Interview: Designing a Zero Waste Economy with Joe Illes from The Ellen MacArthur Foundation

The Third Angle

“Identify and eliminate waste and pollution at source, circulate products and materials at their highest value for as long as possible and regenerate natural systems. So, put back at least as much or more than you take out from the natural ecosystems on which we depend. And do all that by design.”
This podcast is no stranger to innovation that drives positive change. We’ve met people who are making electric transport easily accessible in Africa and those using VR to enable medics to reach patients in disaster zones. But what if we could redesign the whole economy to make it waste-free and sustainable for the future?
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation was founded in 2010 by the sailor Ellen MacArthur, with the aim of driving forward a circular economy. Traditionally, we think of the economy as linear: we start with extracting raw materials, which we then make products, use those products for their lifespan, and then they are disposed of as waste. The circular economy takes a different approach, with all of the materials extracted and used designed to be recycled, re-used or fed back into the economy at different stages. This involves a different way of thinking at design stage
In this special episode of The Third Angle, Paul sits down in the studio to speak to Joe Illes, Circular Design Programme Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. He tells us about the work he is doing to promote the circular economy, and talks about the main things designers should keep in mind when designing something truly sustainable.
Explore the rest of the episodes in the series, where we go on location to meet some of the companies helping to shape a better world.
Find out more about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation here.
Listen to our previous episodes here.
Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.
Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for updates.
This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Sound design and editing by Ollie Guillou. Location recording by Gareth Evans and Cal Clarke. Music by Rowan Bishop.