ETC CE Report 2026/3 Scaling of Circular Business Models in Europe's Circular Economy

21 Apr 2026

Saskia Manshoven, Wim Van Opstal, Tom Duhoux, Lea Kress, Carla Schmid, Lars Fogh Mortensen, Tobias Nielsen, Juliana Subtil Lacerda

This ETC CE report provides the detailed analysis underpinning the EEA Briefing ‘Scaling circular business models in Europe (European Environment Agency)’.

Scaling circular business models is essential to advancing Europe’s transition to a resilient and sustainable circular economy. While many innovative initiatives have emerged, their overall impact remains limited. Scaling in a circular context goes beyond growth: it is about maximising environmental, climate and social benefits alongside economic viability. Circular models often balance profitability with resource efficiency and social inclusion, making their scaling pathways more complex than traditional business models.

Building on the European Environment Agency’s framework on circular business models, this report explores what scaling means, why some models succeed while others do not, and what conditions enable circular business models to transition from niche applications to mainstream practice across Europe.