Circular Innovation Lab

What Circular Innovation Lab does

Circular Innovation Lab is a research and policy think tank with a stated mission to accelerate the global transition from linear to circular economic models. The organization operates through two legal entities: Circular Innovation Lab ApS, a private limited company registered in Denmark (Company No. 41730854) and headquartered at Porcelænshaven 26, Frederiksberg, Copenhagen; and CIL Foundation MTU, a non-profit organization registered in India (Non-Profit No. 80658469) with a secondary office in New Delhi. The Danish commercial entity handles paid advisory work while the Indian foundation supports mission-aligned non-profit activities.

The firm organizes its work around six thematic focus areas — Artificial Intelligence, Textiles, Electronics, Food, Plastics, and Construction — and delivers four core service lines: National Circular Economy Roadmaps, Research and Recommendations, Capacity Building (workshops and trainings), and Tools and Insights for policymakers. Products are positioned as research output and advisory deliverables (policy frameworks, evidence-based recommendations, capacity building workshops, analytical tools, and a steady cadence of publications and op-eds) rather than as licensed software, APIs, or packaged technology products. No proprietary technology platform, patents, SDKs, or developer-facing infrastructure are disclosed in the available data.

The business model is professional services on a project basis, with revenue generated through direct advisory engagements with governments, national authorities, policymakers, regulators, international organizations, and NGOs. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is likely negotiated individually per engagement. Go-to-market is sales-led and thought-leadership-driven: the firm cultivates inbound interest through a multi-channel content presence (website, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, email newsletter, and op-eds authored by named contributors) and converts that attention into project mandates rather than operating a self-service, product-led, or transactional sales motion. No public pricing, revenue figures, headcount data, funding rounds, or customer logos are disclosed.

Name

Circular Innovation Lab

Legal name

Circular Innovation Lab ApS

Website

https://circularinnovationlab.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Circular Innovation Lab is a Denmark-headquartered research and policy think tank, with a New Delhi non-profit arm, that advises governments and policymakers on circular economy transitions across six verticals (AI, Textiles, Electronics, Food, Plastics, Construction) via roadmaps, research, capacity building, and analytical tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Policy Consulting

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

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)

Keywords

• Circular economy consulting
• Sustainability policy research
• Environmental advisory services
• Waste management consulting
• Green economy transition

Headquarters

HQ city

Frederiksberg

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advisory and Consulting Services: Revenue generated through consulting engagements with governments and policymakers to develop national circular economy roadmaps, action plans, and strategic frameworks.
2. Research and Recommendations: Providing evidence-based research and policy recommendations to institutional clients seeking circular economy guidance.
3. Capacity Building Programs: Revenue from workshops and training programs designed to develop competencies and skills in circular economy principles among policymakers and practitioners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Circular Innovation Lab is a research and policy think tank that develops national circular economy roadmaps, delivers evidence-based research and policy recommendations, runs capacity building workshops and trainings, and provides analytical tools and insights for policymakers and government clients. It operates across six thematic focus areas — Artificial Intelligence, Textiles, Electronics, Food, Plastics, and Construction — supporting the transition from linear to circular economic models through advisory consulting engagements.

Product overview

Circular Innovation Lab is a research and policy think tank offering advisory services, publications, and educational resources for circular economy transitions. The company organizes its work across six thematic focus areas (Artificial Intelligence, Textiles, Electronics, Food, Plastics, and Construction) and four core service lines (National Circular Economy Roadmaps, Research and Recommendations, Capacity Building, and Tools and Insights). These services support governments, policymakers, and organizations in developing and implementing circular economy strategies. The company also produces publications including op-eds, news articles, and research reports addressing circular economy policy and innovation challenges globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Circular Economy Roadmaps

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CIL Foundation MTUcoreOthersCIL Foundation MTU is a non-profit entity (Non-Profit No.: 80658469) associated with Circular Innovation Lab ApS, representing the charitable arm of the organization. This partnership structure allows the organization to operate both commercial advisory services and non-profit initiatives.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Circle Economy: Amsterdam-based impact organization providing circular economy research, advisory, and tools (e.g., Circularity Gap Reporting). Direct peer as both serve governments and policymakers with circular economy strategy, data, and national transition advisory.
• Material Economics: Nordic (Stockholm-based) consultancy producing large-scale research and policy analysis on circular economy, climate, and industrial transformation. Highly comparable to CIL's evidence-based advisory model for governments and corporates.
• SystemIQ: Systems change organization focused on circular economy and climate, working with governments, corporates, and philanthropies to design and implement transition strategies. Comparable multi-sector advisory and capacity-building model.
• Metabolic: Amsterdam-based sustainability consultancy advising governments, businesses, and NGOs on circular economy, climate, and regenerative systems. Comparable service mix (advisory, research, tools) and policy-focused client base.
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Leading global circular economy think tank publishing foundational research and partnering with governments, businesses, and international organizations on circular economy transitions. Direct peer offering research, policy recommendations, and capacity building in the same domain.

Broad incumbents

• WRAP: UK-based climate NGO working with governments, businesses, and citizens on circular economy, particularly food and plastics. Comparable policy advisory function though with broader operational scope and established brand.
• Wuppertal Institute: German research institute conducting sustainability and circular economy research for governments and international bodies. Comparable empirically-grounded research-to-policy advisory pipeline, though with a broader applied sustainability mandate.
• Sitra (Finnish Innovation Fund): Finnish public innovation fund with a globally recognized circular economy program producing roadmaps, indicators, and convening policymakers. Comparable Nordic-origin policy advisory work and broad portfolio beyond circular economy.

Regional players

• TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute): India-based research and policy institute advising Indian government on sustainability, resource efficiency, and circular economy. Strongly comparable in focus area and India-policy depth, though broader in scope than CIL.

Others

• International Resource Panel (UNEP): UNEP-hosted scientific panel producing authoritative reports on natural resource use and circular economy that inform government policy. Adjacent/ecosystem rather than competitor in that it sets reference frameworks CIL's advisory work draws upon.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CILThinktank
• Facebookfacebook.com/circularinnovationlab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circular-innovation-lab
• Instagraminstagram.com/circularinnovationlab/?hl=da

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Innovation Lab