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.

Fashion

The Jeans Redesign

The Jeans Redesign demonstrates how jeans can be designed and made for a circular economy.

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

Design

Luca Locatelli: The Circle - a curation of circular economy stories

The Foundation is excited to have provided knowledge support for Luca Locatelli’s exhibition The...

Image of City tower blocks in the background with green field in the foreground

Cities

Climate

The circular economy: a missing piece in city climate action plans?

This article presents a summary of findings from research carried out by the Foundation and Nordic...

Close up of female famer hands holding soil outdoors at community farm.

Food

Is your food brand serving the planet?

Circular design for food is rooted in the actions of farmers, but requires brands to re-think both...

Black background with multiple multi-coloured icons

Policy

Ep 120: How is the circular economy gaining momentum in US policy?

Listen to this new episode with Costa Samaras from the White House Office of Science and Technology...

Attendees of the Big Food Redesign Challenge Launch at the Barbican smile at a guest speaker

Food

One month left for food innovators to claim a share of £500,000

Big news from the Big Food Redesign Challenge

Impact film producer Michael Cain joins Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Board of Trustees

Michael’s extensive experience, expertise, and industry network will support the Foundation’s...

A picture of a city building with many green trees growing in front of it.

Built Environment
Cities

The Generous City

Can we redesign our economy from one that degrades to one that regenerates?

Network

New organisations join the Foundation’s Network

We are pleased to welcome a new Strategic Partner, Partners, and Members to the Foundation’s...

Aerial POV view Depiction of flooding. devastation wrought after massive natural disasters at Bekasi - Indonesia

Climate
Circular economy explained

Bridging the adaptation gap: can the circular economy help?

Can the circular economy be part of bridging the adaptation gap?

An image of a circular wave in the ocean.

Network

WaterBear collaboration: accelerating the circular economy with impactful storytelling

WaterBear has joined our Network as a Strategic Partner.

Fashion

Cementing circular design for fashion at the top of the Italian fashion industry’s creative agenda

We are excited to be continuing our Partnership with Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI) to...

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...

The Circular Economy Show

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Finance
Climate

Episode 66: Farming, finance, and a French unicorn

To be streamed on 26th September 2023, 15:00 BST.

Plastics
Policy

Episode 65: Redesigning jeans and buildings

Streamed on Tuesday, 25th July 2023

Plastics
Policy

Episode 64: Paris and plastics

Streamed on Tuesday, 27th June 2023.

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

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

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
Climate

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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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.

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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

The Jeans Redesign

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

A UN treaty to end plastic pollution

Featured

Luca Locatelli: The Circle - a curation of circular economy stories

The circular economy: a missing piece in city climate action plans?

Is your food brand serving the planet?

Ep 120: How is the circular economy gaining momentum in US policy?

One month left for food innovators to claim a share of £500,000

Impact film producer Michael Cain joins Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Board of Trustees

The Generous City

New organisations join the Foundation’s Network

Bridging the adaptation gap: can the circular economy help?

WaterBear collaboration: accelerating the circular economy with impactful storytelling

Cementing circular design for fashion at the top of the Italian fashion industry’s creative agenda

Circular economy principles for achieving net zero in the built environment

The Circular Economy Show

Episode 66: Farming, finance, and a French unicorn

Episode 65: Redesigning jeans and buildings

Episode 64: Paris and plastics

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

Redesigning the economy: the power of data and digital technologies

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