Upstream innovation in a circular economy means tackling problems at their root to prevent waste. For instance, shifting just 20% of plastic packaging from single-use to reuse presents a $10 billion opportunity, benefiting both the environment and the economy.

Highlights from a recent episode featured Apeel, which extends food life without single-use plastic, and Enviu, which shared reuse business models tackling plastic pollution at its source in Indonesia.

Discover over 100 solutions in our Upstream Innovation Guide. Watch the full episode or explore more episodes of The Circular Economy Show.

Just as you'd stop a flood's source before mopping, tackling problems "upstream" means addressing their root cause. In a circular economy, upstream innovation prevents issues like waste from ever occurring.

This approach offers significant benefits. For instance, shifting 20% of plastic packaging to reuse represents a $10 billion opportunity, benefiting both the environment and economy.

Explore cutting-edge upstream innovations combating plastic pollution. We'll feature Apeel, extending produce life without single-use plastic, and Enviu, sharing reuse projects from Indonesia to the Netherlands.

Our food system, from farm to plate, is crucial in addressing climate change. While traditional farming has met growing global demand, it often yields less nutritious food. The question arises: can we cultivate food regeneratively to provide more valuable nutrients? A recent episode, streamed March 16th, explored this, featuring insights on permaculture, policy's role in São Paulo's circular food economy, and how major businesses are implementing regenerative practices.

Watch the full episode here: YouTube. Explore more about food and the circular economy: Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Find additional episodes of The Circular Economy Show: Episodes. Learn more about our work: Our Work.

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Our food system significantly impacts climate change. Historically, extractive farming has met global demand but often resulted in less nutritious food. This raises a crucial question: can regenerative and restorative practices provide more valuable nutrients while sequestering carbon and restoring soil health?

This episode explores regenerative food sourcing. We'll hear from Sheena Shah (Harvesting for Good East Africa) on practices in East Africa, Nicole Gobeth (Connect the Dots) on policy and São Paulo's circular food economy, and Danone on how large businesses are ensuring regenerative food production.

This session focuses on solutions for plastic packaging. On November 19th, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation released "Upstream Innovation - a guide to packaging solutions." This practical guide offers tips, decision frameworks, and 110 case studies to help organizations achieve their circular economy targets for packaging.

A suite of additional assets, including workshop templates, slide decks, videos, and a case study database, accompanies the guide. Join this open session to learn more about these solutions, understand how to get started, and receive an exclusive tour of the developed resources.

By 2025, an estimated 160 million designers will shape our world. As the circular economy gains momentum, designers are rethinking product creation. However, significant innovation and pioneers are still needed to scale this transition.

A recent episode, streamed on March 2nd, featured Lay Koon Tan and Katie Treggiden, who discussed circular design opportunities and challenges, highlighting design's crucial role. Explore the full episode, learn more about circular design, and find additional resources and episodes from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

As the circular economy gains momentum, designers and innovators are rethinking how products are made and used. However, significant innovation is still needed to scale this transition, with many solutions yet to be established.

This episode will explore the opportunities and challenges in circular design, examining what the journey towards its full implementation looks like. Powered by Restream.

The circular economy is gaining traction in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), prompting eight institutions to launch the LAC Circular Economy Coalition. This initiative supports countries and fosters multi-stakeholder collaboration.

A recent panel discussion, streamed live on February 16th, featured coalition representatives including Adriana Zacarias Farah (UNEP), Rose Mwebaza (CTCN), Luisa Santiago (Ellen MacArthur Foundation), and Rolando Castro (MINAE Costa Rica).

For more information, watch the full episode, explore the LAC Coalition, or discover other episodes of The Circular Economy Show and our work.

Our five Universal circular economy policy goals offer governments a path to resilient post-COVID recovery and solutions for global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. These goals were central to a live panel discussion on February 2nd, moderated by Eline Schaart (POLITICO Europe) and featuring Steven Schonberger (World Bank), Roberta Dessi (Inter IKEA Group), and Miranda Schnitger (Ellen MacArthur Foundation). The panel emphasized the importance of aligning sub-national, national, and international policies to scale the circular transition.

Watch the full episode and learn more about the Five Universal circular economy policy goals. Explore more Circular Economy Show episodes and our broader work.

