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Special Collections:
The Circular Economy

The Circular Economy
Circularity: a competitive edge in the era of tariffs?

Amid rising tariffs and supply chain disruption, Danielle Holly (Ellen MacArthur Foundation) and Tensie Whelan (NYU Stern) discuss circularity as a smart business strategy. Tensie introduces the ROSI (Return on Sustainability Investment) framework, developed at NYU Stern, which helps companies track and monetize sustainability's value, including efficiency, risk reduction, and new revenue. They explore how circular approaches shorten supply chains and mitigate geopolitical shocks.

The discussion also addresses why companies hesitate and what's needed to engage finance and governance. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, accelerates the transition to a circular economy to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. For more insights, subscribe to their [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQAC2otE5_agzHZPnk3mE5w?sub_confirmation=1), visit their [website](https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org), or follow them on [Instagram](http://instagram.com/EllenMacArthurFoundation) and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellen-macarthur-foundation/).

Inside IKEA's strategy: building a resilient circular business #shorts

This episode of the Circular Economy Show features Conor Hill, Global Director for Circular and Sustainable Living at IKEA. He explains how IKEA embeds circular principles into its commercial strategy, making circularity affordable and accessible for customers while delivering measurable impact. Watch the full episode to learn more.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an international charity dedicated to accelerating the transition to a circular economy, tackling critical challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. Subscribe to our [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQAC2otE5_agzHZPnk3mE5w?sub_confirmation=1) for more insights. Find out more about our work and connect with us on our [website](https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org), [Instagram](http://instagram.com/EllenMacArthurFoundation), and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellen-macarthur-foundation/).

Inside IKEA's strategy: building a resilient circular business

This episode of the Circular Economy Show features IKEA's Global Director, Conor Hill, discussing how the brand embeds circular principles into its commercial strategy. IKEA's Buyback & Resell model makes second-hand feel new, delivering measurable impact while ensuring affordability and accessibility for customers.

This initiative empowers consumers to actively participate in the circular economy, enhances brand awareness and resilience, and optimizes customer loyalty using data. Watch the full episode to learn more.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, accelerates the transition to a circular economy to address climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. Find more about their work here and subscribe for insights.

Policy unplugged: Implementing circular economy policy with Joss Blériot #shorts

Circular economy policy is increasingly moving from environmental ministries to economic and industrial authorities. In this podcast episode, Lou and Joss Blériot, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Executive Policy Lead, explore what's truly happening on the ground.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an international charity dedicated to accelerating the transition to a circular economy. Its mission is to address major global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution.

Watch the full episode to learn more. Subscribe to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation YouTube channel for more videos. Find out more about our work at our website, and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Policy unplugged: Implementing circular economy policy with Joss Blériot

Circular economy policy is increasingly shifting from environmental ministries to economic and industry authorities. In this episode, Lou and Joss Blériot, Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Executive Policy Lead, discuss this global trend. They explore the 35% surge in national strategies, global implementation, and the need to harmonize definitions and prioritize key policy tools.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an international charity accelerating the transition to a circular economy to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Subscribe for more insights: YouTube. Learn more about their work: ellenmacarthurfoundation.org. Follow them on social media: Instagram, LinkedIn.

The hidden drivers enabling the circular economy #shorts

This episode of the Circular Economy Show features Rachel O’Reilly, Global Human Sustainability Design Director at Accenture. They discuss their upcoming report, ‘Circularity is Working,’ which provides direction on improving consumer adoption of the circular economy.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, accelerates the transition to a circular economy. Its mission is to tackle major challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution.

Watch the full episode for insights. Subscribe to The Ellen MacArthur Foundation on YouTube. Learn more about their work and follow them on their website, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

The hidden drivers enabling the circular economy

The Circular Economy Show features Rachel O’Reilly (Accenture) discussing their upcoming report, ‘Circularity is Working.’ This report guides consumer adoption by highlighting successful circularity examples, from Liverpool musicians reinvesting savings to Hamburg's informal sharing systems. Rachel shares insights into hidden drivers crucial for normalizing, embedding, and scaling circularity.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, accelerates the transition to a circular economy to tackle global challenges like climate change and waste. Explore their work at ellenmacarthurfoundation.org. Subscribe for more videos on YouTube, and follow them on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Circular Snapshots: Competitiveness, critical minerals & textiles EPR

