Across Europe, large corporates and SMEs face growing pressure from regulation and buyers to move towards circular models. The EU Green Deal, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws all create obligations for suppliers, even if they are not directly targeted. The forthcoming EU Circular Economy Act, expected in 2026, will transform how industries use resources, design products, and handle waste. It will affect packaging, textiles, chemicals, and manufacturing. Incentives for secondary material use, mandatory design rules, and bans on non-recyclable packaging will generate strong demand for innovative suppliers.
Denmark’s proactive policies and infrastructure make it easier to align with the Act than in many other EU markets.
Furthermore, large corporates now expect their suppliers to provide verified data on material flows, recycling content, and environmental impact, resulting in new value streams. In manufacturing, opportunities are strongest in design for reuse and substituting virgin inputs with high-quality secondary materials. In textiles, demand is accelerating for recycled fibres, sorting technologies, and resale platforms that extend product lifecycles.
