Inside the Circle

Every year, large amounts of resources—from plastics and food to clothing and building materials—are produced then thrown away. As global populations grow and become richer, there will be an increased pressure on these already strained resources that underpin our society’s needs. What will a system that eliminates waste, circulates resources, and innovates within the confines of our planet look like? What kinds of technologies, policies, collaborations and human ingenuity will be needed to get us there?

Visit us at: https://impact.economist.com/sustainability/Inside-the-circle

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Episodes

Episode 4: Circular Cities

According to data from the World Bank, cities are home to 56% of the global population. However, the United Nations Environment Programme estimates that cities also contribute to 75% of global carbon emissions. Local and municipal governments play an important role in putting the circular economy into action. But what would a circular city look like, and how can city governments design, promote and support circular systems? Featuring: Liz Goodwin, chair at ReLondon and senior fellow and director...

Jun 22, 2022•35 min•Ep. 4

Episode 3: Circular Fashion

Though the fashion industry has doubled its production of clothing over the past 15 years, 75% of the clothes we purchase end up in landfills and less than 1% are being recycled into new clothing, according to research by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. How can clothes be designed to last longer, be reused, and be recycled into new clothes at their end of life? What are the shifts in business models, technologies and regulations needed to design the fashion industry in a more circular way? How c...

Jun 08, 2022•32 min•Ep. 3

Episode 2: Circular Food

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that the global food system accounts for about 30% of global carbon emissions. However, data from the United Nations Environment Programme suggest that a third of food continues to be lost or wasted every year. Policymakers, producers, processors, vendors and consumers all have a role to play—from devising policies that support greater stakeholder collaboration and encouraging more regenerative food production, to using produce that would o...

May 25, 2022•33 min•Ep. 2

Episode 1: Circular Plastics

So much plastic is designed to be single-use. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, over 300 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced every year. Moreover, a study by Pew Charitable Trusts highlights that plastic-related greenhouse-gas emissions are projected to account for around 19% of the global carbon budget by 2040. How can we develop innovative upstream solutions and design products and packaging that promote circular models of production, consumption and waste manageme...

May 12, 2022•33 min•Ep. 1

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