What Circular Norway does

Circular Norway is an Oslo-based advisory and consulting firm that helps Norwegian businesses, municipalities, government bodies, and financial institutions transition from linear to circular economic models. The firm operates exclusively in the advisory services layer and does not develop proprietary software or hardware; its intellectual property is concentrated in frameworks, publications, and convening assets. Its core service portfolio comprises six offerings: Circular Due Diligence (CDD) — a value-chain assessment framework co-developed with Copenhagen Business School, BI Norwegian Business School, Danfoss, and Vestre that links circular strategies to financial KPIs, risk, and return; Regulatory Compliance advisory; Circular Business Model design; Economic and Strategic Analysis; Competence Building (workshops and training); and a digital E-learning course covering EU requirements, circular business models, procurement, and profitability.

The firm's commercial engine is a consultative, sales-led GTM motion: project-based fee-for-service contracts with enterprises and public-sector buyers, augmented by subscription-style e-learning revenue, grant-funded programs (Nordic Innovation, Finansmarkedsfondet), and partnership-driven initiatives. Its flagship thought-leadership asset is the annual Circularity Gap Report Norway (produced with Circle Economy), which sets the national benchmark — most recently reporting Norway at only 2% circularity in 2025. Adjacent revenue-adjacent assets include the Sirkulær Finanskoalisjon (Circular Finance Coalition, co-established with Finansforbundet and WWF Norway), the Veikart for Sirkulær Finansnæring (Circular Finance Roadmap), the Veikart for Sirkulær EE-Bransje 2035 (electronics industry roadmap), and a Knowledge Hub of circular-economy case studies built with Circle Lab. Customer segments span four verticals: Norwegian enterprises (manufacturing, construction, energy, electronics), municipalities, the financial sector (banks, insurance), and SMEs reached through a national tour.

Circular Norway monetizes credibility: publications and coalition leadership generate inbound enterprise and public-sector demand, which converts into project-based advisory work. The firm appears to be self-sustaining through consulting fees, e-learning sales, and project grants rather than institutional equity investment; no funding rounds, parent entities, or investor backing are disclosed. Leadership transitioned in March 2023 when Alexander F. Christiansen (previously strategy and business development lead since 2019) became daglig leder (CEO), with concurrent role changes including Leif I. Nordhus moving into Digital Services Lead.

Name

Circular Norway

Legal name

Circular Norway

Website

https://circularnorway.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Circular Norway is an Oslo-based advisory firm helping Norwegian businesses, municipalities, and financial institutions transition to a circular economy via consulting, the Circular Due Diligence framework, e-learning, and flagship publications including the Circularity Gap Report Norway.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability and Circular Economy Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circular Economy & Waste/Materials Reporting (Zero waste, packaging) (EUAHAJAL), Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM), Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF)

Keywords

• Circular economy consulting
• Sustainability advisory services
• Regulatory compliance consulting
• Circular business strategy
• Environmental transition advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Advisory Services: Circular Norway generates revenue through project-based consulting engagements with businesses, municipalities, and government agencies. Services include circular due diligence, strategic analysis, regulatory compliance guidance, and workshops. Clients include individual companies, industry associations, and public sector bodies. Revenue is derived from fee-for-service contracts.
2. E-Learning and Education: The company offers digital e-learning courses on circular economy topics (EU regulations, business models, procurement, profitability). These are sold to individuals, companies, and organizations seeking to build circular competence.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Circular Norway is a Norwegian advisory and consulting firm that helps businesses, municipalities, and government bodies navigate the transition to a circular economy. It sells six core consulting services — Circular Due Diligence (CDD), regulatory compliance advisory, circular business model development, economic and strategic analysis, competence building, and digital e-learning courses — alongside authoritative publications such as the Circularity Gap Report Norway and circular finance roadmaps. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting fees, training programs, and e-learning course sales.

