Articles on circular transition

How well prepared is your business for a future in which resources are repeatedly reused? The EU's proposed Circular Economy Act aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. In this article, two RISE experts explain what the proposed legislation could mean for your business and which mea...

IS Plåt wanted to demonstrate that their commitment to sustainability is genuine. The company can now showcase a RISE-verified sustainability declaration, which boosts credibility and business. 'With the framework in place, we can focus on making constant improvements,' says CEO Erik Ralvert.

In collaboration with RISE, Axkid has strengthened its ability to develop circular products and assess future opportunities for remanufacturing through a structured foresight process The result is a more consolidated knowledge base and a clearer direction for long-term decision-making.

Sweden loses SEK 600 billion every year due to today’s linear “take-make-waste” economy, where products are designed for short lifespans and are rarely reused. This amount corresponds to one-fifth of the total value created in Sweden. These findings are presented in the Circularity Gap Report (CGR) ...

How can remanufacturing become a viable business model? A key starting point is to develop clear strategies and roadmaps that map the journey from the current state to circular product life cycles. By working with a roadmap, Autocirc Rematrontech gained fresh perspectives and a tool that simplifies ...

Climate transition requires more than visions – it requires action. Across Sweden, several municipalities and cities are leading the way with concrete measures that reduce emissions, strengthen resilience and create sustainable communities. The transition needs to happen on a large scale and at a ra...

At RISE, Sofie Gustafsson gets to combine her interest in the environment and technology through research projects that support the transition of industry. As a recent graduate, she appreciates the variety, the clear sustainability perspective and the opportunity to grow in line with the assignments...

Giving used products a new life is not only a sustainable solution—it can also make strong business sense. Join Husqvarna Construction on its journey towards a more circular business model. “We see both environmental and economic benefits in reintroducing products to the market,” says Adam Björk,...

Adapting our cities to be better prepared for the future is perhaps one of the most challenging tasks we face. No one knows for sure how the future will unfold. It requires innovation from everyone involved, especially in cities and municipalities. But how should one proceed and where should one sta...

The construction and property sector is in urgent need of a transition to circular business models, not least to meet future sustainability requirements. One of the challenges is to create a working system for the reuse of construction products. Those who find the right solutions have a lot to gain.

Circular products and services that are received with little interest are not doing much for the green transition. New research shows what it takes to create circular offers that customers actually want.

By the end of the century, it is estimated that we will share the Earth's finite resources with 11 billion people. This means that current approaches to sustainability and reduced consumption are not enough. "We need to measure success in new ways. From manufacturing and selling as many product...

Would a collection of typewriter manufacturers focused on reducing their own emissions have invented the computer? Are we about to get the equivalent of the world's lowest-emission typewriters, when what we need is something completely different?

Almost everything sold in the EU could soon need a so-called digital product passport. This will place new demands on manufacturers and importers in terms of sustainability data. But the new requirements could also lead to entirely new business models.

Among the materials we need most for the sustainable transition are those that are rare or difficult to extract. And while our need for them increases, so does everyone else’s. The EU’s need for rare earth elements is projected to increase sixfold, by as early as 2030. The need for lithium will doub...

Today, many companies set goals for using recycled materials. But far too few actually do so. So how do we build trust in using recycled materials on a large scale – and how do we get everyone involved to accept the challenges it entails?  “It’s often more expensive,” says Christina Jönss...

In the coming years, several new laws and regulations will enter into force at EU level, which will significantly accelerate the market’s demand for sustainable business models. RISE runs Circular Business Lab – a collaborative workshop and knowledge hub for everyone seeking to learn how to move fro...

By 2050, Europe will become the world’s first carbon-neutral continent. A concrete roadmap began to take shape in 2019, when the European Green Deal was reached. The EU has now proposed a large number of updated and new policies under the Green Deal. Here’s how your business will be affected.

How can we combine circularity with a sustainable business model? This was a question that Andreas Mattisson of furniture company EFG had given a great deal of thought to. It was only after chancing on a lecture on future adaptive design by Thomas Nyström of RISE that the pieces began to fall into p...

With representatives from industry, institutes, academia, and social partners, RISE has developed a Future Plan for Sustainable Production. The aim has been to create a consensus on priority areas in sustainable production and strengthen regional and national initiatives in the production area. The ...

In December 2021, the Liseberg amusement park in Gothenburg was certified according to the standard ISO 20121 – Sustainable Events. The company was helped in its process by auditors from RISE.

In 2020, public procurements amounted to a value of almost SEK 900 billion. Can procurement be a fast track to switching to a circular economy, and what do the manufacturers think? Eva-Lotta Löwstedt Lundell, CEO of Adda, believes that it will be more important to ask why we buy, not just what.

