Closing Loops creates measurable results for Danish SMEs

The mid-term evaluation of Closing Loops shows significant progress: 6 out of 10 companies have made their business more circular, and 90% of the targets have already been achieved.

Several hundred Danish companies are already well on their way to making their businesses more circular. The mid-term evaluation of the national Closing Loops program shows that the green transition is really gaining momentum—and that small and medium-sized enterprises are leading the way.

Already, 6 out of 10 participating companies report that they have strengthened the circularity of their business model. Three out of four expect that participation will increase revenue – almost half see this happening within the next year.
“The figures confirm what we see every day: companies are eager to get started, and once they receive support and guidance, they move quickly,” says program manager Knud Tybirk.

From textile waste to new business opportunities

One example of the achieved results is the value chain collaboration ‘Værdiforøgelse af tekstilaffald’ (Value Enhancement of Textile Waste), in which companies such as NewRetex A/S, Textile Change, Haack Recycling, Easy Fair, and Cotton Care ApS are working together with the NGO Blue Cross.

“We have a concrete commercial collaboration that I believe will be profitable and will generate a good bottom line,” says Anders Christensen, head of Blue Cross Recycling. He points out that the network and sparring have opened up new product ideas – with the potential to be realized within 12-18 months.

SMEs drive development

Closing Loops is aimed at SMEs, which play a key role in putting circular solutions into practice.
“Closing Loops involves collaboration across value chains. Collective interaction across companies increases momentum because more people find an incentive to develop and implement new, more sustainable solutions,” says Knud Tybirk, program manager, Food & Bio Cluster Denmark.

Ambitious goals – and 90% already achieved

The evaluation shows that 90 percent of the output targets set have already been achieved.
Green transition is not just a question of the environment – it is also a growth track:

• 60% expect increased productivity
• 40% anticipate increased exports

The potential for CO₂ reduction and waste minimization is significant, and the next step will be to implement the solutions on a broad scale.

Download the mid-term evaluation here