Re:Value – Making the future freight transport circular

The background – a system under pressure

Global resource use has increased dramatically, threatening both climate stability and biodiversity. Meeting these challenges requires a shift from linear to circular economic models – where products are designed for longer lifespans, increased utilization, upgrades and repairs. Re:Value addresses this challenge by developing transport solutions that are both sustainable and economically viable. The project is coordinated by Lindholmen Science Park and is a collaboration between Volvo Group, RISE, Karlstad University (CTF) and IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. It is part of FFI's focus on circularity and resource efficiency in the freight transport system.

The project's three pillars – the path towards circularity

To achieve its goals, Re:Value focuses on three strategic areas:
1. Circular business models and design strategies
How do new business logics affect vehicle design and the environment? RISE is leading the work to evaluate future business models for freight transport, including their economic and environmental impact. The focus is on identifying barriers and enablers for circular design and business development.
2. Future customer needs and user value
The CTF at Karlstad University is exploring what future transport actors – such as transport companies and logistics providers – actually need. What are their expectations of circular solutions? What are the challenges around customer acceptance? The potential of "reusable" products and services offered according to "as-a-service" logic is also being investigated.
3. Circular product and service design
RISE is leading the work to develop a conceptual vehicle platform that enables long life, flexibility and reuse. The goal is to create design principles that support continuous upgrades and minimize climate impact – an important step towards Volvo Group's vision of carbon-neutral products by 2040.

What will the project deliver?

Re:Value will not only generate new knowledge – it will also provide practical guidelines for how freight transport players can transition to a circular system. It is about equipping both freight carriers and vehicle manufacturers for a future where sustainability and business benefit go hand in hand.

A new direction for the transport sector

By combining research, industrial expertise and systems thinking, Re:Value wants to show that the transition to a circular transport system is not only possible – it is necessary. With Re:Value, Sweden's trucking sector takes an important step towards a more sustainable system that is not just a technical challenge, but an opportunity to redefine value in a world where resources are limited but innovation is endless.