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.

Increasing demands for electric vehicles, the need to reduce manufacturing's environmental impact, and corporate sustainability commitments are driving technological advancements in the Swedish automotive industry. A key trend is the increased use of aluminum in car structures to reduce weight and improve energy efficiency. Using recycled aluminum significantly lowers the environmental impact of manufacturing. 

High pressure die casting (HPDC) is favored for using secondary aluminum, and new developments in HPDC, known as Mega Casting, enable the production of larger single-piece objects. However, HPDC of large objects presents challenges, such as the giant size of machines and tools, varied wear mechanisms on tool surfaces, and the need for competence development. 

The MoReuse project aims to understand and define key tool parameters affecting wear and tool-life, develop systematic measurement methods, and propose solutions to prevent and fix wear. This knowledge will be used to create a  strategy for modularizing die casting tools and a model for smart maintenance

Aim and Objectives

The PINNForm project aims to develop a new method for rapid, flexible, and data-driven manufacturing of metal components. The main goal is to create an AI-based, physics-informed process for metal forming that is both faster and more sustainable and flexible than traditional methods. The project seeks to strengthen the Swedish industry's transition to more sustainable processes and increase its resilience.

Project Challenge

Today's industrial forming processes are often slow, expensive, and resource intensive. They require extensive manual expertise, physical testing, and long lead times, which creates both economic and environmental costs. There is a growing need for locally adaptable and resilient manufacturing, especially in light of global challenges such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, and the need for rapid transition. The project also addresses cybersecurity by reducing reliance on global cloud services for AI model training.

Our Solution

The project combines physics-informed AI and machine learning (ML) with a unique origami-inspired technique. By integrating the laws of physics directly into the AI models, a digital twin is created that can simulate and optimize the manufacturing process with high precision. This method reduces the need for large amounts of data and extensive test series, making the process significantly faster and more cost-effective. The generative AI model, which is trained at MIMER, Sweden's AI gigafactory in Linköping, functions as intelligent support for design and manufacturing. As a tangible demonstrator, the method will be used to develop light and strong drone components (a "Frame Exoskeleton" for electric drones) for forestry and emergency preparedness.

Project Impact

The PINNForm project has great potential to create a paradigm shift in metal forming. By optimizing design and production parameters, waste material and rejects are drastically reduced, which contributes to more sustainable manufacturing and increased circularity. Rapid adaptability strengthens the industry's resilience and ability to handle disruptions. In the long term, technology can also be used to predict repair methods, which reduces the need for new production. By decreasing the reliance on manual expertise and physical strength, the project also contributes to a more gender-equal industry, in line with Agenda 2030. Technology is scalable and can be applied in many other sectors, such as the automotive, aerospace, space, defense, and energy sectors.

Bakgrund
Elförbrukningen i norra Sverige kommer öka markant de närmaste tjugo åren. Samtidigt är självförsörjandegraden för livsmedel oroväckande låg i Norrbotten och många lantbrukare kämpar med lönsamheten. I södra Sverige och i kontinentala Europa är solsambruk (även kallat agriPV, agrivoltaics eller solbruk) på frammarsch och utlovar hög bibehållen livsmedelsproduktion och god elproduktion trots att de är förlagda till samma ytor, vilket skapar förutsättningar för ekonomisk lönsamhet för lantbrukare.

Motivering
Förutsättningarna för både solkraft och livsmedelsproduktion i Norrbotten skiljer sig från andra delar av Europa men man kan vänta sig synergier också här. Kunskap och pilotanläggningar för verkliga tester behövs dock för att bedöma vilken potential solsambruk verkligen har i norra Sverige och hur det bör implementeras för att kunna stärka lantbrukare, öka den regionala självförsörjningen av livsmedel samt möta den kommande efterfrågan på förnybar elkraft utan att medföra onödiga risker.

Genomförande
Denna förstudie är ett första steg i en tilltänkt trestegsraket bestående av följande: 1. Förstudie, 2. Forskningsprojekt med testanläggning, 3. Implementeringsprojekt. Förstudien delas upp i tre delar där den första handlar om att kartlägga befintlig och applicerbar relevant kunskap om solsambruk och lantbruksinriktningar, den andra om att utreda förutsättningarna på den tilltänkta platsen för testanläggningen, och den tredje att reda ut frågetecken och klarlägga vilka regelverk och tillstånd som krävs, samt förankra intresset hos aktörer i berörda branscher. 

Mål
Långsiktigt vill vi med projektet hjälpa Norrbotten till ökad solkraftsproduktion och hög livsmedelsresiliens till följd av hållbara jordbruk med god ekonomisk lönsamhet. I den här förstudien ska vi därför definiera, avgränsa och skapa goda förutsättningar för ett effektivt större forskningsprojekt med en verklig testanläggning, som i sin tur ska leda till värdefulla och implementerbara resultat.

Varför kvantifiera?

Att visa på de miljömässiga fördelarna med cirkulära lösningar är centralt för att öka trovärdighet och stärka klimatstrategier. Genom kvantifiering av undvikna CO₂e-utsläpp kan organisationer tydligt visa vilken klimatnytta som uppnås genom återbruk, renovering, återvinning och andra värdebevarande strategier.

