It’s time for a circular economy

Through design, we can eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature, creating an economy that benefits people, business and the natural world.

What is a circular economy?

Through design, we can eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature, creating an economy that benefits people, business and the natural world.

Live from Summit 23: Redesigning the future

18.30BST | 15th June 2023 | Live from the Roundhouse, London.

Food

Big Food Redesign Challenge: It’s time to redesign food for nature to thrive

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Big Food Redesign Challenge aims to inspire the food industry to...

Illustration of earth on a blue background

Plastics

A UN treaty to end plastic pollution

We need a legally-binding global treaty to end plastic pollution.

Featured

Built Environment

Circular economy principles for achieving net zero in the built environment

In order to realise a net zero and nature positive future, the built environment sector needs to...

Biodiversity

The circular economy at sea collection

Conservation and restoration efforts alone – crucial though they are – are not enough to protect...

Business

Discover hundreds of circular economy startups with our new database

The Circular Startup Index features more than 500 startups across a range of sectors, industries,...

The word podcast is written in white on black background. A collection of food icons in orange such as plants. grapes, bananas, chicken, and corn.

Food

A circular economy for food - podcast series

In a new five-part podcast series, we’ll explore how a circular economy for food can help address...

Food

Circular Design for Food: Rethinking Products to Regenerate Nature

A five-episode documentary series with case studies of companies from Brazil and Colombia that...

Country path with wooden fences and signpost

Circular economy explained

Schools of thought that inspired the circular economy

The concept of the circular economy has been refined and developed over the years and takes...

Design

The six levers designers can use to unlock the potential of circular design

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has identified six leverage points that designers can employ to...

Cities
Food

Cross-cutting collaboration to transform the food system: London

Food is at the centre of London’s ambitious zero-carbon and zero-waste targets.

Food

London’s Circular Food Pioneer Projects

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has been working with the Mayor of London and ReLondon to support an...

Network
Business

New organisations join the Foundation’s Network

We are pleased to welcome new Partners and Members to the Foundation’s Network

Cities

Policy

CCD report presents circular economy practices across European cities

The newly published Circular Cities Declaration (CCD) report celebrates the steps cities across...

Business
Design

Locked in: what is linear lock-in and how can we break free?

Everything from our infrastructure to our finance systems is set up to support the current linear...

The Circular Economy Show

View all

Food
Plastics
Policy

Episode 63: The Big Food Redesign & Global Plastics Treaty

Streamed on Tuesday, 30th May 2023

Fashion
Cities

Episode 62: Cities, Latin America, fashion

Streamed on Tuesday, 25th April 2023

Fashion
Design

Episode 61: Eliminate, circulate, regenerate

Streamed on Tuesday, 28th March 2023

Food
Climate

Episode 60: Regenerating nature

Streamed on Tuesday, 28th February 2023.

Circular economy explained

Episode 59: Investigating, exploring, and showcasing the circular economy in 2023

Streamed on Tuesday, 31st January 2023

Fireworks on black background, with number '58' in bottom left

Circular economy explained

Episode 58: Circular Economy Show 2022 review

Streamed on Tuesday 13th December 2022

Fashion model on black background with number '57' in bottom left

Fashion

Bringing the circular economy to the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards

Streamed on 6th October 2022

Cities
Policy

New tools to help cities apply circular economy principles

Streamed on 27th September 2022

Design

Live from Summit 22: Design turns ambition into action

Streamed on 5th July 2022

Illustration of pink and blue brain on black background with '55' in bottom left

Business

Redesigning the economy: the power of data and digital technologies

Streamed on 24th May 2022

Close up photo of leaf with number '54' in bottom left

Biodiversity
Business

Tackling biodiversity loss with a circular economy: the role of businesses

Streamed on 26th April 2022

Red splatter with black background with number '53'

Business

Live from London: How do we accelerate innovation towards a circular economy?

Streamed on 31st March 2022

Circular economy examples

Regenerative ocean farming: GreenWave

GreenWave’s polyculture ocean farming method produces a mixture of shellfish and seaweeds in a way that benefits nature.

An open access, circular supply chain for t-shirts: Teemill

Listing image for circular example DeClique showing orange peel waste

Making new products from urban organic waste streams: De Clique

Pay for the product, not the packaging: Algramo

View all examples

Circular economy examples

Photo of the sea with seaweed just beneath the surface

Biodiversity
Food

Regenerative ocean farming: GreenWave

GreenWave’s polyculture ocean farming method produces a mixture of shellfish and seaweeds in a way...

Fashion
Business

An open access, circular supply chain for t-shirts: Teemill

Teemill is a tech-based fashion business that takes a more holistic view of the fashion...

Food
Business

Making new products from urban organic waste streams: De Clique

“We are working towards zero-waste cities in which all residual flows are reused”

Plastics

Pay for the product, not the packaging: Algramo

Algramo is a system that allows customers to refill household products by using smart powered...

people talking on stage in front of a crowd at the roundhouse london

Our mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy

We develop and promote the idea of a circular economy. We inspire and work with business, academia, policymakers, and institutions across the globe. Our vision is an economic system that’s better for people and the environment.

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News and updates from
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation

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The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. We develop and promote the idea of a circular economy, and work with business, academia, policymakers, and institutions to mobilise systems solutions at scale, globally.

Charity Registration No.: 1130306

OSCR Registration No.: SC043120

Company No.: 6897785

Ellen MacArthur Foundation ANBI RSIN nummer: 8257 45 925

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The work of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is supported by our Strategic Partners and Partners.

It’s time for a circular economy

Live from Summit 23: Redesigning the future

Big Food Redesign Challenge: It’s time to redesign food for nature to thrive

A UN treaty to end plastic pollution

Featured

Circular economy principles for achieving net zero in the built environment

The circular economy at sea collection

Discover hundreds of circular economy startups with our new database

A circular economy for food - podcast series

Circular Design for Food: Rethinking Products to Regenerate Nature

Schools of thought that inspired the circular economy

The six levers designers can use to unlock the potential of circular design

Cross-cutting collaboration to transform the food system: London

London’s Circular Food Pioneer Projects

New organisations join the Foundation’s Network

CCD report presents circular economy practices across European cities

Locked in: what is linear lock-in and how can we break free?

The Circular Economy Show

Episode 63: The Big Food Redesign & Global Plastics Treaty

Episode 62: Cities, Latin America, fashion

Episode 61: Eliminate, circulate, regenerate

Episode 60: Regenerating nature

Episode 59: Investigating, exploring, and showcasing the circular economy in 2023

Episode 58: Circular Economy Show 2022 review

Bringing the circular economy to the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards

New tools to help cities apply circular economy principles

Live from Summit 22: Design turns ambition into action

Redesigning the economy: the power of data and digital technologies

Tackling biodiversity loss with a circular economy: the role of businesses

Live from London: How do we accelerate innovation towards a circular economy?

Circular economy examples

Regenerative ocean farming: GreenWave

An open access, circular supply chain for t-shirts: Teemill

Making new products from urban organic waste streams: De Clique

Pay for the product, not the packaging: Algramo

Circular economy examples

Regenerative ocean farming: GreenWave

An open access, circular supply chain for t-shirts: Teemill

Making new products from urban organic waste streams: De Clique

Pay for the product, not the packaging: Algramo

Our mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy

News and updates fromThe Ellen MacArthur Foundation

News and updates from
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation