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

“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 virtual reality 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 #circulareconomy. 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 the design stage.

In this special episode of The Third Angle, Paul sits down in the studio to speak to Joe Illes, Circular Design Program 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.

Episodes are released bi-weekly.

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.