A vacuum cleaner made entirely of recycled material, a circular by-product from paper and pulp production, and a new circular solution for electric motors are some of the results presented during the second edition of Circular Initiative. Together, large companies such as ABB, Electrolux, Combitech, Stora Enso, and Stena Recycling are driving the Swedish industry towards a more circular economy where materials are used and handled more sustainably.
Initiated by Stena Recycling, the Circular Initiative is a collaborative arena where major Swedish companies collaborate and contribute their expertise to increase the proportion of circular material flows. By pursuing common goals, innovation and technological development, the partnering companies collaborate on long-term projects. Along with invited guests from the Swedish business community, they gather once a year to exchange knowledge, take part in discussions and present existing and new projects.
Due to Covid-19, the Circular Initiative 2020 was arranged digitally, with almost 400 representatives from different parts of the business community participating via link.
“It was the first time we arranged a digital event of this size and we’re very pleased with the result. Many exciting advances have been made in our various collaborative projects and it’s always great to share and discuss these with others. We have received very positive feedback and I feel that many people left the event with new insights and inspiration,” says Fredrik Pettersson, Managing Director of Stena Recycling Sweden.
The Circular Initiative 2020 offered presentations about its projects and a panel discussion, attended by Jacob Wallenberg, the chairman of Investor AB. Jacob emphasized the commitment end customers around the world are showing to companies genuinely integrating sustainability into their business concepts, and how quickly this has taken place.
One of the projects presented was the Electrolux vacuum cleaner, which is made from 100 percent recycled plastic and reused components from end-of-life electrical consumer products. This prototype was developed through a collaborative project carried out by Electrolux and Stena Recycling.
Speakers
Eva Hamilton, Moderator of Circular Initiative Jacob Wallenberg, Investor AB’s Chair Ola Nilsson, CXO/CTO of Electrolux Annica Bresky, President and CEO, Stora Enso Robin Teigland, Professor of Strategy, Management of Digitalization, in the Entrepreneurship and Strategy Division at Chalmers Martin Hedström, VP CX Visions & Innovation at Electrolux Lena Westerholm, Global Sustainability Manager Robotics & Discrete Automation, Head of Sustainability Affairs ABB Sweden Noel Morrin, Executive Vice President, Sustainability, Stora Enso Johnny Larsson, Head of Strategic Business and Innovation, Combitech Ulf Hellström, Business Area Manager, ABB Motion Sweden Christopher Flensborg, Head of Climate & Sustainable Finance, SEB Lena Delbom, Digital Lead, ABB Sweden Fredrik Pettersson, Managing Director Stena Recycling Sweden Mattias Nilsson, Sales & Marketing Director, Stena Recycling Sweden Jens Leffler, Sustainability Lead Wellbeing, Electrolux Louise Eriksson, Design for Recycling specialist, Stena Recycling Mathilde Jansson, Project Manager, Stena Recycling
Circular Initiative 2023
Read more about the lastest Circular Initiative and the projects presented
Plastic is a fantastic material with many good qualities for creating durable products. But it is important that plastic is handled with care throughout the entire lifecycle of the product (the chain).
