Circular Regions

What Circular Regions does

Circular Regions is a non-profit, UNEP-accredited NGO and an initiative under Locals.Global, headquartered in Nesodden, Norway, that operates as a multi-regional circular-economy platform and ecosystem builder. The organization bridges top-down public-sector policy with bottom-up grassroots circular-economy initiatives through a network of regional hubs — Oslofjord (Norway), Umeå Region (Sweden), and Västerbotten (Sweden) — and a portfolio of international partnerships spanning Iceland, India, Japan, Canada, and the broader European Union. Its core offerings include the Cities & Regions Programme (decision-support tools for public-sector organizations), Best Practice Mapping, the Materials Network, the Systems Entrepreneurs programme, and Project Support Tools, all underpinned by proprietary frameworks: the Circular Ontology, Societal Readiness Levels (complementing Technology Readiness Levels), the quintuple-helix innovation model, and the Circular Business Models framework aligned to the 5 Capitals approach. The technology backbone is the SmartUse.Global cloud platform (currently in beta), which provides case-study management, best-practice mapping, dynamic dashboards, and a Smart Library of Things for shared-asset utilization.

The organization generates revenue primarily through project support services and consulting/advisory engagements with public-sector entities and intermediaries, supplemented by methodology and training licensing, much of which is delivered on a pro-bono basis to Global South organizations. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging EU Circular Talks workshops, Circular Tours at the Oslofjord hub, regional conferences, and Leadership Group participation on the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform to build visibility and engagement. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and revenue figures are not available; no external institutional funding rounds are recorded.

Circular Regions is led by Founder and Systems Architect Cynthia Reynolds, operates with approximately six employees, and is registered under Norwegian organization number 926 870 696. The model is structurally non-commercial — prioritizing systems awareness, cross-pollination of research, and knowledge transfer (including to developing countries) — which constrains conventional revenue scaling but reinforces its institutional credibility and policy-influence positioning.

Name

Circular Regions

Legal name

Circular Regions

Website

https://circularregions.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Circular Regions is a UNEP-accredited Norwegian non-profit that operates a multi-regional circular-economy platform, providing decision-support tools, best-practice mapping, and regional hubs (Oslofjord, Umeå, Västerbotten) to public-sector organizations, intermediaries, and researchers across Europe, India, Japan, and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Circular Economy Consulting and Advisory Services

NAICS

Management of Companies and Enterprises (55111), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM), Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF), Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Circular economy consulting
• Sustainability advisory services
• Circular ecosystem platforms
• Regional circular hubs
• Best practice mapping

Headquarters

HQ city

Nesodden

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project Support Services: Providing practical and effective tools to support circular projects. Services include methodology training, technology deployment, and dissemination support for organizations implementing circular economy transitions.
2. Consulting and Advisory Services: Strategic consulting for public sector organizations at local, regional, and national levels. Support includes development and implementation of circular economy policies, economic incentives design, and establishment of new market opportunities via pilot projects.
3. Training and Methodology Licensing: Pro-bono services for training, technology, methodology and dissemination of mapping circular economy best practice initiatives. The organization has provided methodology services to enable equitable access for organizations in the Global South.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Circular Regions is a non-profit circular economy platform and ecosystem builder that bridges top-down policy with bottom-up community action. Its core offering is the Cities & Regions Programme, a decision-support service for public sector organizations, supplemented by Best Practice Mapping tools, Materials Network, Systems Entrepreneurs programmes, and Project Support Tools. The portfolio is underpinned by proprietary frameworks including the Circular Ontology, Societal Readiness Levels (SRL), and the Circular Business Models framework, and is operationalized through three regional hubs (Oslofjord in Nesodden, Umeå Region, Västerbotten) and the Circular Economy Coalition partner platform.

