The complete series of Inside the Circle, our debut podcast partnership with Economist Impact, is now available.
Each of the four 20-minute episodes explores a different theme – plastic, food, fashion, and cities – and features expert voices from the Foundation, our network, and beyond.
Produced by the Economist Impact team and hosted by the former head of the Economist World Ocean initiative, Martin Koehring, the series is already among the most successful content on the Economist’s Sustainability platform. It can also be found on all the usual podcast providers, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Episode 1: Circular Plastics
Exploring innovative solutions to product design, packaging, business models, supply chains and advanced recycling technologies.
So much plastic is designed to be single-use. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, over 300m tonnes of plastic waste is produced every year. Moreover, a study by Pew Charitable Trusts highlights that plastic-related greenhouse-gas emissions are projected to account for around 19% of the global carbon budget by 2040. How can we develop innovative upstream solutions, and design products and packaging that promote circular models of production, consumption, and waste management? To what extent have policymakers created an environment conducive to progress? How can business solutions engage policymakers and consumers alike?
Featuring: Claudia Amos, technical director for plastics technology, infrastructure & commercial due diligence at Anthesis; Sander Defruyt, lead of the New Plastics Economy initiative at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation; Maarten Dubois, project lead for 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. and plastics at the OECD; Louise Scott, vice president of R&D capability at Natura & Co and chief scientific officer at Avon Cosmetics; and Alan VanderMolen, chief communications officer at SC Johnson.
Episode 2: Circular Food
Food designs that encourage regenerative food production and the business solutions aimed at reducing food loss and waste.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that the global food system accounts for about 30% of global carbon emissions. However, data from the United Nations Environment Programme suggest that a third of food continues to be lost or wasted every year. Policymakers, producers, processors, vendors, and consumers all have a role to play—from devising policies that support greater stakeholder collaboration and encouraging more regenerative food production, to using produce that would otherwise be lost and reducing the amount of food being wasted in retail, restaurants and households. How can we redesign food products and food systems in ways that help us to meet biodiversity targets and address the climate crisis?
Featuring: Rob Cameron, global head of public affairs and ESG engagement at Nestlé; Philippe Schuler, global impact manager at Too Good to Go; Turner Wyatt, founder and CEO of the Upcycled Food Association; and Winnie Yegon, food systems analyst at the FAO and African food systems leadership fellow.
Episode 3: Circular Fashion
Redesigning textiles and making use of innovative technologies, business models and policies to close the fashion loop.
Though the fashion industry has doubled its production of clothing over the past 15 years, 75% of the clothes we purchase end up in landfills and less than 1% are being recycled into new clothing, according to research by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. How can clothes be designed to last longer, be reused, and be made into new clothes at their end of life? What are the shifts in business models, technologies and regulations needed to design the fashion industry in a more circular way? How can we empower brands, designers, policymakers and customers alike?
Featuring: Laura Coppen, head of circularity at Zalando; Eliana Kuo, founder and co-CEO of Lablaco; and Justine Porterie, global head of sustainability at Depop.
Episode 4: Circular Cities
The ways in which cities are implementing circular policies, putting circular infrastructure in place and supporting collaborations between actors.
According to data from the World Bank, cities are home to 56% of the global population. However, the United Nations Environment Programme estimates that cities also contribute to 75% of global carbon emissions. Local and municipal governments play an important role in putting the circular economy into action. But what would a circular city look like, and how can city governments design, promote and support circular systems?
Featuring: Liz Goodwin, chair at ReLondon and senior fellow and director of food loss and waste at the World Resources Institute; Kate Raworth, author of Doughnut Economics and co-founder of the Doughnut Economics Lab; Marta Suplicy, municipal secretary of international relations of the City of São Paulo; and Shiva Susarla, founder of Circular Cities Asia and founder and CEO of RENERGii.
