Ellen MacArthur Foundation Releases 2030 Agenda for Business, Updates Global Commitment Figures

November 5, 2025 — The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has unveiled its updated 2030 agenda for business, presenting new targets and commitment figures aimed at accelerating the transition to a circular economy. This ambitious framework is designed to help businesses align their operations with global sustainability goals, with a focus on reducing waste, enhancing material efficiency, and promoting circularity in the supply chain.

New Circular Economy Targets

The 2030 agenda highlights several key targets that businesses are encouraged to adopt in the coming years. These include reducing packaging waste, increasing the use of renewable materials, and ensuring that all products are designed with reuse, repair, or recycling in mind. The Foundation’s new figures show significant progress in the adoption of circular economy principles, with more than 1,000 companies now committed to making their operations more circular by 2030.

“The circular economy offers a solution to the growing environmental challenges we face,” said Anna Taylor, Director of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. “This updated agenda is a call to action for businesses to step up their efforts in reducing waste and making their value chains more sustainable. With the right investments and commitment, we can make circularity the norm in global business.”

Global Commitment and Business Participation

The Foundation’s updated report also reveals that more than 60% of major multinational companies have set or are in the process of setting concrete sustainability goals related to circularity. These businesses include global giants in packaging, manufacturing, and consumer goods industries, which are increasingly working toward the adoption of circular business models.

Among the most notable new commitments is the growing focus on packaging, where businesses are committing to eliminate problematic plastics, adopt reusable materials, and significantly increase their recycling rates.

Impact on the Packaging Industry

The packaging industry is expected to play a crucial role in meeting the 2030 agenda. Companies are already making strides toward more sustainable packaging solutions, including the use of biodegradable materials, increased recycling, and the design of packaging that is easier to reuse and recycle. The new targets call for a 50% reduction in packaging waste by 2030, with a strong emphasis on improving the recyclability of packaging materials.

“The packaging sector is at the forefront of the circular economy transition,” said David Miller, Head of Sustainability at a major packaging firm. “The new 2030 agenda provides a clear roadmap for our industry to contribute to global sustainability goals and significantly reduce our environmental impact.”

Looking Ahead to 2030

As businesses increasingly recognize the importance of circularity in addressing environmental challenges, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s 2030 agenda is expected to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices. With its emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and accountability, the agenda is poised to reshape global business practices and help drive the transition to a more sustainable, circular economy.