The project, will the full title Exnovation for sufficiency: exploring pathways to an exnovation mindset and sufficiency futures, challenges the current approach of accelerating the transition to a circular economy mainly through innovation, i.e. adding circular solutions, such as products, business models and systems. In contrast, it addresses opportunities for exnovation, i.e. the phasing out and removal of key lock-ins mechanisms – material, social, and structural – that perpetuate unsustainable consumption and production practices. In this project, RISE, Lund University and Chalmers University of Technology set out to explore and realise the potential of exnovation for supporting a sufficiency-oriented circular economy.

To concretise the research, two sectors associated with high resource flows and significant impacts will be addressed: textiles, including clothing, and electronics, including information technology. Opportunities for exnovation at different system levels will be explored through literature reviews and small-scale exnovation experiments for three key actors: policy makers, organisations and consumers.

Guiding tools will be developed to support the actors in putting an exnovation for sufficiency mindset into practice, and implications for each actor will be synthesised, including exnovation pathways for sufficiency. Findings will be disseminated in the form of scientific publications, seminars, visual material and videos via a variety of channels. Expected impacts include the adoption of new mindsets and practices by policy makers, organisations and consumers, contributing to changes in consumption and production that enable society to stay within social and planetary boundaries.

The project is led by RISE and carried out together with the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) at Lund University and Chalmers University of Technology. The project members consist of Sara Renström and Anneli Selvefors at RISE, Jessika Luth Richter and Carl Dalhammar at IIIEE and Helena Strömberg at Chalmers.

Are you curious about exnovation?

Do you want to stay updated on the project? Would you like to be invited to presentations, seminars, focus groups, workshops, or other activities? Would you like to participate in exnovation experiments? May we interview you? Or would you like to collaborate in some other way? Then you can sign up for our contact list via the turquoise button above to the right. You can also contact the project leader, Sara Renström.

The concept of regenerative development represents a holistic and system-oriented view of how human activity can contribute to net positive effects that promote resilience and long-term well-being in socio-ecological systems. For a company, this approach means that business models, offerings and solutions should not only be designed with minimal environmental impact, but should also contribute to improving nature and society. This may involve strengthening biodiversity in various ways or contributing to strengthening key resource and nutrient cycles.

A regenerative approach rests on a number of cornerstones that are important to bear in mind and base practical development work on, including:

• Design methods that are co-creative, inclusive and place-based
• Development that takes into account the complexity of ecosystems and increases their resilience
• Processes that draw on collective wisdom by embracing pluralistic knowledge bases.

Our research shows that these foundations often require a shift in mindset and new ways of working. In our projects, we therefore study how companies can integrate regenerative principles into their business development and design work. We explore this in relation to three different thematic areas: Regenerative Design, Regenerative Business Models, and Regenerative Business Ecosystems. 

The pharma sector has a significant impact on the environment; in terms of CO₂ emissions, use of water, energy, solvents and fossil-based raw materials, as well as generation of a lot of waste.

By implementing cutting-edge technologies and methodologies across different manufacturing stages, the project strategically targets critical environmental concerns like the reduction/elimination of solvents and substitution of toxic chemicals and reagents, while advancing resource efficiency, operational sustainability, and eco-friendly production methodologies.  

PHARMECO will also harmonise the way sustainability assessments of pharmaceuticals are carried out, by delivering guidelines that are scientifically-robust, practical, and accepted by all stakeholders.

PHARMECO will address the production of small molecules, tides, and biologics, medical devices & technologies, with a key focus on: Safe and Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) platforms for early-stage pharmaceutical development. Green processes for industrial-scale manufacturing and decontamination. Advanced digital tools for sustainability assessment and decision-making.

Together, the project outputs will form a comprehensive toolkit to support the development and manufacture of more sustainable pharmaceuticals and to evaluate their environmental impact along the whole life cycle.

FOR-BLEND investigates three types of locally available forest-based residue feedstocks to produce a sustainable fuel blending component: sawdust, bark, and bio oil by-product from biochar process. During this project advanced analytical methods for new lignocellulosic-based fuel component are developed for determining its composition as well as physical-chemical properties. Moreover, the new fuel blending component is evaluated for (ICE) combustion engines applications, while the production process is integrated and evaluated through Life Cycle Analysis and technoeconomic assessment. 

In this project RISE is working together with University of Vaasa and Åbo Akademi University to determine how residual lignocellulosic streams can be used to produce fuel components. RISE will share its knowledge and expertise in pyrolysis methods as well as biocrude hydroprocessing demonstrating the entire production process from solid feedstock to the final drop-in fuel blend component at RISE available facilities in Piteå.

This study provides an overview of carbon flows in the wood-based value chains in Sweden in 2022. The focus is on the content of renewable carbon atoms in the solid wood products used in Sweden. Data comes from public statistics, industry organizations, and individual companies.

Of the primary raw material used in sawmills, 28% ends up in sawn spruce (2280 kt carbon) and 18% in sawn pine (1460 kt carbon). The sawn timber goes on to the building trade or further processing within the wood manufacturing industry into various building products, as well as to the furniture industry. The remaining portion of the wood raw material in sawmills becomes by-products that go to energy production or to the paper and pulp industry. From the Swedish wood manufacturing industry, there is a flow consisting of by-products and residual streams, where the majority becomes return wood chips (RT chips) that are either burned in their own boilers for heat production at the industry or sent to heating or cogeneration plants. The amount of RT chips that enters the Swedish power and heating plants annually amounts to 1300 kt carbon. The difference between what goes into the wood manufacturing industry and what is energy recovered in the form of mainly RT chips is bound in long-lived products such as wooden frames, building interiors, furnishings, and furniture, which are also partially exported. The market for reuse and recycling of wood and wood constructions within the construction sector is still limited in Sweden, pilot studies are ongoing, and only small amounts of timber flow in this process. Since building products often have functional and quality requirements that need to meet current building standards upon reuse, reuse is complicated, and the issue of responsibility also complicates matters. Regulations, test methods, new actors, and business models need to be developed.

