The Ellen MacArthur Foundation Circular Economy 100 programme launched in USA
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation announced on February 24, 2016 the creation of a U.S. chapter of its Circular Economy 100 (CE100) programme, which brings together leading organisations with the objective of innovating, developing and implementing circular economy opportunities. The announcement was made by Ellen MacArthur when speaking at GreenBiz 16 in Phoenix, Arizona
In contrast to today’s linear ‘take, make, dispose’ model, the circular economy aims to increasingly decouple production from the consumption of finite resources. Such a system puts emphasis on keeping products and materials at their highest value and utility at all times. The circular economy concept is gaining growing attention in the U.S. thanks to the opportunities it offers businesses willing to capture new value from existing operations and resources, for example by redesigning products and business models, building new relationships with customers, harnessing technology to increase the utilisation of assets, and switching to renewable energy.
Dame Ellen MacArthur, Founder, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation stated: “The CE100 USA provides a national pre-competitive innovation platform addressing the specifics of the U.S. market. North America-based and focused organisations have access to unique collaboration, capacity building, networking as well as research and insight opportunities, to help them achieve their circular economy ambitions quicker. By leveraging the network, members have access to insights in order to help these overcome local challenges and to explore circular opportunities, which they might not be able to capture in isolation.
The circular economy offers many quantified benefits, and provides a positive way forward for businesses wishing to hedge themselves from market volatility. Our 2013 report Towards the Circular Economy Vol. 2, featuring analysis by McKinsey & Co, highlighted the USD 700 billion opportunity in global consumer goods material savings from adopting circular economy practices. For organisations who embrace the opportunities offered by the circular economy, there are first-mover advantages available. The CE100 USA programme provides key insight to support organisations in their transition, and to help accelerate their rate of circular economy innovation.”
The establishment of the CE100 USA follows the success of the international CE100 programme, and each will run in parallel as a separate network. The international CE100 was set up by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2013. Members range from corporates, universities, city and government authorities, and affiliate networks, to emerging innovators, and include brands such as Google, Cisco, Coca Cola, eBay, Apple, Novelis, IBM and others.
The first event for CE100 USA members will be a one-day Acceleration Workshop in San Francisco on March 31, 2016. A second Acceleration Workshop, which will build on the first event, will be held in September 2016 in New York.