Circularity Index 2026: The Reality Behind DAX40's Circular Economy Claims
Free comprehensive analysis revealing which strategies work, who leads, and where the gaps remain in Germany’s circular transformation.
Published by Handelsblatt.
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What’s Inside:
✓Complete performance analysis of all 40 DAX companies across 22 circular economy indicators
✓6 industry-specific pathways with tailored circular strategies and actionable recommendations
✓Best practice case studies from GEA Group, Deutsche Telekom, Beiersdorf, and RWE
✓Gap analysis showing which R-strategies remain completely unused across entire industries
Published by Handelsblatt
Find Out Where You Stand
47.5% of DAX40 companies have zero quantitative circularity targets.
Don’t be part of that statistic when CSRD reporting requirements hit.
In a focused session, we identified:
Your Pain Points
Regulation pressure, material risks, time-to-market challenges
High-ROI Strategies
Which of the 10R strategies fit your portfolio and business model
A Measurable Roadmap
A concrete next step to build a future-ready circular strategy
30 min
One call. Actionable clarity.
You receive
✓ Your score vs. DAX40 leaders in your sector
✓ The 2-3 R-strategies with fastest ROI for your model
✓ A concrete next step, no fluff, no pitch deck
From Index Insights to Measurable Outcomes
We take the key findings from the Circularity Index 2026 and build the systems and strategies that deliver guaranteed commercial results.
| The Insight (The Problem You Already Know) | The Outcome (The Profitable Solution) |
| Stuck on Materials, Zero on Value Retention | Unlock New Revenue Streams |
| The Index reveals many companies score zero on Value Retention (Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture). Your focus on recycled content is missing the biggest opportunity. | We design and launch profitable Reuse, Repair, and Recommerce that capture value from used items, generate new service revenue, and extend product lifetime. |
| Lack of Business Model Transformation | Future-Proof Your Supply Chain |
| Companies are systematically avoiding strategic commitments on business model transformation. This leaves you exposed to crisis and price volatility. | Implement a systematic approach to preserving value that makes your business more resilient to crises and resource price fluctuations. |
| The Target Gap | Establish Executive-Level KPIs |
| Nearly half of the DAX40 companies analyzed still lack a clear quantitative circularity target. No targets, no performance. | We help you define clear, data-driven circularity KPIs that your board, investors, and operations team can align on, ensuring circularity becomes a key driver of financial performance, not just a compliance metric. |
Read the Latest Editions
The Circularity Index is INDEED Innovation’s ongoing research series benchmarking circular economy progress among leading corporations.
2024 EU Circularity Index
- Focus on DAX 40 companies and their circularity goals
- Alignment with the EU Green Deal and sustainable development metrics
2024 USA Circularity Index
- A look at how US firms are evolving towards circular models
- Highlights key differences and common challenges across continents
About INDEED Innovation
As a global design and innovation firm specializing in circular economy transformation, INDEED Innovation helps organizations design and deliver products, experiences and systems that eliminate waste, regenerate natural resources, and create sustainable value through circular business models.
Which DAX40 companies are the leaders in circular economy ambition?
The Circularity Index 2026 from INDEED Innovation identifies Beiersdorf as the overall leader with a score of 17 points. Other top performers include RWE (16.4 points), GEA Group, and Siemens Energy.
These leaders are distinguished by their “breadth” across five key assessment categories:
- Energy & Water Use
- Material Use
- Design for Circularity
- Value Retention (10R Strategies)
- Industry Transformation
However, even among these leaders, ambition remains relatively low; no company covers more than 14% of the assessment framework with measurable, quantitative targets.
Why do nearly half of the DAX40 companies lack quantitative circularity targets?
A striking 47.5% of DAX40 companies (20 out of 40) currently have zero quantitative circularity targets. This group includes major players like Mercedes-Benz and the entire financial services sector.
The analysis reveals a “Pattern of Avoidance”:+1
Business Model Lag: Quantitative targets for actual business model transformation—like Value Retention, remain largely invisible because they require deep structural changes.
Methodological Comfort: Companies prioritize measuring what is already established, such as Energy and Water Use, which account for 45% of all quantitative targets.
Strategic Hesitation: Many firms favor qualitative (aspirational) goals over quantitative (measurable) ones to avoid the consequences of failing to meet strict commitments.
What are the most significant gaps in current corporate circularity strategies?
The biggest “blind spot” for German corporations is Value Retention, specifically the higher-value “10R” strategies. While many companies report on Recycling (the lowest-value retention strategy), they almost entirely ignore upstream innovation.
Key gaps identified include:
Design Deficiency: Only three companies (Volkswagen, Henkel, and Deutsche Telekom) have set quantitative targets for circular design.
Zero Quantitative Goals: No DAX40 company has set concrete targets for Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, or Repurpose.
Missing Strategies: The strategies of Refuse (avoiding unnecessary materials) and Repurpose (using components for different functions) are not explicitly mentioned by any company in the index.