This "Circular Snapshots" episode explores key circular economy trends. It covers the EU's Circular Economy Act, positioning circularity as industrial strategy, and the global rise of national roadmaps, with implementation as the real test. It delves into circularity's link with critical mineral supply chains (e.g., EV batteries) and a UK push for mandatory textiles Extended Producer Responsibility. Ultimately, the circular economy is becoming central to competitiveness.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, accelerates the transition to a circular economy to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. Subscribe for more videos: Ellen MacArthur Foundation YouTube. Learn more about their work: ellenmacarthurfoundation.org.

Why do circular business models fail to scale? Relying on a narrow business case

Circular business models offer significant value beyond just sustainability, driving new revenue, brand strength, and efficiency. However, they often fail to scale without a strong financial case. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation's "How not to fail" report and a recent podcast with researchers Maddy Oliver and Ella Hedley highlight that sustainability-focused pitches can lower internal commitment. They advocate for commercial collaboration, citing the HolyGrail partnership. Listen to episode 196 for more.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an international charity promoting a circular economy. Subscribe for insights: YouTube. Learn more: ellenmacarthurfoundation.org. Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn. Your support helps spread the word.

Scaling circular business models: It makes fashion sense #trailer

A new film explores how the fashion industry can build a competitive, desirable, and resilient future. It features Arc’teryx, H&M Group, and Tapestry (Coach), participants in The Fashion ReModel – an Ellen MacArthur Foundation project demonstrating how to generate profit without producing more clothes.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an international charity championing the circular economy: eliminating waste and pollution, circulating products and materials, and regenerating nature.

Watch the full film to learn more. Subscribe to their YouTube channel, visit the Foundation's website, and follow them on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Scaling circular business models: It makes fashion sense

To build a competitive and resilient future, the fashion industry must embrace circular business models. A new film from The Fashion ReModel, an Ellen MacArthur Foundation project, highlights real-world examples from Arc’teryx, H&M Group, and Tapestry (Coach), demonstrating how to make money without making more clothes.

These models—including rental, resale, repair, and remaking—offer economic resilience by reducing exposure to supply chain disruptions and price volatility. Businesses can embed these strategies into their core operations. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity promoting a circular economy, encourages action. Explore insights: ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/the-fashion-remodel/insights

Learn more about our work: ellenmacarthurfoundation.org. Subscribe for videos: YouTube. Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn.

What makes circular business models fail to scale? Strategic misalignment

This episode, part of a mini-series on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's "How not to fail" report, examines why circular business models often fail. Discover how to avoid three strategic misalignment pitfalls by integrating business operations, customer needs, and product requirements for scalable success.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity promoting a circular economy, led this research. Support their mission to eliminate waste and regenerate nature by leaving a review or subscribing for more insights.

Find more information and follow the Foundation: YouTube, Website, Instagram, LinkedIn.

What makes circular business models fail to scale? Don't think too small

Explore why circular business models fail to scale in this discussion, drawing from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's report, "How not to fail: Avoiding 10 common pitfalls when scaling circular business models." Learn practical steps to avoid common mistakes and enable transformative scale. Key topics include circular opportunities, the necessity of a scaling plan, and aligning models with existing business strategy.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an international charity promoting a circular economy that eliminates waste, circulates materials, and regenerates nature. Access the full report here. Find more insights and subscribe to their work at www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org and YouTube.

STOP minding your own business

Political and economic shocks present opportunities for market transformation. In this episode, Jonquil Hackenberg (Ellen MacArthur Foundation) and Lindsay Hooper (Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership) discuss how businesses can collaborate to drive system-wide change.

They explore catalysing market interventions, designing out competitive disadvantages, and building pre-competitive coalitions. Harnessing business and private sector power is crucial for real transformation towards a circular economy, which eliminates waste and regenerates nature.

Learn more about commercial collaboration: Commercial Collaboration. Read CISL’s report: Competing in the Age of Disruption. Find more at ellenmacarthurfoundation.org.

