logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
20m 20s

Reuse and repair: Africa’s long traditio...

Ellen MacArthur Foundation
About this episode

In the last episode of our series sharing some of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's most popular articles, we explore the world of reuse and repair. Travelling to the African continent, we find out how people and businesses have been embracing  strategies to maximize material use for a long time

Reuse and repair are critical aspects of a circular economy, but despite clear benefits, they've yet to gain a foothold in the Global North. Whilst greater awareness and new legislation are beginning to shift the needle, driving better use of products and materials in the North, African companies have long been applying creative and innovative approaches to maximise material usage. So what can be learnt?

Read the full article

Up next
Jul 8
“It’s a no-brainer”: Arc’teryx on bringing repairs in-store
Building circular business models - where products are rented, repaired, resold and remade - is key to transforming our economy from a take, make, waste linear system, to a circular one. In this episode of the Circular Economy Show, we’re seeing what this looks like in practice w ... Show More
17m 5s
Jul 1
How H&M Group is exploring circular business models in The Fashion ReModel
How do we keep clothes in use at their highest value and make money without having to make new clothes? In this episode of The Circular Economy Show, we explore the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s demonstration project, the Fashion ReModel, and hear from one of its participants: H&M ... Show More
23m 9s
Jun 24
How do we make circular behaviours irresistible?
In this episode of the Circular Economy Show, our guests Georgie Rose from Selfridges and Simon Davies from VISA tell us how they have been working together to find out.Collaborating with Mindworks Marketing to optimise messaging and branding for promoting circular shopping behav ... Show More
12m 43s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2023
The path to greater productivity and prosperity in Africa
By 2050, about 25 percent of the world’s population will be from the African continent. What can be done now to support Africa’s educational infrastructure, bountiful resources, and technological innovation? On this episode of The McKinsey Podcast, McKinsey partner Mayowa Kuyoro ... Show More
29m 15s
Apr 2021
4 myths and misunderstandings about doing business in Africa | Nomava Zanazo
Business in Africa is booming -- but international companies are missing out, says emerging markets expert Nomava Zanazo. Rushing in without knowing their customers, businesses underestimate Africans and make costly assumptions about their diversity, preferences and buying power. ... Show More
12m 41s
May 2022
The local guardians protecting African lions | Resson Kantai Duff
Conservation efforts in Africa have typically been led by “parachute conservationists” -- outsiders who drop in thinking they have all the answers, hire locals to implement them and then disappear. But conservationist Resson Kantai Duff has a better way to save wildlife in Africa ... Show More
13m 54s
Feb 2024
Study Hall: The Call for Recolonization of Africa
In this episode, hosts Ian Dunlap, Troy Millings, and Rashad Bilal unpack the controversial call for the recolonization of Africa made by American businessman Eric Prince. Prince openly expressed his views in a video, raising crucial questions about the continent's governance ... Show More
18m 2s
Feb 2024
Why Africa Is Still Poor - Exclusive Interview with Daron Acemoglu
We were lucky enough to talk with Prof. Asemoglu of MIT about why Africa lags economically despite so much aid and resources being pumped into the country each year. From the impact of institutions to the legacy of policies, we talked about the reasons behind the continent's chal ... Show More
54m 16s
Jul 2021
Ep161 - Patrick Awuah | Innovation for Change in Africa
After a successful career at Microsoft, Patrick Awuah looked back to his native Ghana and decided that the ills of the country could only by solved by educating the next generation of business and government leaders, providing them with training in critical thinking and ethics th ... Show More
53m 56s
Jul 2021
4 myths about doing business in Africa | Nomava Zanazo
We’re taking some time off while we prepare for our next season. In the meantime, this bonus episode amplifies an important call to brands who do business in Africa.Emerging markets expert Nomava Zanazo says many international companies underestimate their African customers and m ... Show More
12m 39s
Feb 2024
What's holding back Africa's fashion industry?
The continent's fashion industry holds all the cards to becoming one of the world’s fashion leaders. It has the natural resources, the workforce and a growing middle class who want to wear African brands.However, there are challenges including poor infrastructure, lack of investm ... Show More
18m 23s
Jan 2023
The boss of Africa's biggest bank
Ade Ayeyemi, the CEO of Ecobank - Africa’s biggest bank - speaks to presenter Peter MacJob about the economic woes facing much of Africa and explores the leadership and policy adjustments needed to turn the continents fortunes around.In a candid and wide ranging interview Mr Ayey ... Show More
18m 16s