For modern society, the chemical element carbon is both a blessing and a curse. 

Much of the climate crisis and the environmental challenges we are currently facing and attempting to manage is due to our use of – above all else – fossilised carbon in energy and material production. 

Parallel to this, we owe much of the welfare we have enjoyed in recent decades to the very same carbon products. 

Carbon atoms central to material production 

“Carbon-based molecules are found in almost all the materials we use in our daily lives. Consider, for example, all the different types of plastics and the items we produce with wood as the primary raw material. They all contain carbon atoms,” says Markus Norström, head of business development within bioeconomy and health at RISE. 

Now when we are to transition to a sustainable society, we must, at least for the foreseeable future, find new ways to use carbon and energy in material production. 

“We’ve grown accustomed to having a virtually unlimited supply of carbon atoms, but moving forward, we’ll need to become less dependent on carbon,” says Markus Norström. 

Accordingly, if we want to maintain our standard of living, we will need to find sustainable ways to use carbon atoms to produce new materials. Such as by recycling different plastics and switching to materials produced from biomass. 

“As for biomass, there’s a limited supply with competition for its use. It can be part but not all of the solution,” says Markus. 

We still recycle only a negligible share of all the plastic that is produced. 

“Most of it ends up in energy recovery, that is, combusted to produce heat and energy,” says Markus. 

Carbon capture can be used for new materials 

However, neither biomass nor recycling existing materials will be enough. If we want to move away from fossilised carbon sources, we will need to find other ways to source the necessary carbon atoms. 

One way to gain access to more carbon is to capture it where it often ends up after use – in the carbon dioxide emitted from industrial chimneys. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) deep in the bedrock has long been discussed, with several major projects under way. However, why not make use of the captured carbon atoms rather than store them? 

Experiments in what is known as carbon capture and utilisation, or CCU for short, are already under way. All large carbon-emitting facilities, such as heating plants and paper and pulp mills, have the potential to capture and reuse carbon dioxide. As part of these efforts, RISE’s experts are developing mobile pilot plants for capturing carbon dioxide. 

“This is a method with great potential. Huge quantities of carbon are emitted from industrial chimneys, and such combustion will continue for the foreseeable future. Moreover, carbon capture is already an established method,” says Markus. 

“The next step is to use our purification plant to obtain the right quality of carbon dioxide, as the requirements differ depending on its intended use.” 

Over the coming years, the legislation will not differentiate between which source is used. Instead, EU regulations will require fossilised carbon to be phased out by 2040. 

“During the phase-out period, a great deal of fossilised carbon will be emitted from these chimneys anyway, so we might as well make use of it. However, it’s important that CCU doesn’t become an excuse for continuing to use fossil fuels, because they reach the atmosphere eventually, albeit with a ‘delay’ as they end up in another product first,” says Markus. 

Different technologies for converting carbon dioxide into products 

There are different technologies for converting carbon dioxide into products. Most of them involve the use of hydrogen. Another example is direct electrochemical conversion, which can be used to produce chemicals and other substances for use in other manufacturing processes. The problem is that regardless of the technology used, a great deal of energy is consumed. Energy that was previously sourced directly from oil and coal but that must now be supplied in the form of renewable electricity. 

“A great deal of energy is required to enable these types of processes. And as long as fossil fuels aren’t associated with additional costs for their climate impact, they’ll be cheaper. If we’re to see a change, we need to support the early adopters who take the greatest risks, as well as implement other political measures,” says Markus. 

“Cheap, climate-friendly electricity production will be central to enabling such methods to compete. The thing about fossil fuels is that you get both carbon atoms and energy in the same package. When developing new products, we’ll need to add energy in other ways, which will mean renewable electricity.” 

“However, here in the Nordic region, we’re in a particularly good position. We have the methods and relatively good access to fossil-free electricity.” 

To show how Sweden can ultimately reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, take a leading role in the EU and develop a new export industry for bio-CCS and bio-CCU, Fossil Free Sweden, with support from RISE, has developed a strategy for biogenic carbon capture.

“Carbon capture is one of three ways to produce sustainable carbon, along with photosynthesis and recycling carbon from products,”  says Markus Norström. “We are well placed to succeed in building an industry around this in Sweden, with large point emissions of green carbon dioxide from industry and access to fossil-free electricity.” 

Only the first part of the production chain, agriculture, accounts for about 13 percent of the total Swedish greenhouse gas emissions. 

"Since such a large part of the climate impact lies early, it is important that farmers take advantage of as much of the raw materials as possible in the initial stages," says Emma Holtz, Head of Unit for Sustainable Consumption and Production at RISE. 

But as important as it is for farmers to take advantage of the entire raw material, it is equally important for food producers and meal suppliers to make the most of a food to reduce food waste. For example, using by-products and residual flows that arise during production to make new food products or dishes instead of throwing away what is left over. 

The food producer who wants to act to reduce their climate footprint should start by mapping their own operations to learn what causes the greatest impact and from there set goals and draw up action plans, according to Emma Holtz. 

Proof of the impact of climate action 

By quantifying their climate impact – and systematically following up the results – the food producer gets a receipt for the effect of the measures they are implementing. 

"Take the opportunity to take advantage of resources in a more efficient way. Also review other areas such as fossil-free energy solutions in the manufacturing process. Thanks to today's technology, for example, there are opportunities to make more climate-adapted logistics and material choices for packaging," says Emma Holtz. 

Britta Florén, senior project manager at RISE, has extensive experience in identifying climate-improving measures. Collaboration has proven to be a key factor in being able to identify solutions and have more effect on their climate work. 

“Make sure to maintain an active dialogue with your suppliers. For example, require them to use renewable energy sources in their production. Their climate measures affect your business and contribute to a reduced climate footprint for both of you,” says Britta Florén. 

Strategically important to promote improvements 

She also emphasizes how strategically important it is to talk about the climate measures that are being taken – of course in a genuine and transparent way. 

Internally to engage the entire staff in climate work, and externally aimed at actors in the food industry and consumers - in interviews with the media, in their own channels or why not on their own packaging. 

“Setting a good example and being a forerunner contributes to a positive change in the entire industry, whilst simultaneously strengthening your own brand,” says Britta Florén. 

A concrete example is Swedish greenhouse cultivation. The growers have inspired each other all over the country and oil-fired boilers have been replaced with biofuel that heats tomatoes, cucumbers and other things that germinate. According to the Swedish Board of Agriculture, fossil fuels in greenhouses have decreased from 77 percent (in 2002) to 13 (in 2020). 

International frameworks to keep track of 

For those who want to take continued climate-smart steps, there are international frameworks to relate to, where especially Science Based Targets (SBT) and Greenhouse Gas Protocol are in focus. In order to work with surveys and goals in accordance with the frameworks, there is knowledge and experience at RISE to use. 

Smaller companies may need to work in a simplified way. The experts at RISE can then help them make relevant priorities. 

"We coach them, provide them with knowledge and methods to facilitate climate work, and companies can also learn a lot from each other by exchanging experiences," says Britta Florén. 

In the long run, there is much to suggest that it will be easier to compete in the market with climate-adapted products, among other things because consumers are becoming more and more aware of the opportunity to influence through their choices. Perhaps the companies' product portfolios can be expanded and changed with more climate-smart ingredients? Most often, the most important climate measures are linked to the climate raw material, but Britta Florén believes that it is crucial to have a holistic view of the entire production chain in order to prioritize the right changes that really matter.