CirEko
CirEko is a Swedish non-profit membership organization, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Västerås, that operates a national network of 13 regional communities helping SMEs, public sector bodies, and retailers transition to a circular economy through training, EU-funded development programs, and expert networks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersSweden (National Organization), Sweden
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CirEko does
CirEko is a Swedish non-profit membership and interest organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Västerås, Sweden, that operates as a community platform for circular economy transition. It serves Swedish businesses — primarily SMEs but also public sector bodies and retailers — across 13 regional networks spanning Västmanland, Dalarna, Gävleborg, Stockholm County, Uppsala County, Skåne, Östergötland, Västra Götaland, Norrbotten, Blekinge, Kalmar County, Örebro County, and Värmland. The organization is led by founder Ann-Sofie Granzell (Operativ ordförande) and operational chief Camilla Blomqvist, with a small core team of approximately 11 employees augmented by regional leaders.
CirEko's offering comprises a community network, education and training services, EU-funded development programs (e.g., Cirkulär & Hållbar Handel, Upptäck företagets cirkulära potential, Dalarnas Cirkulära Offentliga Affärer), an expert network, a circular solutions showcase platform, a knowledge/fact bank, and a newsletter. Its core proprietary methodology is the "Cirkulära strategitrappan" (Circular Strategy Staircase), a stepwise framework used to help companies identify circular development potential and build action plans. Distribution is community-led: regional networks host events, network lunches, and in-person programs, with digital enrollment via the Ungapped platform and outreach through social media, newsletters, and earned media.
The business model is a hybrid of recurring membership fees, grants from EU structural funds (notably Regionalfonden Norra Mellansverige), and regional government co-financing (Region Dalarna, Region Gävleborg, Region Västmanland). Several development programs are offered free of charge to eligible companies under EU/regional financing — for example, the Västmanland program is free for companies with up to 250 employees in spring 2026. There is no parent company, no institutional investor, and no disclosed external investment; ownership is founder-controlled. Documented outcomes include 48 Stockholm companies that strengthened their circular business potential under the EU-funded Cirkulära affärssteg i praktiken Stockholm project, and a Fritidsbanken Västerås case where lendings grew from 8,400 to 27,000.
CirEko firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CirEko
- Legal name
- CirEko
- Website
- https://cireko.se
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CirEko is a Swedish non-profit membership organization, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Västerås, that operates a national network of 13 regional communities helping SMEs, public sector bodies, and retailers transition to a circular economy through training, EU-funded development programs, and expert networks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CirEko industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainability and Circular Economy Advisory Services
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF)
Keywords
Where CirEko is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sweden (National Organization)
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
CirEko business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership fees: CirEko is a membership organization where companies and organizations can join the CirEko community. Members gain access to network activities, development programs, expert networks, and regional communities.
- Development programs and training: CirEko offers various development programs and educational courses. Some programs are provided free of charge for companies in specific regions thanks to EU, regional, and CirEko financing. Other programs may have associated fees.
- EU and regional project funding: CirEko receives funding from EU regional funds (Regionalfonden Norra Mellansverige), Region Dalarna, Region Gävleborg, Region Västmanland, and other regional partners for various circular economy development projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free programs for eligible companies in Västmanland |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
CirEko product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CirEko is a Swedish non-profit membership organization that drives business and societal transition to a circular economy. It delivers this through an open community, training and educational courses, EU-funded development programs (e.g., Cirkulär & Hållbar Handel, Upptäck företagets cirkulära potential, Dalarnas Cirkulära Offentliga Affärer), a circular economy expert network, and regional member networks spanning 13 Swedish counties. Its proprietary Cirkulära strategitrappan (Circular Strategy Staircase) methodology is used to help companies identify circular business opportunities and build circular action plans.
Product overview
CirEko is a Swedish non-profit membership organization focused on knowledge, inspiration, development, and positioning within the circular economy. The organization operates as a community platform offering education, development programs, expert networks, and regional networks across Sweden. Key offerings include: CirEko Community (open to all sectors), Utbildning (training programs), Utvecklingsprogram (EU-funded development programs such as Cirkulär & Hållbar Handel, Upptäck företagets cirkulära potential, and Dalarnas Cirkulära Offentliga Affärer), Expertnätverk (expert network), Cirkulära lösningar (circular solutions showcase), Faktabank (fact monitoring), and Nyhetsbrev (newsletter). The organization has regional networks in Gävleborg, Dalarna, Västmanland, Stockholm, Uppsala, Skåne, Östergötland, Västra Götaland, Norrbotten, Blekinge, Kalmar län, and Örebro län.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CirEko Community (membership) Open membership community for businesses, public-sector actors, and civil society across all industries and sectors, providing access to network activities, development programs, expert networks, and regional communities focused on circular economy transition.
- Utbildning (Education and Training) Training courses and educational programs (digital and in-person) that promote circular and sustainable market transition for member companies, public-sector actors, and other participants.
- Upptäck företagets cirkulära potential – steg för steg Step-by-step development program for companies in Västmanland curious about circular business opportunities, wanting to work more resource-efficiently, and seeking to strengthen their sustainability brand.
- Cirkulär & Hållbar Handel EU-financed development program for retailers, food businesses, and event-sector companies with consumers as end customers, supporting transition to circular retail practices, resource-efficient operations, and circular business models.
