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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

Plants instead of petroleum | DIF 2019
November 11, 2019

Waste and pollution are not accidents but consequences of design choices. By viewing waste as a design flaw, we can prevent its creation from the outset.

Our linear economy relies on non-renewable petroleum, making a circular system impossible. Plants, the origin of petroleum, offer a naturally abundant and renewable alternative.

Historically, converting complex plant material into petroleum-like molecules was challenging. However, researchers at EPFL in Switzerland have developed a method to fully valorize and utilize plants as a petroleum substitute.