What is a Circular Economy?

Why is the circular economy gaining traction now? What role does digital and systems thinking play in the transition to an economy that is regenerative by design? Join this conversation between three members of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to hear their response to these answers and more in this podcast.

The New Plastics Economy is an ambitious, three-year initiative to build momentum towards a plastics system that works. Find out more about the New Plastics Economy initiative (NPEC): newplasticseconomy.org Animator: Simon Tibbs

Channel 4 Newscaster Jon Snow talks to Dame Ellen MacArthur about the circular economy and rethinking the future, in a short film looking back on the first year (2011) of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Challenging Ellen on the fundamental principles of the Foundation's mission -- to inspire a generation to re-think and re-design for a positive future -- Jon investigates the circular economy as a framework for change and questions the actual implementation and impact of such a model on business.

"The world is currently undergoing a radical transformation", says Ella Jamsin of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. With a rising world population - and the demands this will put on resources - how might we organise the economy to work in the long-term? The answer, she argues in this TEDx, is to taking a systems thinking approach and develop a circular economy.

Ken Webster, Head of Innovation at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation describes why he believes a new economic model should be built on the model of living systems, and what that means for education. Ken was speaking in March 2014 at the University of Bradford.

There's a world of opportunity to re-think and re-design the way we make stuff. 'Re-Thinking Progress' explores how through a change in perspective we can re-design the way our economy works - designing products that can be 'made to be made again' and powering the system with renewable energy. It questions whether with creativity and innovation we can build a restorative economy.

With the price of resources and energy becoming increasingly volatile, can today's linear economy work in the long term? What if we didn't buy the goods we use, but instead favoured access and performance over ownership? This short animation from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation introduced the idea, and suggests how it could work for businesses, users, and the wider economy. A performance model is part of the solution when making the transition to a regenerative circular economy.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation was established in 2010 with the aim of accelerating the transition to the circular economy. Since its creation the charity has emerged as a global thought leader, establishing circular economy on the agenda of decision makers across business, government and academia. The charity’s work focuses on four interlinking areas: Education, Business & Government, Insight & Analysis and Communications