Product overview

Circular Regions operates as a multi-regional circular economy platform and ecosystem builder, offering a suite of practical tools and resources designed to bridge top-down policy and bottom-up community action. The core portfolio consists of the Cities & Regions Programme (decision-support for public sector organisations), Best Practice Mapping tools, Materials Network, Systems Entrepreneurs programme, Project Support Tools, and the Circular Economy Coalition. These are underpinned by proprietary frameworks including the Circular Ontology (shared intelligence), Societal Readiness Levels (SRL), and Circular Business Models framework. The platform operates through a network of regional hubs — the Oslofjord Regional Hub (Nesodden, Norway), Umeå Region Hub, and Västerbotten Hub — each showcasing place-based circular initiatives and case studies. The platform also aggregates and maps hundreds of circular economy initiatives, case studies, and projects submitted by organisations globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cities & Regions Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 13,000 tonnes of food redistributed (equivalent to 26 million meals) through Matsentralen Oslo initiative
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Partnership with IGES, established under Japanese government initiative with Kanagawa Prefecture support. The collaboration contributes to increased value creation for stakeholders at all levels, with complementary activities and value-aligned organizations. Focus on implementing practical data-driven solutions compatible with globally adopted frameworks and breaking down cultural and linguistic barriers to accelerate circular economy transition.
• International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022MoU signed at India's first India Circular Economy Forum. Targets bridging Global South and Global North, breaking down cultural and linguistic barriers. Circular Regions provides pro-bono services for training, technology, methodology and dissemination of mapping Indian best practice initiatives enabling equitable access for Global South organizations.
• CITEO (French EPR scheme organization)secondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2022Part of European delegation at India Circular Economy Forum. French extended producer responsibility scheme organization contributing to circular economy best practice sharing.
• Hringrásarsetur Íslands (Circular Economy Center Iceland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Partnership with Iceland's Circular Economy Center. Contributes to Nordic collaboration on circular economy best practices and knowledge sharing within the regional ecosystem.
• Canadian Circular Economy ClubssecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with Canadian Circular Economy Club leaders in Toronto, Calgary, London, Ontario, Montreal, and Quebec City. Data-driven mapping of circular economy business practices with Canadian focus.
• The European Environment BureausecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-contributor to EU Circular Talks on accelerating circular behaviors. Active collaboration on European circular economy stakeholder engagement and policy advocacy.
• ERASME Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on SustainabilitysecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-contributor to EU Circular Talks. Collaboration on sustainability education and research within the European Union.
• Generation Climate EuropesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-contributor to EU Circular Talks on circular behaviors and digitalization. Partnership for youth engagement in climate and circular economy policy.
• IRCEM RomaniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-contributor to EU Circular Talks. Romania-based circular economy stakeholder network participation.
• Locals.GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent initiative and organizational umbrella. Circular Regions is a Locals.Global initiative. Partnership enables shared infrastructure and mission alignment for circular economy ecosystem development.
• SmartUse.GlobalcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform provider powering the Circular Regions digital ecosystem. Provides cloud infrastructure for case study management, best practice mapping, and smart library of things operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global leader in circular economy thought leadership, education, and corporate engagement. Comparable as a globally recognized circular economy platform, though operating at much larger scale and broader scope than Circular Regions.
• ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability: Global network of local and regional governments committed to sustainability, offering circular economy tools and programs to cities. Comparable as a public-sector circular economy platform with a global mandate and Cities & Regions focus.
• Sitra (Finnish Innovation Fund): Finnish public fund that has shaped the Nordic circular economy agenda, producing widely adopted frameworks and reports. Comparable as a Nordic-headquartered circular economy thought leader with broader portfolio and significantly more resources.
• European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform: European Commission-led platform where Circular Regions holds Leadership Group membership. A broader EU-level platform enabling stakeholder coordination, policy input, and best practice sharing—comparable as a circular economy coordination mechanism.
• WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme): UK-based climate NGO working with governments, businesses, and citizens on circular economy resource efficiency. Comparable as a major public-sector-facing circular economy organization, though with substantially larger funding and reach.

Direct peers

• R2Pi (Returns to Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Recycle): European initiative supporting circular economy business model transition with research, tools, and project support for public and private stakeholders—overlapping directly with Circular Regions' transition brokerage and best practice mapping work.
• Metabolic: Dutch consultancy and venture builder developing circular economy tools, regional transition strategies, and impact measurement—closely aligned with Circular Regions' advisory and methodology work targeting public sector organizations.
• Circle Economy: Amsterdam-based social enterprise providing circular economy implementation, data tools (Circularity Gap Reporting), and consulting to cities, businesses, and governments—directly comparable to Circular Regions' consulting and Cities & Regions Programme model.
• International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE): Indian NGO and strategic partner of Circular Regions, focused on circular economy adoption, policy, and best practice mapping across emerging markets—comparable as a regional circular economy platform with similar consulting and knowledge-sharing approach.

Others

• Impact Hub Network: Global network of impact-focused innovation hubs supporting social enterprises and sustainability ventures. Comparable as an ecosystem-building platform with a community and hub model, though broader than circular economy specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circular-regions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Regions