According to a 2025 World Economic Forum paper more than 70% of businesses recognize circularity as a strategic opportunity for revenue growth. The urgency of this green transition is currently fueled by the increasing geopolitical tensions and rising raw material prices.

We see companies prioritizing circular strategies for a number of reasons: Competitiveness, resilience and climate reductions. For the same reasons we are pushing for Denmark to aim for a leading position of circularity with businesses as the driving force

Iben Kinch Sohn, Team Lead, Environmental Policy & Circular Economy, Danish Industry

To accelerate this transition, Danish Industries (DI) is expanding its support for businesses by launching new initiatives in early 2025, funded by the Danish Industry Foundation. These programs provide tools, guidance, and direct expert support for companies aiming to integrate circular economy principles. DI is currently active in two programs supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in discovering or implementing concrete circular solutions:

Climate Fit Production Company provides businesses with the skills to calculate their CO2 data, set reduction targets, as well as provide guidance on effective climate communication and reductions measures.

This program has now added a specific learning module for circular economy addressing scope 3 reduction pathways. Specifically, the companies that complete the CE module will gain more knowledge about their material footprint in their value chain. They will gain insight into business models that support smarter use of resources and thereby CO2 reductions in the value chain – and potentially achieve better earnings and improve value chain collaboration.

Among other things, DI is developing a method to obtain detailed information on material use  via a material footprint calculator. The plan is currently for the CE learning program to be available to all production-related companies on the program platform in 2026. The development of the CE learning program is in collaboration with Rambøll and Transition.

Read more here: Klimaklar Produktionsvirksomhed

Towards More Circular Business

As part of a new 125 million DKK initiative, DI and the Technological Institute, along with key partners, are launching the programme ‘Circular Business’. This program is designed to:

• Help SMEs discover or implement concrete circular solutions.
• Provide expert advice and tools to enhance circular capabilities.
• Drive revenue, optimize operations, or increase customer satisfaction depending on business priorities.

If your company has production activities and fewer than 250 employees in Denmark, this initiative offers a unique opportunity to integrate circular practices into your business. Funded by the Danish Industry Foundation, the project’s partners include the Danish Technological Institute, DTU, DI Danish Manufacturers, The Alexandra Institute, the Danish Board of Business Development, and the Danish Engineers’ Association.

Read more here: Cirkulær Forretning – DI Produktion

Join the Circular Economy forefront
In addition to the new engagements, there are already extensive support available, and we believe that the transition will accelerate in the coming years as interest and knowledge in the numerous opportunities of a circular transition continue to grow

And many Danish companies are already well underway, which is evident in both DI’s case bank for circular business concepts, and the great success of DI’s Network for circular economy, which aim of creating a platform for companies interested in, working with or wanting to be updated on circular economy.

The overall ambition from DI is clear: Denmark must be among the world’s leading circular economies with businesses as the driving force.