Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Post

The moment is now. We’re excited to officially launch our new report, Building Prosperity: Unlocking the potential of a nature-positive, circular economy for Europe. The study shows that a targeted set of investable and scalable actions in the built environment sector can deliver significant economic, environmental, and social benefits for Europe, increasing resilience, competitiveness, and the vibrancy of its cities. It also aims to show that circular and nature-positive strategies can be applied across sectors. The circular built environment can propel Europe towards a prosperous and nature-positive future. It’s here – in this sector – we must sow the seeds of change. And we can start right now. Read it today: https://lnkd.in/eZJ6G2_z #CircularEconomy

It’s time to adopt regenerative thinking and unlock a circular and nature-positive built environment. Here Rene Koop , Circular Economy Programme Manager, Gemeente Amsterdam illustrates the positive opportunities that can be created if we adopt regenerative thinking for cities. You can see his full perspective as an endorser in our latest report: Building Prosperity, here: https://lnkd.in/d5p_7HbB “Adopting regenerative thinking and principles in policies has the potential to create multiplier effects beyond direct control. If we identify these regenerative opportunities we can create value across economic, ecological, and social dimensions while simultaneously promoting community wellbeing.”

"We can put the pieces of a fragmented city back together." The built environment connects us all. It's here we must start sowing the seeds of change. In our latest film Janine Benyus, Author and Co-Founder of The Biomimicry Institute and Biomimicry 3.8 , tells us how, by design, we can create nature-positive, circular cities, where people and biodiversity thrive together. Watch the full film in this article.

Over the last six years, the Plastics Pacts have eliminated billions of plastic items and avoided over 2 million tonnes of virgin plastics. The Plastics Pact Network now spans every continent, engaging 19 countries and over 900 local and global organisations. As the global challenge of plastic pollution continues to grow, the Plastics Pact Network stands as a powerful example of collaborative action making a tangible difference. Our latest report showcases how Pacts across the world are driving innovation, influencing policy, and creating real impact at scale. These case studies are more than just success stories - they are proof of the power of the Plastics Pact Network to create lasting change. Explore more case studies: https://bit.ly/4fUOjWF

We can pave the way towards a nature-positive, circular and more resilient economy. Here Jerome Frost, Chair of @Arup, shares his thoughts on unlocking positive change in the built environment. You can see his full perspective as an endorser in our latest report: Building Prosperity, here: https://lnkd.in/ddnK9RRU “In our built environment, every building, every street, every neighbourhood offers us a chance to embrace innovative circular design. From the materials we use to the assets we create and the districts we design, forward-looking regulation is emerging to help address both the climate and biodiversity crises, paving the way towards a nature-positive, circular and more resilient economy. But we will only unlock this positive change at scale through unguarded collaboration, by bringing together designers, policymakers, businesses and investors to embrace innovative value-creation models. What is abundantly clear is that nature must become a priority issue as we transition towards a regenerative built environment that balances growth with human and societal wellbeing for long-term prosperity.” Explore the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ddnK9RRU

We are excited to share with you the first ever impact report of the Global Plastics Pact Network, convened by WRAP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. 📊 Key Takeaways: ⚪ Proven Change Mechanism: Plastic Pacts have proven to be an effective model to drive rapid, local, and collaborative action worldwide, effectively informing and complementing both national policy and the Global Plastics Treaty. ⚪ Case Studies: A specific document with powerful case studies showcasing the tangible impacts of Plastics Pacts in regions globally. ⚪ Ready to Scale: The Plastics Pact Network is ready to amplify its impact even further, leveraging existing mechanisms, mobilised stakeholders, and insights gained to focus on key challenges of reuse, flexible packaging and just transition. 🚨 The Urgent Mission Ahead: Plastics Pacts are turning vision into local and collaborative action worldwide, underpinned by unprecedented transparent reporting on progress. Despite these achievements, major challenges remain in tackling the plastic pollution crisis. We now know that ambitious binding policies and accelerated business actions are both crucial to tackling plastic waste and pollution at the pace and scale required. The Plastics Pacts will continue to play a key role in this critical mission. Explore the report and case studies: https://lnkd.in/e7u6AU8f

Shifting to a #circulareconomy means changing how we design, make, access, and maintain products and infrastructure. In a move to help accelerate the circular economy, Visa has partnered with TOMRA, Shift4, and the City of Aarhus in Denmark to design and implement a fully digital payment process for TOMRA Reuse’s reverse vending machines (RVM). This enables customers to return reusable packaging and instantly receive the deposit through a digital payout to their card or contactless device such as a phone or smartwatch. This collaboration is an example of the transformative potential of digital solutions in facilitating circular business models. Improving consumer convenience supports the transition to move away from single-use items; allowing materials to be reused, recycled or composted. Explore this circular example below.

Watch some of the participants of the Big Food Redesign Challenge explore old ideas with modern thinking in the second episode of ‘Redesigning Food: Behind the scenes’. 👩🌾 From a tequila alternative that puts nature first to traditional farming systems that lead to better soil health, The Wild Hare Group, Porcus and Agüita Divina are all transforming how we do business – shifting old linear models into more circular ones. This series navigates the complexities of designing food for nature to thrive, pushing the boundaries of food design, and turning obstacles into opportunities for growth and innovation. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/ernGzdgJ

It's time to embrace the messy reality of #circulareconomy innovation and start your journey today. Making the shift towards a circular economy is an all-encompassing process - captivating the way we live, work, design, and innovate. But the process can be messy. Whilst we know a systemic approach to circular design and innovation is crucial, celebrating all of those who have the courage to support and incorporate the transition to a circular economy within their business and lives is just as important. Read more about the importance of starting the journey to a circular economy in this article. Written by Joe Iles, Design Programme Lead - Ellen MacArthur Foundation.