Notpla

April 04, 2023 07:00 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MB

Earthshot prize winner Notpla is revolutionising the way we think about packaging. In this episode of The Circular Economy Show Podcast, we hear from Pierre Paslier, the company’s co-founder, about how they are using seaweed as a viable alternative to plastic packaging, how that works in a circular economy, and how they plan to scale. This conversation featured in episode 59 of the Circular Economy Show. Watch it here. Find out more about Notpla. Complete our listener survey.

Could we grow a building? How Biohm is using biotechnologies to advance the circular economy

March 28, 2023 07:00 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MB

Imagine if one day we could grow our buildings! In this episode, hear how one company is already developing radical biotechnologies to innovate the construction industry and beyond. Dr Ehab Sayed, Founder and Chief Evolution Officer at BIOHM, discusses how biotechnologies such as mycelium - the root structure of fungi - help to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, his personal journey to this space, and how one day we might be able to grow our own buildings. This conversation a...

The role of design in the circular economy

March 21, 2023 07:00 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MB

With 45% of global greenhouse gas emissions coming from how we make and use things, design has huge potential to influence our transition to a circular economy. In this episode of the Circular Economy Show Podcast, we explore why design is important, what ‘circular-ish’ means, and hear about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s six design leverage points. In a conversation taken from a recent episode of the Circular Economy Show, hosts Seb and Lou talk to the Foundation’s Design Lead, Joe Iles...

The Circular Economy and Open Source

November 29, 2022 07:00 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MB

The term ‘open source’ is often linked to the development of software. But what about hardware? In the final part of this series, Colin meets two experts working in this space to hear how, much like in the natural world, collaboration can be used to address some of the problems of a linear economy, and help to accelerate a circular one. Colin is joined by Alastair Parvin from WikiHouse, an online service that provides blueprints of houses for free, and by Pilar Bolumburu from Materiom, a co...

The Circular Economy and Reuse

November 22, 2022 07:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MB

There are significant material, energy, labour and carbon savings to be made by reusing, rather than remaking, a product. How does this work in business? And how does it fit into a circular economy? In this episode, Colin Webster from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation speaks to José Manuel Moller from Algramo about the role of reuse in household shopping, and to architect Nitesh Magdani about reuse in the built environment. __ Useful links: Explore the butterfly diagram Read the reuse boo...

The Circular Economy and Agriculture

November 15, 2022 07:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MB

The circular economy is often wrongly characterised as a tech solution, or a solution for tech, but it’s about much more than that. As we heard in episode 97, there are two cycles: the technical and biological one. In this episode, we’re exploring the latter. Colin Webster from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation talks to farmer and soil advocate Abby Rose, and Gero Leson, Vice President of Special Operations at Dr. Bronner's, to hear about the benefits and practicalities of agriculture in a ci...

The Circular Economy and Repair

November 08, 2022 07:00 - 16 minutes - 15 MB

What do you do when something you own, say a toaster, breaks? You’ve usually got two options: fix it, or replace it. It often feels like replacing an item is easier than repairing it, and the most cost-effective solution. But in a circular economy, we want goods and materials to stay in circulation at high value for as long as possible. So how does that work in reality? In this new series, Colin Webster from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation explores individual elements of the circular economy...

Find out about our new series

November 02, 2022 07:00 - 54 seconds - 848 KB

Sometimes the concept of a circular economy seems so large that it's difficult to get to grips with it. It's never about one thing. It's about a million things at once. We're back next week with a new look, and a new series! Over the next four episodes, Colin Webster from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s learning team helps break the concept down into smaller chunks. He’ll speak to experts from the fields of repair, agriculture, open source, and reuse to find out how they relate to the ci...

What is the circular economy? The role of people and design

October 11, 2022 06:00 - 18 minutes - 17 MB

In the final part of this series, our founder Ellen MacArthur and Circular Design Lead, Joe Iles, discuss what individuals can do to make the circular economy happen, and the role design has in accelerating this transition. Ellen also looks back at some of the progress that has been made since launching the Foundation a decade ago. If you missed the previous episodes, where we learned what we mean by a circular economy, and what the butterfly diagram is, then we recommend listening to thos...

Twitter Mentions

@circulareconomy 15 Episodes
@ericcoreyfreed 1 Episode
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