The circular economy is gaining significant momentum across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), with governments actively developing related policies. In response, eight institutions have launched the LAC Circular Economy Coalition to support countries and foster multi-stakeholder collaboration.

This episode features a discussion with strategic partners: Adriana Zacarias Farah (UNEP), Rose Mwebaza (CTCN), Luisa Santiago (Ellen MacArthur Foundation), and Rolando Castro (Vice Minister, MINAE, Costa Rica).

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Our five new Universal circular economy policy goals empower governments to achieve a resilient COVID-19 recovery. These goals offer solutions to critical global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

This discussion panel, moderated by Eline Schaart (POLITICO Europe), features Steven Schonberger (World Bank), Roberta Dessi (Inter IKEA Group), and Miranda Schnitger (Ellen MacArthur Foundation). They will explore the importance of aligning sub-national, national, and international policies to scale the circular economy transition.

São Paulo, a diverse megacity, exemplifies a circular food economy. The City Hall supports farmers in adopting regenerative agriculture and accessing markets. This initiative ensures healthy, fresh food for local markets and restaurants.

Family farmers in peri-urban areas gain new opportunities, improving their quality of life. Additionally, inedible by-products and bio-waste are composted locally, returning vital nutrients to the soil. This comprehensive approach benefits everyone involved.

This session delves into financing and measuring the circular economy. Discover how it drives new growth, achieves climate and ESG goals, and how its financing market has rapidly expanded across asset classes. We will also explore methods for measuring circularity performance to inform decision-making for both business leaders and financiers.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a UK charity, accelerates the transition to a circular economy through business initiatives, learning, insights & analysis, and communications. Learn more about our work: www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org.

Current challenges demand new economic thinking that balances people's wellbeing, planetary boundaries, and a thriving economy. Kate Raworth, author of *Doughnut Economics*, will discuss her framework's role in shaping circular economy policies and business practices at the city level.

Globally, cities and countries, from Europe to Costa Rica, are adopting Doughnut Economics. The Doughnut Economics Action Lab further supports cities like Amsterdam in developing their "Doughnut City Portraits." This full 40-minute conversation with Kate Raworth is a bonus, following its original segment on our "Explore the Circular Economy" show.

Upstream innovation prevents waste by rethinking products, packaging, and business models. It shifts focus from minor improvements to fundamentally redesigning how products and services are delivered.

The Upstream Innovation guide offers packaging solutions for marketers, designers, and engineers, from novices to experts in the circular economy. It provides tools and over 100 examples to inspire action towards a circular economy for plastic, keeping it in use and out of the environment.

Explore the guide: plastics.emf.org/upstream

Current resource flow analysis in African cities often overlooks the vital informal sector, a critical component for urban resilience and security. The Covid-19 pandemic further highlighted existing challenges for this sector, impacting access to food, transport, and infrastructure.

To achieve urban resilience and ensure food, water, and energy security, we need analytical methods that reveal these hidden resource flows. Join experts from ICLEI Africa to explore how photography and storytelling can complement quantitative data, offering a comprehensive understanding of urban livelihoods and infrastructure. This episode is powered by Restream.

Upstream innovation is essential for a circular economy, focusing on preventing waste from being created initially. This requires rethinking product design, packaging, and broader business models to ensure materials remain in circulation.

Our latest guide supports marketers, designers, and engineers—from novices to experts—in this shift. It provides tools and over 100 examples to inspire action towards a circular economy for plastic, keeping it within the economy and out of the environment. Explore the guide here.

Material circulation ensures materials remain in use when packaging elimination or item reuse isn't feasible. It's about keeping resources "at work" within the economy.

Discover more innovative solutions in our #upstreaminnovation guide: https://plastics.emf.org/upstream

This video explores solutions to plastic pollution, focusing on elimination strategies. Stay tuned for our full video on this topic.

In the meantime, delve into our #UpstreamInnovation guide: https://plastics.emf.org/upstream. This resource promotes a circular economy and aims to stop plastic pollution.

Upstream innovation prevents waste by proactively rethinking products, packaging, and business models. This approach moves beyond incremental improvements, focusing instead on eliminating unnecessary elements from the outset.

Our new guide supports marketers, designers, and engineers in adopting this mindset. It provides tools and over 100 examples to inspire action towards a circular economy for plastic, ensuring it remains in the economy and out of the environment. Explore the guide here.