The Ellen MacArthur Foundation
| File:Ellen MacArthur Foundation Logo.png | |
| Founded | 2 September 2010 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Ellen MacArthur |
| Type | Registered Charity (CIO) |
| Focus | Circular economy, Sustainability, Climate change, Plastic pollution |
| Location | |
Area served | Global |
Key people | Ellen MacArthur (Chair of Trustees) Jonquil Hackenberg (CEO) |
| Website | www |
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a UK-registered international charity that promotes the circular economy. Founded in 2010 by Dame Ellen MacArthur, the organization works with global businesses, governments, and academia to build a framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design.
The Foundation is widely recognized as the leading global authority on the circular economy, advocating for a transition away from the linear "take-make-waste" industrial model.[1]
History and mission
The Foundation was launched on 2 September 2010 by Ellen MacArthur following her retirement from professional sailing. MacArthur stated that her experiences at sea—carrying finite supplies for months—gave her a unique understanding of resource constraints, which inspired her to explore economic alternatives to the linear consumption model.[2]
The Foundation’s stated mission is to "accelerate the transition to a circular economy." It defines this economy based on three core principles:[3]
- Eliminate waste and pollution.
- Circulate products and materials (at their highest value).
- Regenerate nature.
Key initiatives
The New Plastics Economy
Launched in 2016, this initiative aims to apply circular economy principles to global plastic packaging flows.
- Global Commitment (2018): In collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Foundation launched the Global Commitment, uniting over 1,000 organizations behind a common vision to stop plastic waste. Signatories included major FMCG companies (e.g., Nestlé, Coca-Cola), governments, and NGOs.[4]
- 2025 Targets & Missed Goals: The initial goal was for signatories to ensure 100% of plastic packaging was reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025. In late 2025, the Foundation's progress report acknowledged that while significant virgin plastic use was avoided, most aggregate 2025 targets would be missed due to systemic barriers and a lack of infrastructure.[5]
- 2030 Plastics Agenda: In November 2025, the Foundation launched the 2030 Plastics Agenda for Business. This updated roadmap shifts focus toward mandatory policy frameworks (such as the UN Global Plastics Treaty), scaling reuse models, and addressing flexible packaging waste.[6]
Make Fashion Circular
Originally launched as the "Circular Fibres Initiative" in 2017, this program works to redesign the fashion industry. Key projects include The Jeans Redesign, which set guidelines for durability, material health, and recyclability. By 2023, the guidelines had been adopted by major brands to produce denim that can be easily recycled.[7]
The Big Food Redesign
This initiative challenges the food industry to design food products that regenerate nature. In 2024–2025, the Foundation focused on scaling "circular design for food," encouraging brands to use diverse, lower-impact ingredients (e.g., diverse crops, upcycled byproducts) rather than sourcing from monocultures.[8]
Finance and climate
The Foundation actively researches the link between the circular economy and climate change, arguing that renewable energy can only address 55% of global emissions, while the remaining 45% must be tackled by changing how products are made and used.[9] They work with asset managers and banks, such as BlackRock and Intesa Sanpaolo, to mobilize capital toward circular business models.
Global network
The Foundation operates a tiered membership network comprising "Strategic Partners," "Partners," and "Members."
- Strategic Partners: Includes global corporations such as Gucci, H&M Group, Unilever, Google, and Visa.[10]
- Policy & Academia: The Foundation advises governments (including the European Commission and the Chinese government) and collaborates with universities (e.g., Arizona State University) to integrate circular economy concepts into curriculum and policy.[11]
Selected publications
- Towards the Circular Economy (Vol. 1–3) (2012–2014)
- The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the future of plastics (2016)
- Completing the Picture: How the Circular Economy Tackles Climate Change (2019)
- The Big Food Redesign (2021)
- The Global Commitment 2025 Progress Report (2025)[12]
References
- ↑ Swallow, Tom (2024-02-19). "Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Influence on Circular Economy". Sustainability Magazine. Retrieved 2026-01-13.
- ↑ MacArthur, Ellen (2010). Full Circle. Michael Joseph. ISBN 978-0718155179. Search this book on
- ↑ "Concept: The Circular Economy". Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Retrieved 2026-01-13.
- ↑ "New Plastics Economy Global Commitment". UN Environment Programme. 2018.
- ↑ "Major brands set to miss 2025 plastic waste goals, report finds". Reuters. 2025-11-05. Retrieved 2026-01-13.
- ↑ "Businesses back 2030 agenda to drive change in plastics system" (Press release). Ellen MacArthur Foundation. 2025-11-20. Retrieved 2026-01-13.
- ↑ "How the Jeans Redesign changed denim production". Vogue Business. 2023-07-15.
- ↑ "Designing Food for Nature: The Big Food Redesign". Forbes. 2024-05-12.
- ↑ Completing the Picture: How the Circular Economy Tackles Climate Change (Report). Ellen MacArthur Foundation. 2019.
- ↑ "Our Network". Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Retrieved 2026-01-13.
- ↑ "Circular Economy Cooperation: EU and China perspectives". China Daily. 2024-03-20.
- ↑ Global Commitment 2025 Progress Report (Report). Ellen MacArthur Foundation. 2025.
External links
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