Product overview

Circular Norway is a consulting and advisory firm that helps businesses navigate regulatory requirements, map current situations, measure the circular gap, and develop strategies and practical circular business models. Its service portfolio is organized around six core offerings: Circular Due Diligence (CDD), which links circular strategies to financial KPIs in partnership with CBS, BI, Danfoss, and Vestre; Regulatory Compliance; Circular Business Models; Economic and Strategic Analysis; Competence Building; and E-learning Courses. The firm also produces major publications including the annual Circularity Gap Report Norway (produced with Circle Economy), the Veikart for Sirkulær Finansnæring 2.0, and manages collaborative initiatives such as the Sirkulær Finanskoalisjon (with Finansforbundet and WWF) and the Veikart for Sirkulær EE-Bransje 2035. A digital Knowledge Hub provides searchable case examples of circular economy in practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Circular Due Diligence (CDD) A proprietary assessment framework that delivers a holistic value-chain review both upstream (supplier chain) and downstream (after-use and end-of-life) and, for the first time, connects circular strategies directly to financial key figures, risk, and return. Built for Norwegian businesses seeking a common economic basis for evaluating circularity.
• Regulatory Compliance Advisory Systematic identification and implementation of regulatory requirements for product development and reporting, covering EU regulations such as CSRD, EU taxonomy, Ecodesign Directive, and Extended Producer Responsibility, strengthening market position and economic sustainability.
• Circular Business Models Advisory Advisory service to help companies develop and implement circular business models based on insight, industry experience, and proven tools. Targeted at companies looking to operationalize circularity.
• Economic and Strategic Analysis Analysis of the economic impact of circular choices and guidance through new incentive structures, with the goal of achieving profitability in the circular transition. Aimed at companies needing economic validation of circular strategies.
• Competence Building (Training and Workshops) A broad training and workshop portfolio that simplifies navigation of new regulatory requirements and builds the ability to make sustainable and profitable decisions, offered to Norwegian businesses and professionals.
• E-learning Courses in Circular Economy Digital e-learning courses covering EU requirements, circular business models, procurement, and profitability. Modules are designed for self-paced learning with gamified elements, accessible to individuals and organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Norway's circularity index is only 2% (2025), creating a large addressable market for circular transition services.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Copenhagen Business School (CBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircular Norway is developing the Circular Due Diligence (CDD) framework in collaboration with Copenhagen Business School. CBS provides research-based insight and methodology for valuation, contributing academic rigor to the framework.
• Handelshøyskolen BIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircular Norway is developing the CDD framework in collaboration with Handelshøyskolen BI (BI Norwegian Business School). BI contributes academic research and methodology for the financial valuation aspects of circular economy.
• DanfosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish industrial company Danfoss is an industry partner in the CDD framework development project, testing and validating the framework in its value chain to ensure it works across sectors.
• VestrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian design and furniture company Vestre is an industry partner in the CDD framework development project, testing and validating the circular due diligence framework within its operations and supply chain.
• RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRISE and Circular Norway received Nordic Innovation funding for the project 'Scaling Reused Car Parts through Circular Value Chains in Nordic Insurance.' The project aims to make reuse of car parts an integrated and profitable part of insurance claims handling across the Nordics.
• FundforwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundforward is a leading investor and ecosystem actor within circular economy. Together with MiXi and Circular Norway, Fundforward is driving the Nordic Circular Investments project to identify what makes circular business models profitable.
• MiXicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMiXi is an ecosystem catalyst based in Helsinki that accelerates the transition to circular economy through tailored programs, events, and cross-sector collaboration. Partner in the Nordic Circular Investments project.
• Circle EconomycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircle Economy and Circular Norway have initiated a pre-study that may lead to the first Circularity Gap Report Finance Norway. Circle Economy contributes its global methodology for measuring circularity and financial flows in the economy.
• Nordic InnovationcoreOthersNordic Innovation funds the Nordic Circular Investments project and the Scaling Reused Car Parts project. The organization supports innovative solutions for 2030 and a Green and Competitive Nordic Region.
• Finansforbundet (Norwegian Financial Services Union)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinansforbundet and Circular Norway co-established the Sirkulaer finanskoalisjon (Circular Finance Coalition) in autumn 2023, bringing together banks and insurance companies to develop solutions for circular economy in the financial sector.
• WWF Verdens naturfond Norge (WWF Norway)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWF Norway partnered with Circular Norway and Finansforbundet to establish the Circular Finance Coalition. WWF contributes environmental expertise and credibility to drive circular finance initiatives in Norway.
• Elektroforeningen (EFO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircular Norway and Elektroforeningen (EFO) co-lead the development of a Roadmap for a Circular EE Industry toward 2035, addressing the fastest-growing waste stream globally while recovering critical raw materials.
• RENAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRENAS (producer responsibility organization for electrical and electronic products) is a core partner in Circular Norway's EE industry roadmap, Circularity Gap Report Norway, and other initiatives addressing critical raw materials.
• Norsk Senter for Sirkulaer Økonomi (NCCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCE (Norwegian Center for Circular Economy) co-organizes Den store sirkulaerkonferansen with Circular Norway and is a partner in Asker municipality's circular economy efforts.
• LoopfrontminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoopfront, Madaster, and Circular Norway entered a collaboration to simplify reuse in the construction industry by leveraging data flows from Loopfront's and Madaster's digital platforms.
• MadasterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMadaster's digital material bank platform, combined with Loopfront and Circular Norway, provides property developers, investors, and builders with better insight into circularity for reporting on new requirements and climate goals.
• Asker kommunecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsker municipality entered a 2024 partnership agreement with Circular Norway to strengthen the municipality's circular economy efforts toward local businesses. The agreement includes activities related to business development and circular economy transition.
• Standard NorgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStandard Norge hosted the Norwegian launch of ISO 59000 series of standards for circular economy and is working on Norwegian translation of the standards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• AFRY (ÅF): Sweden-based engineering and sustainability consultancy serving industrial clients across the Nordics. Competes for circular economy, ESG, and sustainability advisory work in the same geographies and sectors as Circular Norway, particularly manufacturing and industry clients.
• Ramboll: Danish-headquartered engineering, sustainability, and consulting firm with a Nordic footprint and strong circular economy practice. Regional incumbent competing for the same Norwegian and Nordic enterprise and municipal circular economy advisory engagements as Circular Norway.
• Accenture Sustainability: Global consulting firm with a dedicated sustainability practice offering circular economy strategy, CSRD reporting support, and supply chain transformation for large enterprises. Represents the broad incumbent threat — able to bundle circular advisory into larger transformation engagements with multinational clients in Norway.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): Global sustainability and environmental consultancy advising Fortune 500 clients on ESG strategy, supply chain due diligence, and circular economy transition. Broader incumbent competitor that overlaps with Circular Norway on enterprise advisory for circularity, regulatory compliance (CSRD), and value chain assessment.

