# Kalundborg Symbiosis

the world's first industrial symbiosis, running since 1961 and linking more than 30 partners; it achieved its "10 new streams in 10 years" goal in December 2025, adding exchanges across water, energy and bio-refinery by-products.

Source: https://en.bioecon.ru/companies/kalundborg-symbiosis/
Updated: 2026-07-27

- Country: Denmark

## Verifiable facts

| Fact | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Partnership | A partnership/membership association of public and private industrial companies in Kalundborg, Denmark | https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/en/good-practices/kalundborg-symbiosis-six-decades-circular-approach-production, https://www.symbiosis.dk/en/, https://www.symbiosis.dk/en/kalundborg-symbiose/ |
| Research focus | Circular production, industrial symbiosis, resource utilization (water, energy, and residual materials), and green industrial development | https://articlegateway.com/journals/index.php/JSIS/article/view/7330, https://www.sfridoo.com/en/blog/kalundborg-industrial-symbiosis-case-study/, https://www.symbiosis.dk/en/, https://www.symbiosis.dk/en/governance/ |
| Facility | Biopro (research unit), Asnæs power station, and various industrial plants managed by members such as Novo Nordisk, Novonesis, and Kalundborg Refinery | https://trap.lex.dk/Kalundborg_Symbiose, https://www.sfridoo.com/en/blog/kalundborg-industrial-symbiosis-case-study/, https://www.symbiosis.dk/en/, https://www.symbiosis.dk/en/2025/12/15/kalundborg-symbiose-nar-malet-10-nye-stromme-pa-10-ar/ |
| Grant | Funded by the Danish Energy Agency; revenue is also generated through fees for visitor groups and lectures | https://trap.lex.dk/Kalundborg_Symbiose, https://www.symbiosis.dk/en/symbiosis-stream-the-latest-updates-from-kalundborg-symbiosis-secretariat/ |
| Principal staff | Bjarke Skaanning (Head of Secretariat), Per Møller (Senior Symbiosis Developer), Ghita Hansen (Acting Chair/Vice Chair of the Board) | https://mva.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/6-How-to-reach-sustainable-production-through-a-local-partnership.pdf, https://www.symbiosis.dk/en/, https://www.symbiosis.dk/en/governance/ |

Independent sources: articlegateway.com, circulareconomy.europa.eu, mva.org, sfridoo.com, symbiosis.dk, trap.lex.dk

## Technologies

- [Industrial symbiosis & by-product exchange platforms](https://en.bioecon.ru/technology/industrial-symbiosis-by-product-exchange/)