The climate crisis put the focus on the need to fundamentally change our way of life – becoming more resource efficient in using renewable raw materials and recycling products. Transitioning from traditional sales to a circular business model is a challenge, and an absolutely crucial success factor ...

There has been much talk about the circular economy for many years, without it resulting in any major changes. Yet, that is. Because momentum has been gaining in recent years and transformation could be just around the corner. But in order to derive own benefits, we will all need to be prepared.

Long-lasting products are a must if we are to achieve sustainable production and consumption. To encourage companies and guide consumers, RISE is developing the Certified to LAST concept, a way of rewarding products with long service life.  – “It can reduce and slow down material flo...

Common grass could become a new contribution to the energy transition – and a new source of income for Swedish farmers. Lantmännen is well on its way to successfully extracting protein for pigs and poultry from forage crops.  "This could generate profitability for our farmers and make producti...

Robust constructions are essential for safety. Circularity, however, requires products that can be taken apart. Wherever these requirements coincide, the same challenge emerges: how can they be combined without compromise?

All surfaces in our surroundings are affected by how they are used and the environments they are exposed to. Cecilia’s work with surface treatments extends the lifespan of many products and processes, reducing resource consumption - and thereby contributing to a more sustainable world.

With the help of common guidelines, known as industry recommendations, contractors, designers, and builders can ensure that they meet the functional requirements of the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning's new building regulations. As an independent third party, RISE has develo...

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.

Launched in response to industry's need for increased competitiveness, the challenges of the future have become more numerous and complex. The development programme led by RISE is more relevant than ever.

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.

The construction sector has a lot to gain from reclaiming materials - especially load-bearing structures such as concrete frames, which often have a long lifespan after demolition. Despite the great climate potential, development is being slowed by unclear rules and uncertainty about quality. To spe...

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?

The use of biomass has become a controversial issue in the debate about future energy systems. Some regard it as essential for the green transition. However, others warn of the negative effects of using forest residues for energy purposes. So, what do two researchers specialising in energy systems a...

The vast majority of wild berries in Sweden are left unpicked, and of those that are, most are picked by foreign workers linked to large wholesalers. After picking, a large proportion of the berries are sent out of the country for processing. The municipality of Bjurholm wanted to try a new approach...

The energy system of the future is based on batteries. But while other countries and regions have secured the entire chain – from raw material to finished product – Europe has lost momentum and is struggling with failed investments. How can we reverse this trend?

On April 29, RISE organized a full-day conference on the theme 'Water – from Vital Resource to Climate Challenge.' The conference brought together stakeholders from across society to jointly discuss how we can address both current and future water challenges.

Does start-up Reselo have the answer to fossil-free rubber? The company's material is already used for shoe soles – and together with a manufacturer it is now being adapted for tyre production, which accounts for 70% of the world's rubber consumption. "The material is made entirely from birch bark...

Sweden's largest initiative for sustainable cities, Climate Neutral Cities 2030, is stepping up. 48 of Sweden's 290 municipalities are coming together to tackle the climate crisis. In just five years, the original nine cities in the initiative have now become 48. According to Lars Johansson, change ...

The plastics in our children's toys, the synthetic fibres in our clothes and the ingredients in the salve we use to lubricate our hands. The common denominator? The products contain chemicals of fossil origin that need to be phased out. Green chemicals is the key.

Climate change has long been characterised by reactive thinking and blame. But meeting the challenges of the future requires a new perspective that puts human needs and innovation at the center. – Businesses and cities should see climate change not as a blame game, but as an opportunity to innovate,...

Our energy system needs to be transformed. We need to move away from fossil fuels towards more sustainable solutions. To reach the set targets, several different solutions will be required - and to find out which ones are most effective, an energy system analysis can be an important tool.

At a time when resources are increasingly limited and the need to reduce waste, emissions and energy consumption is more urgent than ever, the aluminium industry is facing major challenges. The energy required to produce one tonne of aluminium from bauxite ore is equivalent to the annual consumption...

Plastic can be highly damaging to the environment thus replacing it with entirely new bio-based materials could be one solution to reducing environmental impact. In the future, fibre-based foam could be used in everything from packaging and furniture to cars and houses.

Batteries are essential for the transition to a fossil-free society. They are already used in millions of consumer products, but also for various industrial applications - and demand is expected to increase. Sweden is well placed to become a leading battery nation. "But to do so, we need a commo...

Cities rank high in quality of life surveys. Unemployment is low and access to higher education is good. At the same time, they have renewable energy, metals and minerals that are crucial to the development of green technology. It's all about the north of Sweden, of course. Several top politicians h...

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.