Our Network is for organisations that are committed to the circular economy transition and ready to transform. By joining the Network, your organisation will be able to access a variety of opportunities to accelerate change.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is uniquely positioned to steer and guide action towards a circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature., by driving multi-stakeholder, pre-competitive projects, and promoting leadership and best practice.
We help to set direction through a strategic company-level assessment of leadership and unique opportunities for peer-to-peer exchange with other business leaders. We build knowledge through business intelligence and targeted training for multinationals investing in transformational change. We catalyse collective action through a portfolio of research-backed projects to address critical transition challenges.
We create a regular stream of resources and events optimised for large multinationals investing in transformational change, and we orchestrate a portfolio of projects to address specific systemic challenges.
By joining the Network, your organisation is signalling its commitment to the circular economy transition and its readiness to transform. Only through collaboration and shared ambition can we make the circular economy a reality.
You will have a dedicated relationship manager at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation who will be able to steer your progress and connect you to projects and opportunities, as well making connections with other Network organisations. As experts in the circular economy, our team will also be able to help guide you to achieve your circular economy goals.
The opportunities available to Network organisations
Scaling with each membership tier, there is a breadth of opportunities for Network organisations. These opportunities are grouped under three core pillars:
Set direction
Build knowledge
Take action
Set direction
Partnership plan
Each Network organisation has a relationship manager and they will map out the ongoing focus areas based on your organisation’s circular strategy, and highlight potential opportunities to engage with the Foundation’s work, projects, and events.
Circular leaders groups
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation will bring together groups of Network organisations to form cohorts of key stakeholders with common interests, such as industries or shared challenges. These groups will engage in time-bound activities to deepen our shared knowledge on a challenge.
Build knowledge
Ellen MacArthur Foundation events
Our events calendar sets the agenda for the latest in circular economy insights. We bring together our diverse Network for networking opportunities across industries and sectors. We explore some of the Network successes and challenges. There are also moments at key events, such as Climate Week and Davos, where our senior leadership can discuss our latest insights.
University collaborations
Network organisations are given spaces on the University of Exeter Masterclass, a six-week professional learning programme run three times per year on the circular economy, designed for business professionals.
Webinars
Regular webinars are run for our wider Network audience to deepen their understanding of how the circular economy relates to their sector or role. Designed to be highly interactive, and featuring experts from the foundation and influential change-makers, the webinars offer a unique opportunity to learn from and connect with our collaborative projects.
Take action
Co-projects
Network organisations can take part in or lead pilot projects focused on driving strategic action towards a circular economy. Such projects might tackle key blockers or material streams. We support by convening organisations from across the Network, and consultants when needed, to explore the topic further. The aim is to provide a collaborative and pre-competitive space to develop concrete solutions over a six month period for the participants to accelerate and scale.
Research projects
Network organisations can be involved in Ellen MacArthur Foundation research projects by providing knowledge on specific topics and taking part in the creation of insights for white papers and reports.
Sprints
Sprints are in person workshops focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges in the circular economy transition. These take a few days and involve a small group of participants from multiple organisations. These sprints embrace the complexity of systems change and keep design thinking at their core.
