Low carbon and the circular economy can be a challenge for the industry, but also a big opportunity. In North-Middle Sweden, several initiatives are currently underway to help companies reduce their environmental impact and at the same time create new sustainable products and services.
One goal of Central Sweden’s joint strategy for industrial transformation is to develop the region’s industries to become more low-carbon and circular. An important part of the transformation is the use of bio-based, renewable resources and energy efficiency. By reusing products and materials and treating waste as a resource, businesses can improve their economy and competitiveness while reducing their environmental impact.
3D printing with recycled and renewable materials is an example of how the region can use waste streams to create new products and value. The image is from Circlab in Torsby.
3D-printed kayak with roots in Värmland
In Värmland, the Paper Province business cluster works to help new and established companies develop and launch sustainable ideas related to forests. For example, it organises symbiosis networks to explore how businesses’ residual flows can create value for others. Supporting companies that want to extend the lifespan of various materials is also part of the business.
One company supported by Paper Province is Melker of Sweden, which manufactures and sells outdoor products, such as longboards, kayaks and paddle boards. The company has a strong commitment to sustainability and wants to manufacture products with the least possible environmental impact. That’s why they experiment a lot with natural materials in their production and aim to move away from traditional plastic materials.
“We constantly try to work sustainably and recycle materials to create a circular ecosystem. One example are the coffee bags from Löfbergs. Instead of sending them to recycling, we use them as laminate on our products,” says CEO Pelle Stafshede.
They are also testing the production of kayaks in 3D printers with wood-based materials and have carried out some of their development work at the Circlab test bed in Värmland. In a Bioinnovation project, the company created a one-piece 3D printed kayak from wood fibre-reinforced recycled plastic, becoming the first in the world to do so.
Pelle Stafshede, CEO of Melker of Sweden.
Sustainability data important throughout the entire value chain
Ola Wallberg, RISE
Another example of developing ideas within sustainability is the Kickstart Circular Economy pilot project that RISE in Hudiksvall carried out last year. The aim was to share knowledge about how companies can work with the circular economy. Ola Wallberg from RISE held seminars for small and medium-sized companies in Bollnäs, Mora and Skövde. Everything from furniture manufacturers to metal industry companies were present.
“As a first step, we explored different concepts and talked about what the circular economy really is. The next step was to go further and consider how each company can work with this in its operations,” says Ola Wallberg.
There were discussions about how waste could be used in a better way. To create new products and services from waste products and thereby extend the life of the products.
“We also talked about the importance of keeping track of your sustainability data to be able to position yourself in a future market. It is becoming increasingly important to keep track of the climate impact of products throughout the entire value chain,” says Ola Wallberg.
During the discussions, it was also clear that many of the companies are already working with sustainability in different ways, without communicating it.
“Many people are afraid of greenwashing, and it’s positive that you don’t want to convey misleading information. At the same time, it shouldn’t prevent you from talking about good things you’re doing when it comes to sustainability,” says Ola Wallberg.
Collaboration with start-ups
In Dalarna, Dalarna Science Park has launched a so-called industrial accelerator. The project’s goal is to utilise the industry’s residual flows so that resources can be used in a circular, smart and efficient manner.
“Many companies need to become better at taking care of their residual products so that they can be further processed into new products instead of just being disposed of or destroyed, which is a cost today. New products or services could provide new customers and a new market and thus new income,” says Cecilia Carter, Project Manager for the accelerator project at Dalarna Science Park.
In a pilot project, three industrial companies operating in the steel, forestry and food industries in Dalarna will now be brought together with innovative start-up companies that have ideas on how the waste from the industries can be used.
Cecilia Carter, Project Manager at Dalarna Science Park.
“We bring in smaller companies that have concrete ideas on how the resources from the industries can be used. The companies meet, create networks and can develop the ideas together,” says Cecilia Carter. Then the smaller companies’ business models and value propositions will be developed in parallel to reflect the green transition to circular concepts.
Acceleratorn is an innovative business with the aim of attracting both national and international start-ups to Dalarna.
