On 17 March, 2026, Mrs. Suphanvasa Chotikajan Tang, Ambassador of Thailand to Denmark and Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Copenhagen, led a delegation of ASEAN Ambassadors—including Mrs. Siti Nugraha Mauludiah (Indonesia), Mrs. Nguyen Le Thanh (Vietnam), and Mr. Pablito A. Mendoza (Philippines, Ambassador-designate)—along with embassy staff, on a study visit to Kalundborg Symbiosis in Denmark. This pioneering industrial symbiosis network, the world's first, features collaboration among public and private companies that not only share resources such as water, energy, and residual waste materials to reduce GHG emissions such as carbon dioxide, but also conserve water, and promote a circular economy. This model aligns closely with the ASEAN Circular Economy Framework, which emphasizes efficient resource use, economic resilience, and sustainable growth.

 

The delegation also visited Unibio, a biotechnology company that employs advanced fermentation technology to convert methane gas into high-quality protein for various uses such as animal feed without requiring the use of agricultural land, thereby supporting food security. Additionally, the group toured the Port of Kalundborg, a deep-water port managed by APM Terminals, a subsidiary of A.P. Moller-Maersk that employs environmentally friendly practices to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and enhance transport efficiency, contributing to a more resilient maritime infrastructure.

 

This study visit aims to learn first-hand about how the BCG model can be implemented at an economical scale. Kalundborg Symbiosis serves as a successful example of an interdependent industrial system that minimizes waste, maximizes resource value, and offers an inspiring model for ASEAN Member States to advance ASEAN’s Sustainability goals. Potential applications include developing symbiosis-based industrial parks to reduce resource loss and waste, and fostering cross-sectoral partnerships among governments, businesses, and communities to build circular value chains.