HolyGrail: see it, sort it, scale it

Scaling the circular economy demands more circular products and services, yet companies face common barriers. Commercial collaboration on non-competitive issues offers a powerful solution. This episode highlights how partnerships, like the HolyGrail initiative, have advanced plastic waste sorting through joint R&D, growing from 31 to 176 participants and demonstrating the power of cross-value chain cooperation.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity promoting a circular economy, champions such efforts. Learn more about this business-led partnership: HolyGrail 2.0, and explore the full commercial collaboration collection. Find more insights and subscribe at ellenmacarthurfoundation.org or YouTube.

Circular Snapshots: EU policy breakthrough

This podcast episode quickly reviews a busy summer for the circular economy. Topics include the EU's Extended Producer Responsibility for textiles, new retail business models, advocacy to scrap UK VAT on repairs, the urgency of critical minerals news, and updates from Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Geneva.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, promotes the circular economy – a system designed to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature.

Subscribe for more insightful videos on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQAC2otE5_agzHZPnk3mE5w?sub_confirmation=1). Find out more about our work and follow us on [Instagram](http://instagram.com/EllenMacArthurFoundation), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellen-macarthur-foundation/), or our [website](http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org).

The view in North America and Climate Week NYC

During Climate Week NYC, a podcast features Danielle Holly of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation discussing the circular economy's shift from theory to practice in North America. The episode covers progress in the US, Canada, and Mexico, highlighting its non-partisan nature, supply chain resilience, critical minerals, and business opportunities for leaders.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, promotes a circular economy that eliminates waste, circulates materials, and regenerates nature. For more, visit their [website](https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org), sign up for the [North America newsletter](https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/sign-up-to-our-north-america-newsletter), subscribe to their [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQAC2otE5_agzHZPnk3mE5w?sub_confirmation=1), and connect on [Instagram](http://instagram.com/EllenMacArthurFoundation) and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellen-macarthur-foundation/).

"89% of people WANT to live a sustainable lifestyle, 29% actually follow through"

The latest episode of the Circular Economy Show explores how businesses can market circular propositions in a changing world. Host Pippa speaks with Jonathan Hall, Managing Partner at Kantar’s Sustainable Transformation Practice, and Amanda Gandolfo, Head of Brands at bike subscription service Swapfiets, to tackle these marketing challenges and opportunities.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, develops and promotes the circular economy concept. This model, driven by design, aims to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature. Discover more about their work at www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org.

How do we make circular behaviours irresistible? #shorts

Discover how to make circular behaviors irresistible in this episode of the Circular Economy Show. Guests Georgie Rose (Selfridges) and Simon Davies (Visa) share insights from their behavioral lab, bridging the gap between customer intent and action. Watch the full discussion on this podcast.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an international charity that develops and promotes the circular economy concept: a system designed to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature.

Subscribe for more insightful videos on our YouTube channel. Learn more about our work at ellenmacarthurfoundation.org and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Are circular cities the key to future-proofing Europe?

Explore how a circular economy can future-proof European cities and create investment opportunities. In the third "Circling Back" episode of the Circular Economy Show, Lou Waldegrave speaks with Julia Okatz (Systemiq) and Joss Bleriot (Ellen MacArthur Foundation). They discuss how circular strategies integrate nature into urban environments, building resilience against extreme weather while generating significant economic, environmental, and social benefits. This approach offers a powerful, nature-positive way forward for cities facing climate stress.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, champions the circular economy—a design-driven model eliminating waste and regenerating nature. Discover more about circular cities and the Foundation's work on their website. Subscribe to their YouTube channel and follow them on Instagram and LinkedIn to support their mission.

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The Thinking Game | Full documentary | Tribeca Film Festival official selection

“The Thinking Game” is the inside story of DeepMind's groundbreaking AI research, culminating in the Nobel Prize-winning AlphaFold breakthrough. Filmed over five years by the award-winning team behind "AlphaGo," this documentary explores co-founder Demis Hassabis's lifelong pursuit of artificial general intelligence and the rigorous scientific journey from mastering strategy games to solving the 50-year-old protein folding problem.

Following its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival, "The Thinking Game" is now available to watch for free. For those interested in hosting a screening for a classroom, community, or workplace, visit: rocofilms.com/films/the-thinking-game/.

 

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The Thinking Game | Full documentary | Tribeca Film Festival official selection