Habitania Institute identifies circular opportunities and designs circular business models that generate business value, positively impacting society and the environment. The consultancy is committed to supporting SMEs in scaling up their core business to become competitive in the market and providing socially and environmentally sustainable, customer-centred products and services by assessing, co-creating, and transforming traditional business models. 

Food is essential for our existence. Read our newest article diving into the sustainable revolution of food value chains, highlighting the untapped potential in beloved commodities like chocolate. Beyond the bean (the seeds of the cacao fruit that are harvested to make chocolate), the whole cacao fruit can be used. And yet, 75% of this fruit is commonly discarded and left to degrade on the ground. This article by PACE Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy and Nordic Circular Hotspot goes beyond the bean and explores circular innovation for cocoa!

Circular economy is evolving fast but at its core are still practical initiatives that benefit our communities and the environment. Today, we are very happy to welcome two new circular economy initiatives hailing from Iceland, Hringrásarsetur Íslands and Circular Library Network, to the Nordic Circular Hotspot partnership programme.

Circular Computing takes the refurbishment of IT equipment to the next level by producing carbon-neutral remanufactured laptops. The company exists to create a more ethical, sustainable and socially responsible way to buy IT, and we at the NCH are very glad to welcome them as the newest addition to our Partnership Programme!

The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO—Næringslivets Hovedorganisasjon) is Norway’s largest organisation for employers and the leading business lobbyist. Currently, it has a cross-sectoral member base of over 32.000 companies that range from small family-owned businesses to multinational companies. NHO Service og Handel, which has now joined the Nordic Circular Hotspot, is NHO’s second largest national association, with over 7,100 member companies that have a total turnover of NOK 211 billion.

ESG People are specialists in the recruitment of sustainability competence and in the past year have recruited for over 40 positions within the sustainable transition, be it within strategy, implementation, reporting, finance, regulatory or market. We at the NCH are very excited to partner with ESG People and support their mission of providing the green shift with the resource it most needs: people who are skilled and passionate about creating a sustainable future!

Circularity has developed a unique process to transform used textiles into new garments and other textile items — mechanically, without the use of chemicals or water, and without the addition of any virgin fibres whatsoever. Their input consists not just of pre-consumer off-cuts but also of used work wear from industrial customers and institutions, as well as bed linen and towels from the hospitality and healthcare industries that would otherwise end up in incinerators. Unique, 100% recycled and truly circular.

Combat Climate Change prides itself as a profit-for-purpose company, focusing on deep tech innovation and an ESG platform with consulting services that helps their product principles of being circular, regenerative, and restorative in nature. Part of their profits will be channelled to fund climate education and awareness programmes for future generations. Combat Climate Change is also the newest addition to the NCH Partnership Programme and we can’t wait to connect this active and engaged team to our network of Nordic circular activators!

During the recent Nordic Circular Summit 2023, we brought together senior figures from various sectors to engage in a candid discussion about the development of circular economy in the Nordics. The conversation highlighted the nuances of transition as a concept, the necessity of systemic change, the agency we have to instigate it — and the imperative of ensuring a just transition.