The Ellen MacArthur Foundation will work with Clean Rivers – a UAE-based foundation and affiliate of Erth Zayed Philanthropies – to tackle waste and pollution and regenerate freshwater ecosystems. Together, they will look at how to stimulate the development of effective collection and recycling infrastructure in various countries, with an initial focus on Brazil. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s team, based out of the Brazil office, will continue to work with local organisations as they have done across Latin America for the past decade.
With an initial focus on plastic waste, this project will form part of the Foundation’s Plastics Mission. Addressing plastic pollution begins with reducing plastic use, redesigning products and systems, and promoting reusereuseThe repeated use of a product or component for its intended purpose without significant modification. to minimise waste generation in the first place. At the same time, strengthening collection and recycling infrastructure remains crucial to manage the remaining materials and prevent them from leaking into nature.
A significant gap exists in waste management infrastructure across many regions worldwide, leaving an estimated two billion people with few options beyond dumping or openly burning waste. As a result, rivers are turning into major pathways for pollution, transporting waste to coasts and oceans and causing widespread impacts on communities, ecosystems and economies.
Leading businesses, governments, millions of waste pickers, and various third sector initiatives are already taking action to tackle this problem.
This new partnership aims to build on these efforts by designing a strategic intervention that can attract multiple sources of voluntary investment and create a long-term, sustainable funding model that can be replicated and scaled in other markets.
The new collaboration was announced during New York Climate Week by the Foundation’s CEO, Jonquil Hackenberg, and Clean Rivers’ CEO, Deborah Backus.
“Over the past decade, our work has shown how inadequate infrastructure is one of the key systemic barriers to tackling waste and pollution globally and achieving a truly circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature.. Solving this challenge requires bold, coordinated action across sectors. Together with Clean Rivers, we are exploring ways to develop a practical, investment-ready roadmap to scale effective waste systems in Brazil – one that we hope can be replicated and inform solutions in other key regions.”
Jonquil Hackenberg, CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
“Clean Rivers and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation share a vision where pollution is eliminated, resources are circulated and freshwater systems are regenerated. Today, rivers have become conduits for waste pollution from land to sea, impacting people and ecosystems globally. This partnership seeks to address this challenge by developing a scalable, investable model in Brazil that addresses waste infrastructure while restoring freshwater quality, demonstrating how circular economy principles can deliver environment, social and economic benefits."
Deborah Backus, CEO of Clean Rivers
