logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2023
13m 8s

How to make sure materials get reused — ...

TED
About this episode

What if we could harness the power and value of all that we discard? Circular economy builder Garry Cooper presents a compelling vision for transforming cities into sustainable, circular economies, citing real-world examples of how repurposing materials from buildings to office furniture can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs and foster economic growth. A hopeful reminder of the profound impact individual actions can have on our shared future.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
Why AI is an even bigger deal than you think | Reed Hastings
Netflix cofounder and Anthropic board member Reed Hastings joins TED's Sal Khan to give a look inside the race to build AI. Hear his take on how the technology could accelerate education — including the possibility of an AI tutor for every student — and reshape the economy faster ... Show More
19m 8s
Yesterday
Sunday Pick: Why you should try improv comedy (w/ Rick Andrews) | How to Be a Better Human
What do radio personality Ira Glass, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, and your host Chris Duffy have in common? They all have practiced an unexpected skill that makes them more human—improv comedy. And they learned it from master improv teacher Rick Andrews. Rick joins Chris t ... Show More
41m 1s
Jul 18
The Mystery of Sea Creatures (1/5): A coral reef love story | Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Over the course of hundreds of scuba dives, marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson fell in love -- with a fish. In this ode to parrotfish, she shares five reasons why these creatures are simply amazing (from their ability to poop white sand to make colorful "wardrobe changes") ... Show More
8m 53s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2022
The Circular Economy and Reuse
<p>There are significant material, energy, labour and carbon savings to be made by reusing, rather than remaking, a product.</p><p>How does this work in business? And how does it fit into a circular economy?</p><p>In this episode, Colin Webster from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation ... Show More
20m 39s
Aug 2025
Who's Up For A Circular Economy
What if we could take all the trash and waste we generate every year – gigatons worth – and used it again as raw materials. What we would have is a closed circle, one where we have everything we need without taking anything else from nature. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac ... Show More
54m 1s
Mar 2022
Building a circular future
<p>Why are we still demolishing buildings when we can design for deconstruction? In this episode, Arup structural engineer Grace Di Benedetto explains that we need to change our mindset and recognise buildings as valuable sources of materials rather than rubble.</p><p>Together, w ... Show More
20m 42s
Aug 2024
Shaping the future with the performance economy | The origins of the circular economy
<p>At the heart of the circular economy is the need to retain the value of goods and materials, so that we can slow down the use of the Earth’s resources. Selling performance instead of products could be a way to achieve this. In this season’s finale, we’ll discuss this and other ... Show More
24m 4s
Feb 2024
The power of biomaterials: 3 regenerative design solutions
<p>How do we shift today’s economic system to one that helps to regenerate nature? In this episode, we’ll meet three companies developing materials that work in harmony with our environment and learn how such innovations can be scaled.</p><p>Co-founder of Materiom, Liz Corbin, sp ... Show More
16m 38s
Sep 2025
How designers can hardwire their skills for a circular economy | Circling Back
<p>Waste and pollution aren’t accidents—they’re the result of design. Which means we can design them out.</p><p>Design is where it all begins – and where real change can happen. In this episode, host Pippa sits down with Joe Iles, Head of Design Activation at the Ellen MacArthur ... Show More
17m 52s
Apr 2024
How can the circular economy help us tackle climate change?
<p>Welcome back to The Circular Economy Show! In our new season premiere, we’re diving into the crucial intersection of climate change and the circular economy. Join us as we sit down with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Climate Lead, Miranda Schnitger, to find out how the circu ... Show More
13m 40s
May 2022
Repair, Repurpose, Reimagine
"Reduce, reuse, recycle." We've heard that for decades - but does it work? This hour, TED speakers reimagine the well-known slogan and reconsider how we think about what we consume and throw away. Guests include right-to-repair advocate Gay Gordon-Byrne, materials scientist Andre ... Show More
49m 24s
Feb 2024
Lily Cole & Ellen MacArthur: why we need optimism to shift mindsets
<p>How can optimism and creativity help us transition to a circular economy? In this episode, model, actress and activist, Lily Cole joins Ellen MacArthur and Emma Chow to discuss her journey from fashion model to environmental activist. They discuss progress towards a circular e ... Show More
26m 28s
May 2024
The Future of Sustainability: Repair, repurpose, reimagine
"Reduce, reuse, recycle." We've heard that for decades - but does it work? This hour, TED speakers reimagine the well-known slogan and reconsider how we think about what we consume and throw away. Guests include right-to-repair advocate Gay Gordon-Byrne, materials scientist Andre ... Show More
50m 9s