Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2020-543/ A systematic and continuously measurement of the progress towards the circular economy can inform decision making and policies, and thus strengthen the circular transition. However, this pre-study, mapping circular economy indicators across the Nordic countries on both national and sub-national level, reveals that as of 2020, data streams and indicators are missing for the inner loops of the circular economy. A monitoring system embracing only selected aspects of the circular economy (where data is readily available) risks exaggerating the focus on these areas and downgrade the importance of other areas where data is unattainable, even though the latter may (in principle) be creating more circular value (such as prolonging products’ lifetimes).

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-504/ The Nordic region aims to be a forerunner in the transition to circular economy. This project aimed to find areas, industries, and sectors, and potential in them, important for the circular transition in the Nordics. The barriers for unleashing the potential were also studied.Four areas of industry and two cross-cutting drivers were selected for the study. The bioeconomy, the food and beverage sector, building and construction, and the mobility sector play a prominent role in the Nordic economies. They are also responsible for significant emissions and waste. The drivers – applying new circular business models and better exploiting data/digitalisation – can bring change that holds promise for significant benefits.The study’s results are summed up in a set of recommendations addressing how the barriers can be torn down and how positive impacts of circular transition can be supported.

The Nordic Waste Prevention Group under the Nordic Council of Ministers initiated this project "Moving towards a circular economy – successful Nordic business models". The overall objective is to make the circular economy thinking more mainstream in the Nordic countries and hereby accelerate the development of circular economy in the Nordic region. The project consisted of two activities: - The organisation of a large multi-stakeholder workshop with participation of more than 60 actors relevant for the circular economy, which was held in in Copenhagen in April 2015. - The release of a report including a case-catalogue with 18 examples of Nordic businesses, which are part of the Nordic circular economy as well as short policy recommendations, which were suggested at the workshop. In this report, these 18 cases as well as the workshop and its recommendations are presented.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-507/ Deepened Nordic cooperation can speed up the circular economy and unlock multiple benefits and a sustainable, robust development path for the Nordic countries. This report explores how circular economy can be a key enabler for strengthening the Nordics as a region in the new geopolitical landscape. The report presents an overview of the benefits, status, and progress so far on circularity in the Nordics, an inventory of circular economy policies in the Nordics, and a first outline of opportunities for deepened Nordic collaboration and coordination to accelerate the circular transition and building a more resilient, sustainable Nordic region. The report highlights four areas where deepened Nordic cooperation can play an important role.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2021-535/ Naturally occurring materials, such as soil, mineral masses and rock masses from construction projects and infrastructure projects represent a high resource potential and potential for CO2-savings if used more efficiently. Large amounts of these materials are managed on an annual basis in the Nordic countries, but to enable a more resource efficient management of naturally occurring materials, several regulatory as well as practical challenges must be solved. Existing legislation in the Nordic countries is not a direct barrier that prevents optimal utilization of resources, but there are several untapped opportunities in regulation as well as problem areas that appear as barriers in practice. Efficient utilization of naturally occurring materials in the Nordic countries faces also a wide range of challenges in practice and from different angles.

The transition to Circular Economy necessitates right incentives for choosing products and services with lower environmental impacts, in the form of price signals and sufficient environmental information. An ecolabel indicates that the product is, environmentally speaking, among the best products available on the market and thus has the role to steer stepwise developments towards sustainability. The Swan criteria promote quality products with requirements on durability and the use of secondary raw materials. To further align the criteria with Circular Economy, future criteria development might focus more on aspects including upgradability, reparability, multi-functionality, component reuse and innovative forms of consumption and production. This report was prepared as part of a Nordic project, and the results could be useful in the development of the Nordic Ecolabel in the future.