We envision an economic system that ensures the planet and all people can thrive
Everything we do at Circle Economy Foundation is guided by the vision: an economic system that ensures the planet and all people can thrive. We are a global impact organisation founded in 2011, and to date have worked with over 80+ businesses, 31+ cities and 20+ nations around the world.
Our practical and scalable approach is focused on empowering decision-makers from the public and private sectors to develop and implement circular economy strategies and business models. We do this by combining research, data, and digital tools for the greater good.
Explore funding opportunities to help make the circular economy a reality.
Our world's resource consumption has tripled in the last 50 years: we now consume more than 100 billion tonnes each year. Our Circularity Gap Report 2021 highlighted that only 8.6% of these resources are cycled—or reused—and 70% of greenhouse gasses are directly linked to the extraction, handling and consumption of materials. In other words, our out-of-control consumption patterns and systems are directly linked to the current climate crisis.
The circular economy offers solutions to drastically reduce material-related emissions, as well as to address other systemic flaws from biodiversity loss to global inequality.
Photo credit: Abir Abdullah / Climate Visuals Countdown
Our approach
A circular economy that is understandable, relevant and actionable.
The 'why' of the circular economy is clear — but the 'how' remains largely unknown. When implementing the circular economy, key actors can struggle to find and unite the right partners, uncover the data and tools needed to identify and apply circular strategies, and measure progress. They lack the evidence needed to convince key stakeholders that the circular economy is the right way to go — and may have limited resources to drive action even once they have committed. Overall, our dominant linear systems—legal, cultural, financial or technological — hinder efforts to bring about change.
Circle Economy Foundation works to overcome these barriers. We use hard data and facts to create roadmaps for action and inform decision making. We build digital products that can be tailored to specific contexts, making the circular economy understandable and actionable. And we do this across crucial topics and impact sectors.
Our values
COURAGE
Courage provides us the stamina and drive to live our values and work toward transformational change in the easy and hard times.
Transformation
In delivering impact, we aim to spur a global transformation of systems where all people and living beings can thrive within the safe limits of our planet.
collaboration
Global systems are highly interdependent and interconnected: we champion a systemic approach that actively rejects working in silos.
belonging
The Circle Economy Foundation is where you will find your people, common ground and diverse perspectives—a place to be your true self.
Circle Economy Foundation’s Code of Ethics acts as the organisation’s constitution. Its purpose is to provide wide-ranging and non-specific guidance to influence decision-making, enable employees to make appropriate decisions and engage in acceptable behaviour that supports our mission.
Equality of opportunity is an integral value to Circle Economy Foundation to ensure fair access and equity for all of its employees. That is why Circle Economy Foundation does not tolerate any discrimination based on gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality and ethnicity.
An economic system that ensures the planet and all people can thrive.
Circle Economy Foundation is an international team of 60+ experts from data, digital, industrial ecology, sociology and economics backgrounds aiming to drive a circular transition that delivers environmental, economic and social benefits.
Founder and Board Chairman of Circle Economy Foundation, Board Member of PACE, ‘Going Circular’ Executive Producer, Former Board Chairman of African Parks
andrienne
darenberg
Executive in Residence at the Oxford Said Business School, Board Member of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and Trustee of The EUROPAEUM
prof. dr.
louise E.M. VET
Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Ecology, Wageningen University, former Director of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW)
lorenzo
grabau
Technology Investor, Executive Director at Olympia Group, and Senior Advisor at Perella Weinberg and K Group, former CEO of Kinnevik, Global Fashion Group, Rocket Internet and Lazada, Board Member of Millicom, Tele2 and Zalando
Jules
Kortenhorst
Former CEO of Rocky Mountain Insitute, Chair of the WEF Global Future Council, former founding CEO of the European Climate Foundation and founding member of the global Energy Transitions Commission
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