Green production in Denmark contributes significantly to the Danish economy

Green exports accounted for DKK 80 bn., which is 10.4% of total Danish exports, and 8.5% of employees in Danish enterprises are involved in green production in 2010.

New green business statistics have been established covering the production of green technologies, goods and services by Danish enterprises.

The purpose is to be able to monitor, on a statistical  basis, the future development of green business in Denmark and its significance for the Danish economy. 

These statistics can serve as a common point of reference when discussing green growth in Denmark.

Read the short version of the report 'Green production in Denmark - and its significance for the Danish economy'. A translation of the full report will soon be available.  

Key conclusions in the report:

• In , green production in Denmark provided a turnover of more than DKK 250 billion. This is 9.2% of total turnover of Danish enterprises with at least one full-time employee.
•  Green exports accounted for DKK 80 billion, which is 10.4% of total Danish exports. The green share of total exports increased by about 1 percentage point from to 2010.
• Green exports to emerging markets (BRIC and NEXT11) increased substantially more than total exports of goods to these markets. However, Denmark is far below the EU15 average for green exports to these markets
• Almost 106,000 people were employed in green production in . This means that 8.5% of employees in Danish enterprises are involved in green production.
• An estimated around 22,000 enterprises in Denmark produce and sell one or several green products (i.e. environmental technologies, goods and services). This means that around one in five Danish enterprises with at least one full-time employee have green production. The green products on average account for 40% of turnover in the enterprises that sell green products.
• The figures reveal that a broad cross-section of Danish enterprises, across all industries, produce solutions that are contributing to the transition to a green economy.
•  In the energy area, renewable energy technologies make up the largest green business area, with a turnover of DKK 104 billion in . In the environment area, waste management is the largest green business area with a turnover of DKK 55 billion in 2010.

Furthermore, the figures indicate that in enterprises with green production, added value per full-time employee generally matches the average for all Danish enterprises.

The green business statistics have been established according to Eurostat's guidelines. Denmark is among the first countries to use these guidelines for green statistics in practice. This report should therefore be considered as an initial, year 0, report and work to further develop the statistics will continue.

The report 'Green production in Denmark - and its significance for the Danish economy' was prepared in November by the Danish Energy Agency/the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building; the Danish Business Authority/the Ministry of Business and Growth; and the Danish EPA/the Ministry of the Environment. Statistics Denmark monitored the work. The statistics were prepared by DAMVAD.

Read DAMVADs methodology

Green Production in Denmark - and its significance for the Danish Economy