Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Meet Patrick McDowell, a pioneering fashion designer who is working to transform our current linear fashion industry to one that designs products to be used more, made to be made again and made from safe and recycled or renewable inputs. The Jeans Redesign set the direction of travel by redesigning products to be fit for a circular economy. Now, we must not only redesign the products of the future, but also transform the systems that deliver them and keep them in use. Circular business models, designed to keep products in use – such as rental, resale, repair and remaking – allow companies to make revenue without making new clothes and represent an opportunity for new and better growth in the fashion industry. Collaboration is key. Designers like Patrick cannot do this alone: to create a circular economy for fashion, we need industry-wide change. Watch the full video to learn more: https://lnkd.in/e8dMD-wn

Breaking free from our linear lock-in. 🤝 Fixed, unalterable, unmovable: by definition, a lock-in can sound fairly final. But change is possible and our linear system — which relies on extraction, waste, pollution and habitat loss — has had its day. Challenges at this scale need to be addressed at a system level; innovation, finance, and policy are critical to shift the system towards a circular economy. Explore this article to uncover how we can avoid, transform, and break free from our linear lock-in: https://lnkd.in/eKkXJrjW

The Circular Economy Show podcast is back! In the new season of the Circular Economy Show, we're meeting the people working to scale the circular economy. We'll learn what a world without waste means for global supply chains and more. New episodes drop every Tuesday, so subscribe to never miss out on one! Link: https://lnkd.in/e3aVtA3b

The REMADE Institute is a critical organization in the effort to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy, and fuels the technical innovation that makes real system change possible and tangible. The annual conference, three weeks ago, was a truly inspiring meeting of the minds of policymakers, industry leaders, NGOs and academia — two days of action-oriented conversation with experienced practitioners across all sectors coming together to exchange ideas, innovations, and ways in which we might collaborate to further our shared mission of transitioning to a circular economy. “Our team was out in force and delighted to share the progress we have made, particularly in the US.” The Foundation’s North America Lead and plenary speaker Danielle Holly shares her reflections on the REMADE Circular Economy Tech Summit and Conference, held in Washington DC earlier this month. #REMADEConference2024 #CircularEconomy 📸 : REMADE Institute

As the fourth round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty is coming to a close today, read our policymaker briefing: “Making the Global Plastics Treaty work for Micro-, Small-, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs)”. This study assesses the impact of an ambitious, effective and legally binding global plastics treaty on MSMEs across the plastic packaging value chain. It further formulates key recommendations on how an ambitious treaty could help to support this sector. Read the policymaker briefing here: https://lnkd.in/epnXUPuE And there is more to come. We will publish the full study later in Spring 2024, which will provide more in-depth analysis and case studies. Sign-up to be the first to know using the above link.

Last week at INC-4, the Foundation joined the “Plastics Pacts Network, 5 Years In: Lessons learned in demonstrating action” event, in Ottawa Canada. The event, co-hosted by the governments of Chile and the United Kingdom, took place during the fourth round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty, and shared lessons from the Plastics Pacts Network’s voluntary action at a national level, to inform global policy measures to tackle plastic pollution. The Foundation’s Executive Lead for Plastics and Finance, Rob Opsomer, moderated the illuminating conversation, and was joined on stage by: Catherine McVitty of Unilever Canada Luyanda Hlatshwayo, of the African Reclaimers Organisation Nandini Kumar of the India Plastics Pact Roan Snyman of the South Africa Plastics Pact Emily Tipaldo of the US Plastics Pact The conclusion the panel reached can be summarised into two key points: The outcomes of the global treaty - “whether national or international, voluntary or mandatory -“ will need implementation. And the Plastic Pact Network offers a proven means of engagement and action at a national level. Collaborative voluntary action is creating progress and is necessary - but is not enough to end plastic pollution. It will require ambitious regulation to scale impact. The Canada Plastics Pact, alongside the Foundation and WRAP, provided logistical support for the event. Find out more about the Foundation’s role in the ongoing negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty: https://lnkd.in/e998dB3p

The Circular Economy Show podcast is back! In the new season of the Circular Economy Show, we're meeting the people working to scale the circular economy; we'll learn what a world without waste means for global supply chains and more. New episodes drop every Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode! - https://lnkd.in/evvM7BrR

Six years in, Plastics Pacts are a proven model for tackling plastic pollution, and uniquely placed to inform and support in implementing a Global Plastics Treaty. This is one of the key findings of a new Policymaker Briefing, published today to coincide with the fourth round of negotiations for a UN treaty to end plastics pollution. The Plastics Pact Network, convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WRAP , connects national and regional initiatives around the world to implement solutions towards a circular economy for plastic. Thanks to Plastics Pacts: - Tens of billions of problematic or unnecessary plastic items have been eliminated - Design for reusability, recyclability and composability in practice and at scale has increased by 23% - Incorporation of recycled content back into packaging has increased by 44%. Find out more about how Plastics Pacts are uniquely placed to inform and support in implementing a future Global Plastics Treaty at national level here: https://lnkd.in/eaqEejht

On Thursday 25th April, Valérie Boiten, the Foundation’s Senior Policy Officer, will be taking part in EU Environment and Climate’s panel ‘The Future of Textile Industry: Competitive, Sustainable and Circular’ at Hannover Messe where she will discuss the global flows of used garments, and the opportunities for a shared direction of travel towards a circular economy for textiles. Watch the livestream on the 25th at 14:30 - 15:30 BS here: https://lnkd.in/g4SdZvRR

In Ottawa, Canada, our Plastics and Finance Executive Lead Rob Opsomer moderated a discussion yesterday on the importance of global rules and sustainable financing in the treaty to shape a future free from plastic pollution. The event set the scene for the imminent start of the fourth round of negotiations for a UN treaty to end plastic pollution. Joining Rob on-stage were: Anne Beate Tvinnereim, Minister for Development Cooperation, Norway, who spoke about what governments need to support the private sector to deliver on the global ambitions to end plastic pollution. Ellen Martin, Chief Impact Officer, Circulate Capital, who elaborated on what the financial sector is calling for at the fourth round of negotiations. Hein Schumacher, CEO, Unilever, who touched on why Industry needs global rules in the Global Plastics Treaty. Mani Vajipey, Co-Founder & CEO, Banyan Nation, who shared why a treaty with global rules would create new market opportunities for companies like his. Find out more about the Foundation’s role in the negotiations for Global Plastics Treaty here: https://lnkd.in/ebA3KrBR