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Articles and blog posts on Chemicals

Take a closer look at chemical issues with articles on the latest research, legislative changes and practical examples of substitution. Here, RISE experts share their insights to help you understand the challenges and find solutions.

Artiklar

Article / Chemical and biological analysis

Chemical Requirements in Saddler’s Daily Work

In an industry characterised by complex material flows and supply chains, chemical requirements and material considerations play an important role in both product quality and sustainability efforts. For the leather company Saddler, this work is embedded throughout the development process—from early…

Swedish industrial companies could halve their energy consumption – new technology leads the way

Sweden is now stepping up to compete with the rest of Europe in the use of industrial heat pumps. A new initiative aims to help companies reduce electricity consumption while lowering their climate footprint – with the potential to save terawatt-hours annually.

Article / Chemical and biological analysis

Blåbær Production – from chemical crisis to PFAS-free production

Many companies face the challenge of managing chemical issues that are becoming increasingly complex due to new regulations and rising expectations for transparency. For Blåbær Production AS, a chemical crisis in 2015 marked the starting point for a change in their way of working. Through collabora…

Article / Chemical and biological analysis

Silva strengthens its chemical management with support from the Chemicals Group

When regulations change rapidly, it can be difficult for companies to keep up. For the outdoor brand Silva, joining the Chemicals Group at RISE provided both expertise and structure. The result is a more systematic approach to chemicals that supports sustainability while also strengthening competit…

Article / Chemical and biological analysis

Reaching REACH: How VMG Is Rising to the Challenge

We spend a lot of our lives indoors, so it’s important that the materials around us are safe and don’t release anything that could impact our health. To help protect us, there are rules in place – and these are about to get stricter. A new EU regulation is coming next year, and VMG Group is already…

Article / Pulp and paper

New EU requirements create business opportunities for cellulose fibre recycling

Cellulose fibres in paper and board can be recycled over and over again, but in practice many fibres disappear from the system after a few cycles. There is now increasing pressure to optimise recycling. Companies that act in time can achieve both cost savings and competitive advantages.

Article / Hydrogen

‘This has been one of the most educational six months of my life’

Challenging work tasks, supporting colleagues and an opportunity to make a difference. This characterises Fabian Kroner and Felix Thorgren's time as thesis students at RISE in the spring of 2025. - ‘This has been one of the most educational six months of my life,’ says Felix.

Article / Biorefinery

Circular bioeconomy solves several societal challenges

These are three of the great societal challenges of our time: how do we reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, make ourselves more self-sufficient - and improve our long-term preparedness for major crises? The solution to all three is the circular bioeconomy.

Fermentation get the job done - here's the process that enables the protein shift

Fermentation is more than just trendy kombucha and kimchi – the ancient preservation method is being used to develop alternative protein sources. But how does it work? And what are the challenges?

Innovation in broth form paves the way for the food of the future

An everyday food like bouillon can help improve public health in countries where many people lack access to a nutritious diet. This is the conclusion of a recent international research project that has developed a fortified bouillon cube – designed to deliver essential vitamins and minerals despite…

Creating new foods that consumers want

Innovative foods can make a difference to both the climate and health - but only if they are actually chosen and eaten. In a facility where new ingredients are processed into products such as sausages, mince and burgers, researchers are using advanced analytical methods and a taste-testing panel to…

Article / Fossil-free fuels

Residues become fuels - now it's time for the next step

The next generation oil company. That's how Votion Biorefineries in Sundsvall describes itself. The company has developed a method for converting waste products into biofuels and biochemicals. The process has now been thoroughly tested and it is time to scale up operations.

Article / Composites

The EU is taking strong measures to boost the extraction of critical metals and minerals

Since May 2024, the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act has been enforced across the entire union. The goals are ambitious: within a few years, the EU aims to increase its self-sufficiency and recycling of critical metals and minerals, while simultaneously reducing reliance on individual countries."Wha…

Article / Chemical and biological analysis

Water analysis: an objective and cost-effective tool in the fight against drugs

Wastewater analysis can help a community or business track drug use over time and identify areas of unusually high use. It can also help the police detect the influx of new drugs. – Water analysis can act as a 'health check' for a community, similar to occupational health services. It provides…

Article / Chemical and biological analysis

How to identify PFAS in your products

Scientists and politicians agree – PFAS should not be present in products manufactured now or in the future. In anticipation of a broad EU ban, companies need to ascertain whether their product portfolios contain PFAS substances. This knowledge is essential to meet future requirements.

Article / Wood technology

Remediating wood the right way

Wood exposed to moisture or free water becomes susceptible to microbial growth over time. Remediation of the growth may be a better option than tearing out and replacing all the wood with new. An overall perspective with knowledge of all relevant parameters is required in order to make the right as…

Blogginlägg

Biological medicines – the medicine of the future is already here

What are biological medicines – and why are they being talked about so much? Gene therapy, mRNA vaccines and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) have become increasingly common in news reports and morning television programs in recent years.

Blog post / Food

Nutritional benefits and shortcomings of plant-based dairy analogues

Growing consumer demand for plant-based alternatives to dairy products has led to the launch of many innovative products on the market in recent years. Although plant-based alternatives are more climate-friendly than dairy products, they have both nutritional strengths and weaknesses compared to mi…

Blog post / Food

With legumes at heart!

To quote the Danish Food Authority's new music video: "What the fuck is a legume"? Legumes such as peas, lentils and beans are ingredients we should eat more of, both for our own health and for the planet's. Within RISE we are working on several projects to help ensure that there is a variety of a…

Blog post / Food

Antinutrients – a pitfall in the protein shift?

A shift towards a more plant-based diet would generally benefit both health and the climate and environment. From a nutritional perspective, however, there are certain potential pitfalls that one needs to navigate to avoid missing the mark. One such pitfall is so-called antinutrients. But what are …

Blog post / Water

It's not a water shortage - it's a lack of smart water management

Water is both our most basic resource and one of the most vulnerable. Climate change, increasing resource demands and a growing global population are forcing us to rethink. It is no longer enough to simply reduce our water consumption - we need to start seeing water as a circular resource, somethin…

Blog post / Water

Water crisis on the horizon?

Clean water has been taken for granted in Sweden, but climate change requires new thinking. With Unity4Water, RISE and industry are developing solutions for reusing process water - a step towards a water-wise future.

Blog post / Textiles

Converting used wool fibres to artificial silk

Textile industry leaves a considerable footprint on our planet. One reason is its linear economy structure, where new raw materials pass through the production and use phases only to end up on ever-growing landfill sites. Technology development for the circular transition is a major focus in our R&…

Blog post / Food

Can fermentation increase the availability of iron in meat analogues?

The interest in plant-based meat-like products, known as meat analogs, is high and growing. However, there are some nutritional challenges with today's meat analogs, such as an often high content of the antinutrient phytate that makes iron less available to the body. Fermentation is an interesting …

Blog post / Plastics

Plastic – superhero or environmental villain?

Plastic is everywhere in our everyday lives and is in many ways a fantastic material. At the same time, plastic can be problematic, not least from a chemical perspective. Is plastic a hero or a villain, and how do we move towards sustainable plastic use?

Blog post / Chemical products and processes

Non-toxic toys – unfortunately not something you can take for granted

Surely no parent would voluntarily put a toy containing carcinogens in the hands of their child. Nevertheless, there is a risk that we will do so, especially if the item in question comes from an online marketplace.