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Our circular economy research and publications. Browse and download thought-leading insight and analysis into the opportunity of a circular system, including circular economy books, reports and publications.

Towards a circular economy for plastics in China front cover

Plastics

Towards a circular economy for plastics in China: Opportunities and recommendations

As the biggest manufacturer, user, and exporter of plastics in the world, China has a unique role...

Design

Fashion

The circular design for fashion book

It has been written in recognition of fashion’s huge potential to move towards a circular economy.

Fashion

Rethinking business models for a thriving fashion industry

Circular business models for fashion, which are designed to make revenue without making new...

Food

The big food redesign study

Moving towards a food system that builds natural capital and that is pro-nature, i.e. one that...

Biodiversity the nature imperative report front cover

Biodiversity

The Nature Imperative: How the circular economy tackles biodiversity loss

To halt and reverse biodiversity loss, we need to fundamentally transform the way we produce, use,...

5 circles showing the universal policy goals

Policy

Cities
Business

Universal circular economy policy goals

A framework for national governments, cities and businesses to accelerate the transition.

Plastics

Upstream Innovation: a guide to packaging solutions

The Upstream Innovation guide tells how to harness the power of upstream innovation as a root-cause...

Policy
Business
Cities

The circular economy: a transformative Covid-19 recovery strategy

This paper demonstrates how policymakers can pave the way to a low carbon, prosperous future.

Financing the circular economy report front cover

Finance

Financing the circular economy - Capturing the opportunity

This report offers new analysis that highlights rapid growth in circular economy financing and...

Completing the picture: How the circular economy tackles climate change report front cover

Climate

Completing the picture: How the circular economy tackles climate change

Republication of a paper first published in 2019. How the Circular Economy Tackles Climate Change...

Plastics

Reuse – rethinking packaging

This paper provides a framework to understand reuse models by identifying six major benefits of...

Cities and circular economy for food report front cover

Food
Cities

Cities and circular economy for food

This report explores the benefits of the transition to a regenerative food system.

Artificial Intelligence and the Circular Economy report front cover

Business

Artificial intelligence and the circular economy

This paper provides an initial exploration of the intersection between two emerging megatrends:...

Circular economy in China report front cover

Cities
Policy

The circular economy opportunity for urban and industrial innovation in China

The analysis shows that applying circular economy principles at scale could save businesses and...

Circular Consumer Electronics: An initial exploration report front cover

Business
Design

Circular Consumer Electronics: An initial exploration

This paper offers an initial overview of how the principles of a circular economy could be applied...

The New Plastics Economy Report front cover

Plastics

The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the future of plastics & catalysing action

This report provides a new way of thinking about plastics as an effective global material flow...

A New Textiles Economy report front cover

Fashion

A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s future

Fashion is a vibrant industry that employs hundreds of millions, generates significant revenues,...

Cities in the circular economy report front cover

Cities
Policy

Cities in the circular economy: An initial exploration

This paper outlines some of the challenges cities are facing in today’s linear economy, explores...

Cities

Urban Biocycles

This scoping paper focuses on the potential of the significant volume of organic waste flowing...

The circular economy A wealth of flows report front cover

Business
Design

The Circular Economy: A Wealth of Flows - 2nd Edition

More than ever, the circular economy gives the direction of travel, and appears as a model for...

Achieving 'Growth Within' report front cover

Policy
Business

Built Environment

Achieving 'growth within'

A new report by SYSTEMIQ, in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and sponsored by...

Plastics

The New Plastics Economy: Catalysing action

This new research presents three strategies to increase reuse and recycling of plastic packaging to...

Circular economy in India report front cover

Cities
Food
Biodiversity

Circular economy in India: Rethinking growth for long-term prosperity

By embarking on a circular economy transformation, India could create direct economic benefits for...

Intelligent Assets: Unlocking the circular economy potential report front cov

Business

Intelligent assets: Unlocking the circular economy potential

With up to 50 billion connected devices predicted by 2020, a pervasive digital transformation is...

Rethinking the future of plastics report front cover

Plastics

The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the future of plastics

A vision of a global economy in which plastics never become waste and concrete steps towards...

Towards a Circular Economy: Business rationale for an accelerated transition report front cover

Business

Towards a circular economy: Business rationale for an accelerated transition

This 20-page executive summary report sets out the organisation's latest insights and analysis on...

Toolkit for policymakers report front cover

Policy

Delivering the circular economy: a toolkit for policymakers

This report provides an actionable toolkit for policymakers who wish to embark on a circular...

Growth Within: a circular economy vision for a competitive Europe report front cover

Food
Finance
Business

Growth within: a circular economy vision for a competitive Europe

Incorporating in-depth analysis of three of Europe’s largest basic needs, mobility, food, and the...

Business

A New Dynamic 2: effective systems in a circular economy

The second book of the series A New Dynamic reflects on the necessity to develop a whole-system...

Business

A New Dynamic: effective business in a circular economy

Upward trending, volatile materials and energy prices; difficult credit conditions and the myriad...

Towards the Circular Economy Vol. 3 Report front cover

Business
Plastics

Towards the circular economy Vol. 3: accelerating the scale-up across global supply chains

Business leaders and governments both acknowledge that continued wealth generation requires a new...

Towards the Circular Economy Vol. 2 report front cover

Food
Plastics
Business

Towards the circular economy Vol. 2: opportunities for the consumer goods sector

The report focuses on fast-moving consumer goods, which currently account for about 60% of total...

Towards the Circular Economy Vol. 1 report front cover

Business
Finance

Towards the circular economy Vol. 1: an economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition

Using product case studies and economy-wide analysis, this report details the potential for...

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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.

Charity Registration No.: 1130306

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.