The Circular Economy Show Podcast

Ellen MacArthur Foundation
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The Ellen MacArthur Foundation welcomes you to The Circular Economy Show, a podcast about a new way to design, make, and use things, and how we can build an economy that's fit for the 21st century.

  1. 1D AGO

    Circular snapshots: Competitiveness, critical minerals & textiles EPR

    Welcome back to The Circular Economy Show and another episode of Circular Snapshots, where we unpack the headlines shaping the transition to a circular economy. This month, Seb explores the EU’s upcoming Circular Economy Act and its shift toward positioning circularity as industrial strategy, not just environmental policy. We look at new global data revealing rapid growth in national circular economy roadmaps, and why implementation is now the real test. We also dive into the growing link between circular economy and critical mineral supply chains — from insights at the World Economic Forum to new analysis on EV batteries and material security. Finally, we examine a major UK industry push for a mandatory textiles Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, and what it could mean for transforming one of the economy’s most linear sectors. From policy to supply chains to industry coalitions, this episode highlights one clear trend: the circular economy is becoming central to competitiveness. Stories referenced in today’s episode: EU Circular Economy Act https://www.brusselstimes.com/1937610/europes-new-circular-economy-act-getting-the-basics-right-for-eu-competitiveness National Circular Economy Roadmaps https://www.unido.org/sites/default/files/unido-publications/2026-01/Stocktake%20CE%20Roadmaps%202025.pdf Critical minerals and the circular economy https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/circular-economy-clean-energy-supply-chain-critical-minerals/ Circular economy and EV batteries https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiehailstone/2026/01/27/circular-economy-could-prevent-an-ev-battery-minerals-bottleneck-study-finds/ Textiles and EPR https://resource.co/article/uk-textiles-industry-group-publishes-10-point-blueprint-mandatory-epr-scheme

    6 min

  2. JAN 20

    Ep 207: The critical minerals crunch: How do we secure the future of clean energy?

    Wen-Yu Weng, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Critical Minerals Lead, joins Lou to explain why critical minerals are currently taking centre stage in global political conversations.  They explore: How we can create secure and resilient supply chains to close the gap on fast growing demandThe circular opportunities that  currently lie in shaping supply chains to capture value right nowThe enabling factors that have opened windows of opportunity for immediate actionIf you enjoyed this episode, then please share with your colleagues, or leave us a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

    17 min

  3. JAN 13

    What’s next for the circular economy in 2026?

    Join Seb as he speaks to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s CEO, Jonquil Hackenberg about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the circular economy in 2026. What are your priorities for 2026? Let us know in the comments or on our LinkedIn page.

    16 min

  4. 12/02/2025

    2025 in review: unlocking the circular economy opportunity

    It's been a pivotal year for the circular economy, full of big ideas and practical breakthroughs. Before we fully dive into 2026, we’re hitting pause for a moment of reflection. Join Fin, Lou, and Pippa who have hand-picked their favourite, most insightful, and memorable moments from the conversations they’ve had this year. This episode may show condensed snippets, but it is packed with big ideas, practical breakthroughs, and the highlights that defined the circular economy in 2025. Thanks for listening to the Circular Economy Show from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Help us grow our audience in 2026 by sharing your favourite episode with your friends and colleagues. Explore the episodes discussed in order of appearance: Ep 201: Why do circular business models fail to scale? Going it alone Ep 188: “It’s a no-brainer”: Arc’teryx on bringing repairs in-store Ep 197: Stop minding your own business Ep 179: How are small start-ups, SMEs, and large corporations working together to change the food system? Ep 185: How can marketers turn ideas into impactful action? Ep 174: Material security in a circular economy | Energy and competitiveness

    19 min

  5. 11/25/2025

    Circular Snapshots | COP30 and progress in the circular economy

    It’s easy to look at the news headlines and feel like everything is going backwards, but in this episode we ask you to look a little deeper and see the story beneath the headlines. Progress is possible and happening everywhere from plastics to fashion to the automotive sector, and even at COP. Listen in to hear: Whether COP still matters, and if so, for what?Why Honda’s circularity center in Ohio is an important stepWhat we learned from Patagonia’s first ever environmental and social progress reportWhy many of the world’s biggest brands are backing a new agenda for plastics---- Explore the articles Seb mentioned in this episode: 1) Circular economy thematic day at COP30 (Circular Online) https://www.circularonline.co.uk/news/cop30-marks-first-ever-circular-economy-day-as-global-climate-talks-intensify/ 2) Honda opening its circularity center (Trellis) https://trellis.net/article/honda-recycling-ohio-plant-opens-circularity/ 3) Analysis of Patagonia’s environmental and social report (Trellis) https://trellis.net/article/patagonias-comprehensive-plan-counter-rising-emissions/ 4) Reuters on businesses supporting the Foundation’s 2030 Plastics Agenda for Business https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/global-companies-push-regulation-plastics-reduction-report-shows-2025-11-04/

    7 min

  6. 11/18/2025

    Why should retailers embrace the circular economy? | Conversations from Climate Week New York

    Recorded live at Climate Week New York, in this episode we ask ‘why should retailers embrace the circular economy?’ The global food system is responsible for a third of greenhouse gas emissions, and is vulnerable to supply chain shocks.  Our guests discuss why circularity must be easier, more convenient, and more irresistible than the linear option, and why retailers and brands need to invest in shared solutions to scale a circular economy for food. Joining the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Executive Lead for Retail, Reniera O’Donnell, are: Nate Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at VisaBurgess Davis, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer for North America at PepsiCoScot Case, Vice President of Sustainability for the National Retail FederationLearn more about retail and the circular economy Sign up for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s North America newsletter Help us spread the word about the circular economy! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your colleagues, or leave us a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

    26 min

  7. 11/11/2025

    What's tech got to do with it? | Conversations from Climate Week New York

    Recorded live during Climate Week NYC, this episode explores how technology can accelerate the transition to a circular economy, not as a bolt-on fix, but as a built-in business strategy. Host Danielle Holly, Executive Lead for North America at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, is joined by Jen Huffstetler (Chief Sustainability Officer, HP), Jim Sullivan (Head of Product Management, SAP), and Vrushali Gaud (Global Director of Strategy and Operations for Net Zero, Water, and Circularity, Google). Tune in to hear: Why AI and digital growth make circular strategies essential to meet rising material and energy demandsHow companies such as HP and Google are embedding circular design and open data into products and servicesWhat it takes to move from ‘bolt-on’ fixes to ‘bolt-in’ circular systems across business and financeThe biggest blockers and how collaboration can help solve themWhy pragmatism and focused collective action are key to turning ambition into measurable impactListen back to the series on why circular business models fail to scale Sign up for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s North America newsletter

    23 min

  8. 11/04/2025

    Why do circular business models fail to scale? Going it alone

    This is the fourth and final part of our mini series on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s new report: How not to fail: Avoiding 10 common pitfalls when scaling circular business models. In this episode, the report’s lead researchers, Maddy Oliver and Ella Hedley, explain how success at scale demands more than a strong model – what really matters is who is empowered to deliver it and how well are they aligned. If you enjoyed this series, then please share with your colleagues, or leave us a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

    20 min
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The Ellen MacArthur Foundation welcomes you to The Circular Economy Show, a podcast about a new way to design, make, and use things, and how we can build an economy that's fit for the 21st century.

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