The Circular Economy Show Podcast

When talking about the circular economy, we often hear about science, engineering and policy. But what about the role of the creative industries? What part does advertising, branding and marketing play in transitioning from a wasteful linear economy, to a circular one?

In this episode we'll hear from Farah Ramzan Golant, president of Kyu, a collective of creative organisations including IDEO, Sid Lee and Kepler; and Chris Riley, founder of Studio Riley, and former head of strategic planning at Apple.

Chris and Farah spoke to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Circular Design Programme Lead, Joe Iles, at Summit 2020, about why people are ready for businesses to go circular.

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Design is at the forefront of the transition from a linear economy to a circular one. But how can communication assist this change?

In this episode Laura Franco Henao hears from two guests working in this space, looking at the business opportunities available as a result of circular design and also the power of social media in catalysing change.

Rebecca Garner is Circularity Partner at ASOS, who talks us through the circular journey of ASOS, including their Circular Design Guidebook. Laura's also joined by Marina Testino, Creative Director and Artivist at Point Off View, Inc, taking a look at some of Marina's iconic campaigns, such as #OneDressToImpress and #YellowLikeALemon.

Our two guests are both contributors to the Circular Design for Fashion book, launched by The Ellen MacArthur Foundation towards the end of 2021. Find out more about the book at https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/the-circular-design-for-fashion-book.

Please note that this episode contains explicit language.

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Discover more about the work of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

In this episode, we’ll hear how innovation is key to transitioning from a take, make, waste linear economy, to a circular economy where, through design, we can eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature.

During the recent COP26 UN Climate Change Conference, the Foundation’s Emerging Innovators Manager, Ella Hedley, hosted an innovation session showing how disruptive start-ups around the world are demonstrating viable circular economy business models.

Ella spoke with Josephine Philips, Founder and CEO of clothing alterations and repair app Sojo, and John Atcheson, Founder and CEO of Sellalong, which works with retailers to keep products and materials in use.

We’ll also hear from Morgan Stanley’s Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer, Audrey Choi, Infinited Fiber Company’s CEO, Petri Alava, and Zalando’s Head of Circularity, Laura Coppen.

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Watch highlights from this session at the New York Times Climate Hub, held alongside COP26.

Explore more circular economy examples and case studies

Find out more about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Discover more about the companies featured in this episode:

• Infinited Fiber Company
• Morgan Stanley
• Sellalong
• Sojo
• Zalando

What do you do when something you own, say a toaster, breaks? You’ve usually got two options: fix it, or replace it. It often feels like replacing an item is easier than repairing it, and the most cost-effective solution. But in a circular economy, we want goods and materials to stay in circulation at high value for as long as possible. So how does that work in reality?

In this new series, Colin Webster from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation explores individual elements of the circular economy.

In this episode, he’s joined by Dr Conny Bakker, Professor of Design Methodology for Sustainability and Circular Economy at TU Delft, and Josephine Philips, the founder and CEO of Sojo, a UK-based third party clothing repair service, to discuss the role of repair.

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Useful links:

Learn more about the EU’s Right to Repair legislation

Find out more about Conny Bakker’s work

Discover more about Sojo

Read more about how circulating products and materials contributes to a circular economy

Listen to all episodes of the Circular Economy Show Podcast

Visit the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s website

In the last episode of our series sharing some of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's most popular articles, we explore the world of reuse and repair. Travelling to the African continent, we find out how people and businesses have been embracing strategies to maximize material use for a long time

Reuse and repair are critical aspects of a circular economy, but despite clear benefits, they've yet to gain a foothold in the Global North. Whilst greater awareness and new legislation are beginning to shift the needle, driving better use of products and materials in the North, African companies have long been applying creative and innovative approaches to maximise material usage. So what can be learnt?

Read the full article