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 Businesshttps://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/global-companies-push-regulation-plastics-reduction-report-shows-2025-11-04/
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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 economySign up for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s North America newsletterHelp 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.
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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 scaleSign up for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s North America newsletter
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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.Â
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Why do circular business models fail to scale? Relying on a narrow business case
Circular business models can drive new revenue streams, build brand strength, customer loyalty, and market traction, while also unlocking value through resource efficiency, cost savings, and reduced risk to supply chain volatility. But there is often too much focus on short-term gains in revenue or sustainability and waste reduction metrics, while overlooking their full business value. In the third 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, we hear how, when circular business models are pitched primarily around sustainability, internal commitment is lower.Pippa is joined by the report’s lead researchers, Maddy Oliver and Ella Hedley, to explore why circular business models rarely scale without a strong, broad financial case. They also talk about the need for more commercial collaboration. Find out more by listening to episode 196, HolyGrail: see it, sort it, scale it, to learn how one business-led partnership came together to align on the technology and achieve scale.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review or a comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Your support helps us to spread the word about the circular economy.
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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