Ellen MacArthur Foundation launches Circular Startup Index
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has launched its Circular Startup Index to highlight startups demonstrating one or more principles of the circular economy. The Index features over 500 companies across the world.
The Foundation says it created the Index to acknowledge the fundamental role that startups play in the circular economy transition. It hopes its creation will help by facilitating the pairing of innovation with capital by connecting the startups with potential investors.
Featured startups include lithium-ion battery manufacturers and recyclers; the world’s first platform for circular packaging in the food service industry; WEEE recyclers; rental platforms, and much more. The Foundation is calling for more circular startups to apply to be part of the Index and for businesses to start searching for their ideal collaboration.
Ella Hedley, Project Manager, Startups, at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said: “Designing a circular future requires radical innovation to rethink how our economy works. Thousands of circular startups are already on the case.
“But they need more support and investment. So we created the Circular Startup Index to create visibility of the breadth of circular startups on the market and help businesses discover suitable circular solutions.”
The Index has already proved helpful to several businesses, including packaging company DS Smith. Hugh McCann, Senior Circular Growth Manager at DS Smith, commented: “The Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s Circular Startup Index has already expedited our work, bringing us into contact with potential partners – businesses that are leading the way and surfacing hundreds of circular solutions.
“We have already started working with one of the businesses we found on the Index, and are inspired by the ongoing opportunity to engage with some of the most forward-thinking businesses in the circularity space.
“As a leading provider of sustainable, fibre-based packaging across Europe and the US, we are keen to work with disruptive businesses that can bring exciting and innovative circular solutions to DS Smith, helping us realise our purpose to redefine packaging for a changing world and reach our industry-leading circular economy ambitions.”
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an international charity developing and promoting the circular economy in order to tackle some of the biggest challenges in sustainability, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution.
It works with a network of private and public sector decision-makers, as well as academia, to build capacity, explore collaborative opportunities, and design and develop circular economy initiatives and solutions. 
