Ep 91: Profound connections: the circular economy, biomimicry, and doughnut economics

In this episode, we are joined by our very own three wise women — the Foundation's founder and chair of trustees, Ellen MacArthur, Doughnut Economics author and co-founder of the Doughnut Economics Action Lab, Kate Raworth, and the co-founder of Biomimicry 3.8, the world's first bio-inspired consultancy, Janine Benyus.

This is first in a series of podcast episodes recorded at Summit 22 — the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's flagship annual event — which brought together business leaders, policymakers, innovators, and global changemakers to explore how we can redesign our economy so that it regenerates, rather than destroys, the natural world.

In an inspiring conversation facilitated by Brunswick Group senior partner, Lucy Parker, Ellen, Kate, and Janine discuss, in Kate's words, the 'profound connections' between the 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., biomimicry, and her own doughnut economic model.

Together, they explored the ways in which the three approaches offer a vision of a world that works for all — one that requires a mindset shift, from our current take, make, waste economy to one in which waste is eliminated, products and materials are circulated, and nature is regenerated. An economy that recognises that doing less harm simply isn't good enough, that we must work together to create solutions that actively improve the world we live in.

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Watch this and other sessions from Summit 22

Learn more about the circular economy and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Find out more about biomimicry and the work of Janine Benyus

Discover more about Doughnut Economics and the work of Kate Raworth