The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works across four areas to accelerate the transition to a circular economy: insight and analysis, education and training, business and policy, and communications and publishing. It draws inspiration from past thinkers in related fields like Walter Stahel, McDonough and Braungart, Amory and Hunter Lovins, and Thomas Graedel. The Foundation sees a world of dynamic non-linear systems and believes that economics should reflect science. Its vision includes keeping components and materials in closed loops, renewing rather than depleting resources, and celebrating diversity as a source of innovation and resilience.

1. Global Partners of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation:
CSW October 2015
Ken Webster

2. THE ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works across four areas, with the aim of
accelerating the transition towards a circular economy:
INSIGHT &
ANALYSIS
EDUCATIO
N &
TRAINING
Catalysing circular
activities across the
global economy
Inspiring learners to
re-think the future
through the circular
economy framework
Providing robust
evidence about the
benefits of the circular
economy transition
BUSINESS
& POLICY
COMMUNICATIONS
& PUBLISHING
Developing the conceptual
framework and celebrating
best practice

8. Performance Economy – Walter Stahel
Cradle to Cradle – McDonough and Braungart
Natural Capitalism – Amory and Hunter Lovins
Industrial Ecology – Thomas Graedel
Biomimicry– Janine Benyus

10. ON A PAGE…
• worldviews matter – how we think and learn
• science sees a world of dynamic non-linear systems
• economics reflects the science (?!)
• everything is food (two cycles – technical and biological)
• shift to renewables
• shift from selling goods to services/performance
• rebuild/maintain capital to increase useful flows (upcycle)
• celebrate diversity –key to innovation and resilience
celebrate diversity (a source of creativity and resilience)
• prices to reflect full costs to assist markets (e.g. tax non
renewables not people)
• money and finance are endogenous variables (money
mostly a med. of exchange)

11. REGENERATE SHARE OPTIMISE LOOP VIRTUALISE EXCHANGE
Regenerate and
restore natural capital
Maximise product
utilisation
Optimise system
performance
Keep components
and materials in
closed loops and
prioritise inner loops
Deliver utility virtually Select resource
input wisely
Renewable energy Residential sharing Industrial processes Durability and
modularity
Remanufacturing
Piece-by-piece
demolition
Material banks and
stock management
Tele-working
Virtualisation
of products or
processes
Better-performing,
materials
Better-performing,
technologiesLand restoration
Resources recovery
and renewables
production system
Parking sharing
Appliances/
tools sharing
Co-housing
Office-sharing and
flexible seating
Recycle
Smart urban design
Energy efficiency
Passive design Smart homes, big
data, and connected
appliances
3D printing
SIX ACTIONS TO TRANSFORM THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Source: Company interviews; Web search. S. Heck and M. Rogers, Resource revolution: How to capture the biggest business opportunity in a c entury, 20 14.

15. BE PART OF
DIF 2015
REGISTER AT:
THINKDIF.CO
• PARTICIPATE FROM
WHEREVER YOU ARE
• SHARE YOUR INSIGHTS
AND SHOWCASE YOUR
INNOVATIONS
• DISCOVER THE LATEST
DISRUPTIVE INNOVATIONS
• SPREAD INNOVATIVE IDEAS
• A 3-week, global, online festival
• An abundance of opportunities to explore the
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I need to know, experience and do?”
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