Europe’s top 30 companies revealed!

Welcome to our curated selection of Europe’s leading companies that are at the forefront of applying circular economy principles to tackle biodiversity loss. Explore the companies by sector or business model! A first-of-its-kind handbook complements the list with step-by-step guidance to help businesses implement circular business models that combat biodiversity loss while unlocking new business opportunities.

Buildings and construction

The impacts of the buildings and construction sector on nature stems from the extraction of building materials and the land taken up by buildings. Circular solutions reduce the land use of buildings and their materials, through material-efficient, long-lasting design, active use of buildings and circulation of building materials.

Parmaco Group. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Rudus. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Rype office. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Combi Works. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Triodos Bank. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples

Food and agriculture

Food and agriculture is the sector with the single largest impact on nature, resulting from highly land-intensive processes. Circular solutions reduce the demand for land through the use and valorisation of underused biomass, alternative proteins and other land-efficient substitutes, smarter packaging design and by rebuilding soils and tackling food waste and loss.

Inva Fresh. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Järki Särki. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Klimis. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Hemp Nation Group. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Hailia Nordic. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Foodflow by Enviu. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Volare. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Chempolis. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Agreena. Circular Solutions for nature.
Examples
Alagaementum. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples

Algaementum produces alternative ingredients for food and feed industries using algae cultivation

Axfood. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Corbion. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Evac Group. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Origin by Ocean. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
S Group. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples

Forestry

The forest sector’s impact on nature comes from high resource demand and extractive management practices. Circular solutions can drive regenerative outcomes and reduce pressure on forests, through the use and valorisation of underused biomass, design for long-lasting products and active reuse and recycling of wood fibres.

Plockhugget. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Arvometsä. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Borealis Bioproducts. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Hiil. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Vuokrapuu. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples

Fibres and textiles

Fibres and textiles is one of the four sectors with the largest impacts on nature, from land use needed to grow fibres and from greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. Circular solutions can reduce the need for virgin fibres and other commodities by making clothes to last longer, to be used more times and to be recycled into new clothes.

Mud Jeans. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Infinited fiber company. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Fabpatch and Reima. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Colorifix. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples

Explore the full list

Business-models
Evac Group. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Origin by Ocean. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Parmaco Group. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Plockhugget. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Rudus. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Mud Jeans. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Arvometsä. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Klimis. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Järki Särki. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Inva Fresh. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Inrego. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Rype office. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Infinited fiber company. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
S Group. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Hiil. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Hemp Nation Group. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Hailia Nordic. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Foodflow by Enviu. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Triodos Bank. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Combi Works. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Fabpatch and Reima. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Volare. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Corbion. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Colorifix. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Vuokrapuu. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Chempolis. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Borealis Bioproducts. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Axfood. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Alagaementum. Circular solutions for nature.
Examples
Agreena. Circular Solutions for nature.
Examples

How were the companies selected?

Companies were sought through an open call for applications. The selection of the 30 companies for the final list was based on criteria assessing their circular business model and economic viability, along with their track record and potential for nature action. The assessment was carried out by experts from Sitra and a consulting partner KPMG.

The following criteria were used in evaluation:

The list represents the expert panel’s view of what they currently consider to be interesting circular economy solutions for biodiversity.

Take a closer look at the evaluation criteria (pdf).

Where are we now?

The list was published on Monday 15 April 2024 at the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF2024) in Brussels.

Sitra has also previously compiled examples of interesting circular economy companies. Between 2017 and 2021, Sitra maintained a popular list of The most interesting companies in the circular economy in Finland.

In 2020, Sitra published a list of 39 inspiring circular economy solutions from around the globe as part of WCEFonline.

Read more:

Download the publication: Circular solutions for Nature – Handbook for businesses

Take a closer look at the WCEF2024 programme

Sitra memorandum: Putting nature at the heart of the European Green Deal – Building blocks for the next European Commission

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