Ellen MacArthur Foundation

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, founded in 2010, is a global Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with the central goal of accelerating the transition to a circular economy. As a leading think tank in this field, the foundation has made it its mission to bring the principles of the circular economy to the forefront of decision-makers in business, government, and academia.

The mission of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is based on three fundamental approaches:

• Avoiding waste and pollution: By eliminating problematic or unnecessary materials and products.
• Reusing products and materials: By creating systems that promote the continual use and reuse of resources.
• Regenerating natural systems: By promoting practices that strengthen and regenerate natural ecosystems[2][4].

The foundation focuses on several key areas:

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation offers training and programs to develop the necessary skills and mindsets for the transition to a circular economy. This includes formal learning opportunities and resources for teachers and academics[4].

The foundation catalyzes innovative approaches in the circular economy and creates the conditions for these to be scaled. It works closely with businesses and governments to set ambitious goals and develop new solutions[4].

The Foundation provides robust evidence about the benefits and impacts of the transition to a circular economy. Through comprehensive research and analysis, the opportunities and challenges of the circular economy are examined in detail[4].

The foundation conducts global, cross-sector programs to overcome systemic barriers. Among the most well-known initiatives are the "New Plastics Economy" and "Make Fashion Circular" programs, which aim to eliminate plastic pollution and make the fashion industry more sustainable[4][5].

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation engages in global public relations to raise awareness of the circular economy and gain broad support[4].

The foundation has several specific goals and initiatives that support its mission:

• Global Commitment: A global commitment that includes the elimination of problematic plastics, the innovation of reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastics, and the circularity of all plastic items[5].
• Circular Economy 100 (CE100): A three-year program aimed at establishing a global network of 100 companies to support the development of circular economy projects and achieve an economic benefit of over 10 billion USD[1].
• Make Fashion Circular: A program aimed at making the fashion industry more sustainable by promoting new business models and designs that enable the continual use and reuse of clothing[4].

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works closely with a variety of stakeholders, including leading companies, governments, international institutions, universities, and other NGOs. This network enables knowledge sharing, overcoming common challenges, and developing innovative solutions[3][4].

Through its comprehensive efforts and initiatives, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has established itself as a central driver for the transformation towards a circular economy and sets standards for a sustainable and future-proof economy.

• 1 - https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/die-ellen-macarthur-foundation-grundet-weltweites-unternehmensbundnis-circular-economy-100-190164841.html
• 2 - https://bp-consultants.de/starker-treiber-ngo-die-ellen-macarthur-foundation-2/
• 3 - https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/about-us/how-we-work
• 4 - https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/about-us/what-we-do
• 5 - https://iml.mcclabel.com/de/nachhaltigkeit/collaborate/ellen-macarthur-foundation