By addressing product life extension, reuse, and the recycling of waste, circular business models can reduce consumption and minimise waste generation. They allow products to be continuously used, reused, sold as a service, and enable the sharing of products, rather than incentivizing a one-time purchase. A commonality and driving forces are data collection, digital tools, and design.

The energy-intensive industry contributes crucial materials for society – for buildings, manufacturing, transport, food processing, and energy production. Denmark serves as a global inspiration in this sector through strategic investments, innovative policies, and forward-thinking public-private partnerships, excelling in energy efficiency, integration of renewable energy sources, utilization of surplus heat, and mandating emissions reductions, setting a benchmark for sustainable industrial practices worldwide.

Resource-efficient production is about optimising the use of materials and energy to create sustainable and cost-effective manufacturing processes. By implementing circular economy principles, such as recycling and reusing materials, Danish industries have proved that decoupling economic growth from an increase in energy consumption is possible. This commitment to resource-efficient production not only conserves natural resources but also strengthens sustainable industrial practices.

Industrial symbiosis is about creating collaborative networks where waste or by-products from one industry serve as resources for another. In an effort to create more resource-efficient industries, several eco-industrial parks have been developed in Denmark where businesses work together to optimise resource use and reduce waste. By sharing energy, water, and materials, they enhance efficiency, lower costs, and minimise their environmental impact.

Air pollution from industrial production is about addressing and mitigating the harmful emissions released into the atmosphere by manufacturing processes. Denmark’s proactive approach to reducing industrial air pollution includes the implementation of strict environmental regulations, advanced emission control technologies, and continuous monitoring systems. By promoting cleaner production methods and encouraging the use of sustainable energy sources, Danish industries have significantly reduced their air pollution levels over the years.

Challenges to production capacity, due to increasing water supply issues, are putting pressure on industries. To stay competitive industries must look to efficient reduction in water consumption in production and to local treatment of the industrial wastewater for possible reuse. By optimising water use, reducing wastewater discharge, and reusing water within industrial processes, industries can significantly lower their water footprint.

Green hydrogen and e-fuels play a vital role in advancing the green transition. Produced through electrolysis using renewable electricity, both are critical components in decarbonising industries and transporta-tion globally.

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) are important tools for reducing emissions and accelerating the green transition. Through technologies like power-to-x, we can use the CO2e we already emit as a sustainable energy and fuel in other sectors.

Biosolutions are about harnessing natural processes and biological innovations to address environmental challenges and improve industrial practices. Danish businesses are cutting-edge when it comes to biosolutions. As a well-established research-based industry with a strong international engagement, the Danish biosolutions cluster provides abreadth of ways to initiate and accelerate the green transition across industries.