About us

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We’re a charity committed to creating a circular economy, which is designed to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. It’s an economic system that delivers better outcomes for people, and the environment.

We develop and promote the idea of a circular economy

We are a non-profit organisation that creates evidence-based original research on the benefits of a 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., and how it can contribute to solving global challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss. As an NGO, we explore the opportunities across stakeholders and sectors, and highlight examples of how circular economy principles are being put into practice today.

We support organisations and individuals with formal learning opportunities through our circular economy courses, and create resources for teachers and academics.

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Circular economy introduction

A circular economy eliminates waste, circulates products and materials, and regenerates nature.

  • Circular economy explained

We engage key actors

To achieve the transition to a circular economy, we need to engage all parts of the system. This is why we work with businesses, international institutions, governments, cities, universities, non-governmental organisations, innovators, and many others.

We create resources, publications and tools that help set effective policies, find new ways to do business and design better products.

Our Network brings together industry leading corporations, emerging innovators, affiliate networks, government authorities, regions, cities and more. The goal is to build circular economy capacity, address common barriers to progress, understand the necessary enabling conditions, and pilot circular economy practices.

Members of our Network can:

  • have open discussions with counterparts they’d never normally speak to, including competitors and emerging innovators

  • share experiences and learn from others who are trying to implement the circular economy

  • stretch their thinking and push their innovation further and faster

  • raise their level of ambition by understanding more clearly what's possible, what the opportunities are, and what others are doing

We mobilise systems solutions

To tackle some of our biggest global challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss, we’ll need to create a systemic shift in the way we produce and use products and food, across sectors and industries at a large scale.

To demonstrate what’s possible, we’ve concentrated our work on areas where shifting to a circular economy can have the biggest impact. We currently focus on:

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Cities and the circular economy

This topic area looks at the role cities play in the transition to a circular economy.

  • Cities
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Fashion and the circular economy

This topic area explores how the circular economy works for the fashion industry.

  • Fashion
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Finance and the circular economy

This topic area looks at the role of the financial sector in the shift to a circular economy.

  • Finance
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Food and the circular economy

This topic area shows how moving to a circular economy for food will help people and nature thrive.

  • Food
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Plastics and the circular economy

This topic area shows how the circular economy can help keep plastic in the economy and out of the...

  • Plastics

Further info and media enquiries

For a detailed look at our work, see our Annual Impact Report and Consolidated Accounts for September 2022 to August 2023.

For all press enquiries including logo usage requests and use of our research and content, please see our media centre.

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