Ep 204: Circular Snapshots | COP30 and progress in the circular economy

[00:00:00.160] - Seb

In this episode, I want to point towards hope and possibility. It might be difficult to feel that when reading or listening to most of the headlines in the news today, but I really believe that when you tune into what's happening, it shows something very important. Transformation is possible. It is absolutely not inevitable yet, but it is possible, and that potential can only be fuelled by focusing on transforming how the underlying economy works. This is at the heart of the shift from linear to circular.

[00:00:38.180] - Seb

Welcome to the Circular Economy Show, and welcome to another episode of Circular Snapshots, where we point you in the direction of some relevant news and give you our point of view on it. I'm your host, Seb. In today's episode, does COP still matter? If so, for what? Why Honda's circularity centre in Ohio is an important step. What we learned from Patagonia's first ever Environmental and Social Progress Report, and why many of the world's biggest brands are backing a new agenda for plastics. Let's begin.

[00:01:22.720] - Seb

COP30 is taking place right now in Belém, Brazil, creating, amongst other things, hundreds of stories questioning the value and impact of the COP process itself. Of course, progress can never be fast enough. Personally, I was inspired by Christiana Figueres's passionate defence of the process, where she points out that before the Paris Agreement at COP21, the world was on course for 4 degrees of warming, which has now been revised down to 2.5 degrees. This is the direct result of policy, investment, and business innovation, and it shows that progress is possible.

[00:02:04.760] - Seb

Of course, there's still a lot to do. As Figueres herself says, Paris +10 or COP30 must both be a celebration and a reckoning. Crucially, that leadership in this next phase is coming from the global south, just as much as it's coming from Europe and North America.

[00:02:24.660] - Seb

COP30 is also the first COP to have a thematic day focused on the circular economy. This is more than symbolic. It signals that eliminating waste, keeping products in circulation, and regenerating nature are seen as central to climate action. Businesses that embed circular thinking into their models are effectively reducing emissions and cutting costs simultaneously. This really is a critical frontier, especially when taking into account the critical mineral pressures created by the renewable energy transition and AI technology boom. These conversations need to be joined up. So read Circular Online's piece for more on some of the topics covered on that thematic day.

[00:03:13.820] - Seb

Evidence for this wider shift is already obvious, as made clear by two recent pieces in Trellis. First, they cover Honda opening up a circularity centre in Ohio. The facility is thought to be the first dedicated carmaker effort to recycle factory tools, equipment, and furniture. By reusing steel, aluminium, copper, and plastics, Honda aims to cut costs, reduce landfill waste, and strengthen domestic supply chains. The move shows automakers betting on circular supply chains for financial and climate benefits.

[00:03:51.600] - Seb

In a second piece, Trellis reported on Patagonia's first comprehensive environmental report. In many ways, the company is a leader in terms of ambitions and commitments, but their report highlights the challenges they face, especially when it comes to reducing emissions in their supply chain. It shows that raw materials and finished goods manufacturing contribute 92% of the outdoor goods and apparel maker's carbon footprint. Essentially, this comes down to how their goods are designed, made, used, and then recirculated.

[00:04:32.120] - Seb

Circular economy strategies are the only way to tackle this part of the challenge in a way that also pairs with the imperative of economic competitiveness. The conversation has moved forward, and it's clear that implementation will require collaborative action across industry and a shift in the underlying economic conditions. However, the role of individual businesses ambition and transparency to lead the way is still critical.

[00:05:06.940] - Seb

Finally, inspiration might be found on the topic of plastic pollution, where coordinated business action working to inform policy and investment continues to drive an ambitious agenda. A new piece by Reuters highlights how the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's 2030 Plastics Agenda for Business provides priority actions for business to stimulate market transformation and tackle plastic pollution. Furthermore, the importance of this in a context where many businesses are pulling back from targets.

[00:05:42.740] - Seb

In the case of plastics, businesses have experienced the value of being ahead of the curve and are showing leadership to continue to engage. This offers a compelling model for what an implementation agenda can and should look like.

[00:06:00.000] - Seb

That's it for this episode of Circular Snapshots. We hope you enjoyed this episode, and hopefully I've convinced you that from climate technologies to cars, to fashion, to plastics, it's proven that progress is possible. What will it take to make implementation at scale inevitable? Well, that's exactly what we'll be exploring on this podcast throughout 2026.

[00:06:24.020] - Seb

Thanks for listening. Please subscribe if you haven't already and share with your friends and colleagues. Bye for now.