New York, US, 25 September 2025: Clean Rivers and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation are partnering to develop a scalable model supporting a just transition to circularity, ensure freshwater systems are free from waste pollution and advance inclusive socio-economic benefits, starting with Brazil.
Both organisations share a vision of a world where pollution is eliminated, resources are circulated, and freshwater systems are regenerated.
Under this partnership, Clean Rivers and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation will explore systemic shifts needed to accelerate the circular economy transition, engage with key stakeholders and identify current gaps in household waste systems in Brazil across rural, urban and regional contexts.
The partnership announcement was made at a jointly hosted roundtable during New York Climate Week by Deborah Backus, CEO at Clean Rivers and Jonquil Hackenberg, CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
“Clean Rivers and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation share a vision where pollution is eliminated, resources are circulated and freshwater systems are regenerated. Today, rivers have become conduits for waste pollution from land to sea, impacting people and ecosystems globally. This partnership seeks to address this challenge by developing a scalable, investable model in Brazil that addresses waste infrastructure while restoring freshwater quality, demonstrating how circular economy principles can deliver environment, social and economic benefits," said Deborah Backus, CEO of Clean Rivers.
“Over the past decade, our work has shown how inadequate infrastructure is one of the key systemic barriers to tackling waste and pollution globally and achieving a truly circular economy. Solving this challenge requires bold, coordinated action across sectors. Together with Clean Rivers, we are exploring ways to develop a practical, investment-ready roadmap to scale effective waste systems in Brazil – one that we hope can be replicated and inform solutions in other key regions," said Jonquil Hackenberg, CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
The ‘Tackling Waste for Healthy Cities and Waterways in Latin America: How Governments, Businesses, Finance, and Philanthropy Can Collaborate to Drive a Circular Economy’ roundtable brought together representatives from government, business, private and development finance, the informal sector and some more philanthropy and impact investors. Discussions centred around coordinated efforts and actions needed to scale investments for a circular economy transition and its co-benefits for climate action, nature and people.
