The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, established in 2010 by Dame Ellen MacArthur, is based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, UK. Now employing over 200 people across offices in Cowes, Brazil, Brussels, China, and the US, the Foundation has become a central force for rethinking the use of resources, aiming to overhaul the global economy’s approach to materials, waste, and sustainability.
Its founding came after MacArthur’s solo sailing achievements inspired her to address resource limitations on a global scale. The Foundation initially gained support from corporate partners such as B&Q, BT, Cisco, National Grid, and Renault. Since its inception, it has raised over £150 million in project funding and contributed to mobilizing over £350 billion in public and private investment towards advancing resource efficiency and circular models.
A flagship initiative, the Global Commitment, launched in partnership with the UN Environment Programme in 2018, has more than 400 signatories spanning industry, NGOs, and governments. These participants represent roughly 20% of the global plastic packaging market and have collectively avoided 14 million tonnes of virgin plastic use as of 2025.
Current projects go beyond plastics. The Foundation has expanded to initiatives like the Fashion ReModel, which brings major retailers together to test business models that reduce the need for producing new clothes, and collaborates internationally to develop sustainable approaches for critical minerals and electronics. The Foundation’s activities include research, convening sector coalitions, advising policymakers, and creating media content that advances practical, system-wide change.