BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation announce a Global Partnership. The partnership will bring together the power of investment and the value creation opportunity of 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.. Doing so, it aims to accelerate the transition and play a role in addressing major issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Today, BlackRock also launches its first circular economy fund with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation – a strong signal to other investors and companies. The Fund aims to drive investments in businesses already contributing to, or benefiting from, the transition to a circular economy. The Foundation provides BlackRock with expert insights and guidance on circular economy principles and practices, which are used by BlackRock to inform the investment methodology of the Fund.
The transition towards the circular economy is already happening, and now finance is vital to accelerate this shift. The circular economy is increasingly adopted as a powerful framework to address the world’s most pressing challenges. Industry leaders are recognising that they have the power to shift to circular solutions through innovation, reinforced by changing consumer trends and supportive regulations. Given the size and urgency of the global issues, we now need to accelerate the shift and scale circular solutions rapidly. To do so, the finance sector needs to be onboard to provide capital and services, and engage with companies.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation considers the partnership and fund as important milestones towards its broader agenda of unlocking the power of finance and investments to scale the circular economy. The Foundation is looking to increase its work in this area over the coming months and years, working with its Global Partners BlackRock and Intesa Sanpaolo, as well as other financial institutions and stakeholders. The Foundation will support them to accelerate the transition by allocating capital, providing services, and engaging companies on the circular economy.