- Dalarnas Cirkulära Offentliga Affärer Multi-year EU- and Region Dalarna-financed project (2026-2029) delivered with Upphandlingscenter Falun Borlängeregionen to build circular public-procurement capacity in Dalarna municipalities and integrate circular economy in public operations.
- Cirkulära affärssteg i praktiken Stockholm EU-financed development project in Stockholm that has supported 48 Stockholm companies in strengthening their circular business potential and identifying circular business opportunities.
- Förstudie: Cirkulära mötesplatser i Gävleborg Preliminary study project in Gävleborg financed by Regionalfonden Norra Mellansverige and Region Gävleborg, exploring circular meeting places and relationship-building as part of circular economy transition.
- Expertnätverk (Expert Network) Network of experts in circular economy and sustainability topics who contribute to CirEko's policy influence and development work as a standing resource pool.
Quantifiable outcome
- 48 Stockholm companies strengthened their circular business potential through the EU-funded project Cirkulära affärssteg i praktiken Stockholm
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CirEko
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CirEko technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
CirEko partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Region GävleborgcoreRegional government co-financing CirEko Gävleborg's circular economy initiatives including the circular meeting places preliminary study.
- Upphandlingscenter Falun Borlängeregionen (UhC)coreCollaborative partnership in the Dalarnas Cirkulära Offentliga Affärer project (2026-2029) focused on circular public procurement in Dalarna municipalities.
- Various member companies (ABB, Almi, Handelskammaren, etc.)minorCirEko operates as a membership organization with numerous Swedish companies as members/affiliates across regional networks. Partners include ABB, ACC-gruppen, Almi Mälardalen, Återbygget, Handelskammaren Mälardalen, and many others across different regions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CirEko competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: Sweden's national research institute with sustainability and circular economy expertise offering consulting and applied programs — comparable as a Sweden-based public-interest circular/sustainability advisory and training provider, but at much larger scale and scope.
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute: Swedish non-profit environmental research organization providing sustainability and circular economy consulting, training, and policy support — comparable as a Sweden-based non-profit sustainability/circular economy advisory organization, though much larger in scope.
- Sitra: Finnish Innovation Fund that operates one of Europe's most established circular economy programs (including the 'Circular Economy' flagship) — comparable as a Nordic non-profit/publicly funded organization running large-scale circular economy development, training, and network activities.
Direct peers
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global foundation advancing the circular economy through thought leadership, training programs, and a network of businesses, governments, and educators — the largest comparable non-profit circular economy knowledge/community organization.
- Circle Economy: Dutch non-profit that produces the Circularity Gap Report, runs circular economy knowledge programs and an impact-focused network — directly comparable to CirEko's model of a non-profit circular economy knowledge/training/community organization.
- EIT Climate-KIC: EU-funded climate innovation community running knowledge and accelerator programs with deep public-sector and corporate partnerships — closely comparable to CirEko in being an EU/regional-funded circular economy community delivering training and development programs.
- Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute: Global non-profit running a circular product certification standard and an associated education/community network — comparable as a non-profit running methodology-driven circular economy training, certification, and community programs.
Regional players
- Avfall Sverige (Swedish Waste Management Association): Swedish industry association for waste management and recycling municipalities — comparable as a Swedish membership/interest organization operating in adjacent circular economy territory (waste and resource recovery), with similar member-fee and event-driven model.
Others
- Naturvårdsverket (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency): Swedish government agency that funds and directs circular economy and resource-efficiency programs — comparable as the public-sector counterpart whose priorities and grant allocations directly shape CirEko's program pipeline.
- Nordic Innovation: Nordic Council-affiliated organization funding and coordinating sustainability and circular economy programs across the Nordics — comparable as a funder/convener of regional circular economy programs and a potential partner/competitor for cross-Nordic program delivery.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CirEko social profiles
Digital presenceCirEko financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CirEko leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
CirEko funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CirEko M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CirEko
What does CirEko do?
CirEko is a Swedish non-profit membership organization that drives business and societal transition to a circular economy. It delivers this through an open community, training and educational courses, EU-funded development programs (e.g., Cirkulär & Hållbar Handel, Upptäck företagets cirkulära potential, Dalarnas Cirkulära Offentliga Affärer), a circular economy expert network, and regional member networks spanning 13 Swedish counties. Its proprietary Cirkulära strategitrappan (Circular Strategy Staircase) methodology is used to help companies identify circular business opportunities and build circular action plans.
Is CirEko a public or private company?
CirEko is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CirEko founded?
CirEko was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CirEko based?
CirEko is headquartered in Sweden (National Organization), Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does CirEko make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership fees are the primary driver. The others are development programs and training and EU and regional project funding.
Who are CirEko's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and Sitra. Direct peers are Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Circle Economy, EIT Climate-KIC and Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. Avfall Sverige (Swedish Waste Management Association) is listed as a regional player. Others are Naturvårdsverket (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency) and Nordic Innovation.
Does CirEko have an API?
No public API is recorded for CirEko.
What industry is CirEko in?
CirEko's product category is Sustainability and Circular Economy Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIANAH, Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA), with a secondary code of BPAGALAF, Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling). Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8600.