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Special Collections:
The Circular Economy

The Circular Economy
A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion's future

Ellen MacArthur and Stella McCartney co-hosted the launch of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s report, "A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion's future." The report urges the fashion industry to adopt a new vision and foster cross-industry collaborations to achieve it.

The current "take-make-dispose" model causes significant environmental damage and economic loss. Every second, a garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned, resulting in an estimated USD 500 billion loss annually. By 2050, the industry could consume a quarter of the world's carbon budget. Additionally, it pollutes oceans with half a million tonnes of microfibres yearly, impacting food chains.

Ellen MacArthur Foundation Live Stream

2017 Summit Phil Brown

Relive the most impactful moments from the 2017 Summit.

Our curated highlights package offers a concise overview of the key discussions and presentations.

Watch all the essential recaps now.

Michael Pawlyn - NewDynamic2 - promo2

Explore the principles of biomimetic design in Michael Pawlyn's chapter, featured in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's latest publication: "A New Dynamic 2: Effective systems in a circular economy."

Order your copy of "A New Dynamic 2" here: tiny.cc/newdynamic2.

Learn more about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation: ellenmacarthurfoundation.org.

Hunter Lovins NewDynamic2 promo2

Hunter Lovins discusses soil and the circular economy in an engaging clip. Her insights are featured in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's latest publication, "A New Dynamic 2: Effective systems in a circular economy."

Order your copy of the book: tiny.cc/newdynamic2

Learn more about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation: www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org

ResCoM Overview

Discover ResCoM (Resource Conservative Manufacturing), a project developing an innovative methodology and software platform. Its aim is to implement closed-loop manufacturing systems within industry. Learn more at ResCoM website.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Programme for research, technological development, and demonstration under grant agreement No 603843.

The New Plastics Economy

The New Plastics Economy is a three-year initiative dedicated to building a functional plastics system.

Learn more about this project by visiting newplasticseconomy.org.

The animation was created by Simon Tibbs.

Schools & Colleges - Top 5 Skills to learn in the 21st Century

The Schools and Colleges team interviewed UWC SEA students in Singapore. Initially up-cycling plastic bags, their work evolved towards regenerative design. These students now share their top five essential 21st-century skills for schools.

Learn more about our schools program here. We also invite you to share your systems thinking or circular economy education story with us.

Schmidt MacArthur Fellowship: What we're looking for

The Schmidt MacArthur Fellowship invites postgraduate and graduate students interested in the circular economy to apply. The submission deadline is February 12.

Find out more and submit your application on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation website: ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/programmes/education/schmidt-macarthur-fellowship.

Schools & Colleges - Learning for a circular economy

Students from UWC SEA in Singapore, who evolved from up-cycling plastic bags to regenerative design, share their insights. They offer ideas on how schools and institutions can foster learning for the circular economy.

Discover more about our educational initiatives and contribute your own systems thinking or circular economy story. Visit the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Schools & Colleges program: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/programmes/education/schools-colleges.

Schools and Colleges - What is Circle

The Schools and Colleges team interviewed UWC SEA students in Singapore. These students evolved from up-cycling plastic bags to embracing regenerative design, ultimately establishing a circular consultancy. They share insights into their journey and the consultancy's mission.

Learn more about our work in schools: Ellen MacArthur Foundation - Schools & Colleges.

We invite you to share your systems thinking or circular economy education story with us.

Copy of Disruptive Innovation Festival official launch video 2014

Join us for DIF 2014.

Register for your free pass at thinkdif.co/me.

Update on Circular Economy by Ellen MacArthur Nov. 2015

Ellen MacArthur delivered a special presentation on the circular economy.

This occurred at the BSR Conference 2015, held in November 2015 in San Francisco, California.

Creating a circular economy: the challenges and opportunities for business

Climate change and increasing raw material scarcity demand a radical shift from traditional business models. A circular economy is essential.

Businesses are uniquely positioned to lead this transformation by controlling waste, utilizing cleaner energy sources, and collaborating with NGOs and governments.

This concept was highlighted in an article published on May 14, 2013, by The Guardian.

"Circular Economy" by Eco-Eye in Ireland

Hosted by Duncan Stewart, the 'Take, make, dispose' model describes our current linear economy: extracting raw materials, making products, then discarding them. This 20th-century consumerism has led to dwindling resources, overflowing waste, and significant environmental damage.

In contrast, the Circular Economy offers a progressive, efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative, mimicking nature by eliminating waste. The final Eco Eye series 12 program explores this model, showcasing Irish companies adopting it and featuring experts discussing its challenges and opportunities.

Economics of Circular Economy by Tim Jackson

Tim Jackson, the UK's first Professor of Sustainable Development, directs the Research group on Lifestyles, Values and Environment (RESOLVE) at the University of Surrey's Centre for Environmental Strategy.

This information was published on March 13, 2012.

End the Take, Make and Dispose Economy by Ken Webster

Ken Webster, Head of Learning at The Ellen MacArthur Foundation (UK), introduces the concept of a circular economy. This model is crucial given the depletion of cheap fossil fuels and key materials, alongside rising populations and growing anxieties concerning water resources, food production, and harmful wastes.

These challenges demand a fundamental rethinking of our production and consumption systems, rather than just patching them up. We must actively rethink, redesign, and build a positive future.

Get Loopy! by Steve Punt

Comedian Steve Punt, portraying a "mad professor," challenges conventional thinking and invites viewers to "Get Loopy."

This video, uploaded on September 1, 2010, explores the circular economy. Discover more at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

You can also follow the Ellen MacArthur Foundation on Twitter.

Launch of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2010

On September 2, 2010, Ellen MacArthur launched her new Foundation at the Science Museum in London. This renowned venue, a showcase of modern innovation, provided a fitting setting for the announcement.

The Foundation's mission is to advocate for a sustainable future, calling on people to 're-think, re-design, and build' it.

Ellen MacArthur on The Circular Economy

Ellen MacArthur explores how insights from living systems can help redesign our future, addressing challenges posed by finite materials and energy. Visit Ellen MacArthur's website for more information.

Discover more about the circular economy at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and follow them on Twitter.

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Environmental Scientist and Advocate
 

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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