Among the actors in the value chain, there is an understanding and willingness to make a transition, but there is primarily a lack of economic incentives to do so, as well as coordination within and between different parts of the value chain and also between different sectors for biogenic materials.

Another perspective, considering the increasing competition for wood raw material from the forest, is to reflect on the volumes of exported timber, its use, resource efficiency, and potential national needs.

Today, there is a large amount of detailed public statistics and data missing regarding the amount of sawn timber that goes into different types of products. The risk of revealing company-specific information means that collected data, for example by SCB, cannot be published officially. Not all companies report data either. Statistics exist for flows upstream for sawmill production and downstream sales. Individual companies in the value chain have good knowledge of their internal flows. Statistics for product categories within wood manufacturing are specified at the product level and not in detail for the input material. The low resolution makes it difficult to compile reliable statistics for flows of wood-based material. For energy and heat production, statistics are available via Energiföretagen and industry organizations. However, there is currently poor knowledge about the material flows that go to RT chips, which are then burned.

The IMMUNE project seeks to revolutionize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for soldiers by leveraging FILAVA™-based advanced materials. This initiative aims to produce a new generation of ultralight, highly resistant, and eco-friendly PPE components that enhance soldier mobility and protection. By addressing the weight and performance limitations of current PPE, IMMUNE will significantly advance the safety and comfort of EU armed forces.

Modern military PPE is heavy, impacting soldier’s mobility and effectiveness. IMMUNE addresses this by creating lighter, more durable, and eco-friendly gear that enhances protection without compromising comfort. This is crucial as soldier’s; operational environments demand both superior defence and agility. 

Project Objectives: 

• Weight Reduction: Achieve a 25% lighter design and reduce back face deformation by 35%.
• Standards Compliance: Meet NATO standards for ballistic protection and the United States National Institute of Justice standards for anti-stab protection.
• Sustainability: Extend equipment lifespan by 50%, ensure 100% recyclability, and adhere to European Union regulations.
• Enhanced Comfort: Improve ergonomic design for better soldier mobility and fit.

Expected Outcomes: 

• Market Impact: Aim for a 10% share in the military PPE market by 2030.
• Strengthened Supply Chain: Decrease dependency on non-European Union materials and reinforce European supply chains.
• Environmental Benefits: Enhance carbon dioxide balance and meet ecological standards.

IMMUNE is a collaboration involving 6 partners, which includes prominent industries, small and medium-sized enterprises, and research institutions from 4 EU Member States.

Interest in thermal treatment, e.g. pyrolysis, of municipal sewage sludge has increased in Sweden in recent years. For smaller wastewater treatment plants, an investment in pyrolysis may become more attractive if cooperation between plants is established and the treatment is carried out regionally.

This study investigates the conditions for pyrolysis of sewage sludge in the Halland region. The study maps existing sludge volumes in Halland and investigates potential benefits of using sludge biochar in agriculture. Also, regulations relevant to the pyrolysis of sludge and the use of sludge biochar are analyzed, as well as the economic conditions for pyrolysis and related sludge logistics.

The circular bioeconomy, which uses renewable biological resources and technologies to produce food, materials, or energy, can play a crucial role in shaping structural change. It has the potential to create new value networks, thereby promoting knowledge-based growth and jobs, ecosystem revitalisation and resilience, resource efficiency and circularity, and innovation, while taking into account the context-specific economic, social and environmental conditions of a region. 

Driven by the shift towards sustainable development, regions with carbon-intensive economies, such as coal mining, intensive agriculture, forestry, fisheries and peat production, are undergoing significant structural change. The negative impacts can be severe, including economic disruption, unemployment, social strain, and regional inequalities. 

Transition through European cooperation

Our mission: BIO2REG is a three-year European project that aims to enable the systemic transformation of greenhouse gas-intensive regions into bioeconomy model regions. Nine partners are committed to developing concrete measures to enable sustainable bioeconomic transitions in European regions. 

BIO2REG seeks to equip regional stakeholders with an array of practical knowledge and tools to design and implement a region-specific transition. 

These tools include: 

• A multi-criteria assessment framework and guides for a self-assessment of bioeconomy model region potential. 
• A network of regions that promotes direct stakeholder interaction and mutual learning. 
• An interregional exchange programme that will foster partnerships, showcase experiences and build capacities through mentoring and training services. 

Sharing knowledge across regions

Central to the project is its regions-to-regions approach, fostering the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and challenges among various regional stakeholders involved in the transition process. The project’s unique model region framework places regions and their specificities at the centre of the transformation. 

RISE participates in Work Package 1, “Assessing regional potential towards circular and systemic bioeconomy model region transition”, with a particular focus on Task 1.4, “Mapping best practices in circular and systemic model regions”.

RISE is also involved in Work Package 2, “Establishment of an interregional network structure on circular and systemic bioeconomy model region transition”, and contributes to other work packages within the project.

BIO2REG publishes blueprint for bioeconomy model regions 

Update from Work Package 2: Establishing an Interregional Network, which sets out to connect regions and support their transition to a circular bioeconomy. The network, a crucial component of the
BIO2REG project, aims to create a robust framework for collaboration and knowledge exchange across European regions.