• 2024 in review: A year exploring the circular economy
    Dec 17 2024

    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.org

    Explore 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 GoUnpackaged

    We 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.

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    16 mins
  • What does it take to scale biomaterials?
    Dec 10 2024

    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.

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    18 mins
  • What happened at INC-5? With Ellen MacArthur and Christiana Figueres
    Dec 5 2024

    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.

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    33 mins
  • China, climate, and the circular economy
    Nov 26 2024

    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 circular economy in China. These include reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with the country’s climate goals, securing the supply of critical raw materials for the renewable energy transition and transition to electric vehicles, and the increased resilience of China’s economy.

    Head over to our website to read the full report mentioned in this episode.

    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.

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    16 mins
  • Plastic pollution: What is INC-5 and why does it matter?
    Nov 19 2024

    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.

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    16 mins
  • Can the circular economy help bridge the climate adaptation gap?
    Nov 5 2024

    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.

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    21 mins
  • Decoding durability in a circular economy: more life, more memories
    Oct 29 2024

    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 126: Changing the way we buy and use technology with Back Market.

    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.

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    24 mins
  • Sustainability and the circular economy: what’s the difference?
    Oct 22 2024

    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 circular economy? Head to our website for more information.

    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.

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    21 mins