Metod och standarder

Arbetet omfattar metodutveckling i enlighet med internationella riktlinjer såsom ISO 14040/44, WBCSD Guidance on Avoided Emissions och The Avoided Emissions Framework (AEF). Beräkningsmetoder granskas och förfinas, modeller för reduktionspotential byggs upp och resultat översätts till strategier som kan rapporteras och kommuniceras med hög tillförlitlighet.

Resultat och nytta

Resultaten används för att stödja beslut i både offentlig och privat sektor, stärka klimatredovisning, samt underbygga kommunikation med kunder, investerare och andra intressenter. Genom tydliga och verifierbara siffror kan organisationer visa ledarskap inom cirkularitet och bidra till omställningen mot nettonoll.

Residents in Sweden have access to more living space per capita than residents in almost every other country in Europe. At the same time, Sweden's population is growing and Swedes are more likely to move than residents of any other European country in a given year. Today, housing and construction account for 22% of the country's total carbon dioxide emissions and 40% of all waste generated in Sweden. Although carbon dioxide emissions per square metre of living space have decreased in recent years, total carbon dioxide emissions from buildings have continued to increase as the population lives in larger homes, often alone. It is clear that structural changes in the use of living space are needed to meet Sweden's ambitious goals for carbon neutrality (net zero by 2045) and for waste from the construction sector (collection of 70% of non-hazardous waste by 2025). In this project, we want to investigate how Sweden's housing needs can be met while reducing the physical expansion of housing. We want to do this by investigating the use of existing common living spaces, such as laundry rooms, entrances, courtyards, and recreation rooms. Developing and improving these spaces could be a way to reduce the demand for living space in existing and future residential buildings. There is little knowledge about how these spaces are used today and about the cost and consequences of increasing their use.

Our hypothesis is that increasing the functionality and utilization rate of public spaces that are currently underutilized, as well as finding creative solutions to encourage more sharing of spaces, can lead to a significant reduction in the need for new residential space in Sweden. The project consists of two main phases over a period of four years:

Phase 1 consists of benchmarking i) how often, ii) under what circumstances, iii) by whom, iv) for what purposes different types of shared spaces in residential buildings are used. This is done through two main data collections: The first looks at the big picture by conducting a national survey that asks a large and representative sample of Swedes how they use spaces such as lobbies, laundry rooms, courtyards, recreation rooms, and rooftop terraces. The survey will also follow participants if they move to a new home and observe whether individuals who currently have access to shared spaces are more or less likely to move to homes with shared spaces. In short, we want to know whether access to shared spaces in residential buildings reduces or increases the need for more private space for individuals and how factors such as income, age, and family situation affect their housing.

Phase 2 will use data collected during Phase 1 to create a vision for how shared spaces can be redesigned for optimal use in the future. Through discussions with property owners, we will investigate how shared spaces can be optimized to be both circular and profitable for builders and developers. We will also use life cycle analyses to understand how the optimized use of shared spaces affects environmental indicators, such as resource use and carbon dioxide emissions. Finally, we will develop new metrics and standards that can be used by architects and policymakers to effectively measure and communicate the benefits of shared spaces in existing residential buildings and future renovation projects.

This project is being carried out by an interdisciplinary group of researchers from RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, with expertise in urban planning, consumption and climate psychology, property management and architecture, life cycle analysis, business economics, and circular business models. The project collaborates with a reference group consisting of Swedish architectural firms, interest groups for housing issues, and housing developers, who will be involved in several phases of the project, including the design of surveys, scenario building, and policy development.

The Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542) replaced the 2006 Battery Directive on 18 August 2025, imposing strict requirements on manufacturers and retailers. Do you sell batteries within the EU? Then you must comply with the new rules, and RISE supports you.

We have extensive experience in guiding companies through EU regulations. With our expertise in testing, certification, and sustainability analysis, we offer a reliable path forward.

Our Services – Tailored for the Battery Regulation

We offer a comprehensive range of services to help companies meet the requirements of the EU Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542)—from testing and certification to innovation and strategic advisory.

• Testing Services: Accredited testing of battery performance and safety, covering electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and more.
• Evaluation of quality systems: RISE is in the process of becoming a Notified Body for the Battery Regulation. As a Notified Body, we will be able to offer quality system assessments in accordance with Module D1 and the requirements outlined in Annex VIII of the regulation.
• Life cycle analysis: We conduct Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) in accordance with EU requirements to calculate battery carbon footprints under Article 7, Annex II, and related Delegated Acts.
• Preparing documentation and navigating requirements: We assist in preparing documentation for EU Declarations of Conformity and navigating the requirements related to Notified Body services.
• Production of battery passports: We support QR code labelling and help set up systems for digital battery passports in compliance with Article 77.
• Production of compliance strategies: Tailored roadmaps for phased regulatory implementation, from product design to end-of-life.

• Research & Innovation: RISE conducts cutting-edge research in battery technology to support new materials and concepts, meet future EU demands, and promote sustainable development.
   

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