Circular Development Hub Steps Up – New Opportunities for Packbridge Members

The Circular Development Hub was launched in early 2023 with the goal of accelerating the transition from linear to circular business models. It is now confirmed that the initiative will continue and expand. With new funding from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and the European Regional Development Fund, as well as co-financing from Region Skåne, the project is entering a new three-year phase starting in 2026.

For Packbridge and our members, this means increased opportunities to help shape the circular solutions of the future – in close collaboration with stakeholders from across the entire food value chain and related industries.

From Linear Production to Circular Business
At its core, the Circular Development Hub challenges today’s linear production logic -where we start with virgin raw materials and end with waste – and instead drives the development of resource efficient, circular systems. For the packaging industry, this transition is crucial.

Through the hub, concrete opportunities are created to:

• Develop new circular business models
• Test and validate innovative materials and solutions
• Identify industrial symbioses between different industries
• Build strategic collaborations that strengthen competitiveness

A Strong Ecosystem for Innovation
The Circular Development Hub brings together stakeholders from the food, packaging, life science, academia, and public sectors. For Packbridge members, this provides access to a cross-sectoral innovation ecosystem where ideas can be developed, partnerships established, and new value chains formed.

We see particularly strong potential in:

• Connecting packaging expertise with the needs of the food industry
• Driving the development of next-generation sustainable materials
• Creating cross-industry projects that deliver tangible business value
• Positioning our member companies as leaders in the circular transition

Through our engagement in the hub, we strengthen Packbridge’s role as a catalyst for sustainable innovation within the packaging sector.

Would you like to learn how your company can get involved or benefit from the work within the Circular Development Hub? Contact us at Packbridge, and we will be happy to tell you more about how you can become part of the next step in the circular transition.

Project Partners 2026–
Packbridge, IUC Syd, Krinova Incubator & Science Park, Livsmedelsakademin, Altitude, Malmö University, Kristianstad University, Lund University, Lund Municipality, City of Helsingborg, Sjöbo Municipality, Eslöv Municipality, Bjuv Municipality, and Regional Development – Region Skåne.