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The Circular Economy

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The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an independent charity with the aim of inspiring a generation to re-think, re-design & build a positive future through the vision of a circular economy. Ellen MacArthur founded the Foundation to better understand how on land too we rely on finite resources in the form of materials, energy and water after her experiences as a world class sailor having sailed over 26,000 miles to become the fastest person to circumnavigate the globe single-handed.

The Circular Economy 100 is a global platform bringing together leading companies, emerging innovators and regions to accelerate the transition to a circular economy over a 1000-day (3 year) period. The Annual Summit was held Wednesday 19 June 2013.

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Curated by earthsayer

November 09, 2026

After returning your phone, a staggering 96% of critical minerals in North America’s devices are either exported or end up in landfills, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's report, β€˜Missing signal: Unlocking a circular economy for mobile phones in North America.’ Authors Sean Jones and Xain Storey discuss the breakdown in the recycling chain and the importance of design, repair, and policy in addressing this issue, especially as AI increases demand for minerals like copper and cobalt.

Join the conversation on how a circular economy can mitigate this demand and explore topics such as the right to repair, the challenges of recycling phones, and innovative design solutions. For more insights, subscribe to The Ellen MacArthur Foundation on YouTube: YouTube Channel.


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