Direct peers

• Metabolic: Dutch circular economy consulting and impact organization advising governments, EU institutions, and companies on circular transition, material flows, and policy. Similar advisory service mix, focus on translating circular economy into measurable strategy — analogous to Circular Norway's CDD and roadmaps.
• Circle Economy: Amsterdam-based social enterprise that publishes the global Circularity Gap Report and works with partners to produce country-level editions. Circular Norway co-produces Circularity Gap Report Norway with Circle Economy, and both organizations operate as circular economy thought leaders convening government, finance, and industry.
• Anthesis: Global sustainability consultancy advising companies on circular economy, ESG reporting, and sustainable product strategy. Closely comparable service offering to Circular Norway across circular business model design, regulatory compliance, and competence building.
• Systemiq: London-based systems-change advisory firm focused on circular economy, climate, and nature, working with corporates, financiers, and policymakers on transformation strategies. Comparable advisory model targeting the intersection of circular strategy and financial/business model redesign.
• Eunomia Research & Consulting: UK-based environmental consultancy advising public and private sector clients on circular economy, waste, and resource efficiency. Comparable advisory model with focus on policy, compliance, and circular strategy, though operating at larger geographic scale.

Others

• Norsk Senter for Sirkulær Økonomi (NCCE): Norwegian Centre for Circular Economy — an ecosystem organization that co-organizes Den store sirkulærkonferansen with Circular Norway and operates within the same Norwegian circular economy community. Adjacent rather than directly competing, as NCCE focuses on convening and competence building rather than commercial advisory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CircularNorway
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circular-norway
• Facebookfacebook.com/CircularNorway

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Circular Norway