Today, a significant proportion of cellulose fibres is lost after only a few recycling cycles. This is primarily due to material losses resulting from inadequate collection, rough sorting and inefficient processing, rather than the properties of the fibres themselves. In the future, the entire system will need to be optimised, not least because the EU's new PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulation is gradually coming into force.

– This will introduce new requirements regarding the recycled content and recyclability of packaging. While this may require companies in the industry to invest, there are also commercial advantages to adapting to the new rules, says Anna Sjöstedt, Researcher and Project Manager at RISE.

One of the most important issues to address is material loss throughout the recycling chain.

– A cellulose fibre often disappears from the value chain long before it becomes unusable. In laboratory studies, where losses can be avoided, it is possible to recycle the fibres many more times. As more packaging is set to be recycled, it is crucial that we grasp how to minimise material losses, she concludes.

Sorting needs to be improved

There are losses at several points in the recycling process. One of the problems is that some materials are not collected at all.

– Compared to other materials, paper and cardboard have a high recycling rate, but there is clearly room for improvement, says Peter Hansen, Senior Researcher at RISE.

However, even if consumers were to become better at taking their packaging to recycling stations and centres, a new challenge would arise.

– At present, the sorting is too coarse for us to optimise recycling. For example, packaging with certain plastic components needs to be handled differently to packaging made of pure corrugated cardboard, he says.

When the process needs to accommodate a variety of materials, it becomes unnecessarily difficult, resulting in fibres being lost and worn away.

– Efforts have been made to make it easy for consumers, but in the future, we will probably need to think of recycled packaging as a raw material that needs to be sorted more effectively from the outset, says Peter Hansen.

Better reporting is required

Among other things, the new PPWR Regulation will impose new requirements for the increased use of recycled plastic materials in packaging. Producers must also improve their reporting of material content and the labelling of end products to facilitate consumer recycling. 

– The rules are becoming stricter in various areas and will gradually tighten over the coming years. I believe there could be major benefits to harmonising the requirements within the EU, as this would facilitate the development of technical and logistical solutions, says Anna Sjöstedt.

Consumers choose sustainability  

Many large companies also have their own sustainability goals that they expect their suppliers to adhere to, and many consumers consider sustainability when choosing products.

– Producers who adopt new directives early on can, of course, also reduce the risk of time pressure and manufacturing disruptions, says Peter Hansen.

He believes that the natural first step for many companies will be to conduct a technical analysis of their product portfolio, identifying which products can remain competitive without compromising quality or functionality.

– This is something we at RISE help many companies with. Thanks to our test and demonstration facilities and our expertise, we can clearly demonstrate how properties are affected when a certain amount of recycled fibre is added, for example, he says.

Concrete tests of the process 

Anna Sjöstedt emphasises the importance of conducting concrete trials.

– At RISE, we have both laboratories and pilot environments, so, in addition to theory, we can answer questions such as which processes handle recycled fibres best or how a change in raw material flows affects process water quality and how water management and chemical additive use need to be adapted, she says.

Another service in demand at RISE during such transitions is life cycle analyses using LCA tools to study climate impact.

– In parallel with the analyses, it can be valuable to bring in our regulatory experts, who can advise on the adjustments required based on the PPWR rules, says Anna Sjöstedt.

Since 2007, Produktionslyftet has made a valuable contribution to the competitiveness and resilience of Swedish industry. Participating companies have adopted new ways of working and taken important steps towards digitalisation, circularity and sustainability. This is the picture painted by the employers' organisation Teknikföretagen.

The ability to understand and develop with the world around us

But what role can the Produktionslyftet play today and in the future? Is the need just as great, or perhaps even greater, 18 years after it was founded?

"An important part of competitiveness is understanding the world around you and evolving with it. The production boost is about innovation and improvement, and it is these elements that the programme promotes. "Most companies work with innovation, renewal and improvement in one way or another, but this kind of support - looking at the issue from the perspective of the individual, the company and the organisation - is as relevant today as it was in 2007," says Christina Jönsson, Marketing Manager at RISE.

Produktionslyftet also lives and breathes. The methodology is constantly being added to in order to continue to contribute to the needs of companies. It includes topics such as sustainable resource use and how people and advanced digital technologies should work together, while the foundation of strengthening companies' ability to improve and innovate remains firm.

"We are no longer talking 'just' about scaling up or resource efficiency in production, but also about the ability to adapt as part of contributing to value chains with reduced climate emissions and creating better conditions for resilience," says Christina Jönsson.

High leverage for small and large companies

The programme is based on the idea of helping people to help themselves. With the help of Produktionslyftet's coaches, the organisation goes on a journey and comes away with ways of working and methods to continue and develop the business. "It takes a lot of commitment," says Christina Jönsson, "but the pay-off is high.

RISE contributes everything from business intelligence and scientific analysis to expertise in business management and organisational development. Participants also have access to the wide range of technical knowledge available within RISE.

The participants are mainly small and medium-sized companies - but the industry's big players are also winners. In 2025, several Swedish industrial giants decided to invest in a five-year programme for Produktionslyftet.

"As the ecosystem of suppliers strengthens their capabilities, they also help to secure many of the large companies' future issues. Smaller companies with a good capacity for change find it easier to meet the new needs of larger companies. For example, in the green transition, both in terms of deliveries and reporting requirements," says Christina Jönsson.

Better connection between managers and employees

Kalle Persson, Project Manager at RISE and Coach Coordinator for Produktionslyftet, gives real-life examples of the impact the programme can have.

"I am coaching a company where the aim is to reduce the pressure on the site managers in the organisation. It was important to ensure that there was a better connection between the different levels of management in the company. Site managers need to understand their employees' daily challenges and create the conditions for effective working. And the management team, in turn, must create the conditions for their site managers," says Kalle Persson:

"A lot of it is about getting the team to play together better, so that leaders can spend more time developing the business and less time putting out fires, which often doesn't need to happen if people are growing and have the right conditions.

Continuous learning as a driver of innovation

Kalle Persson's second example also illustrates the benefits of greater alignment between different functions in the organisation.

"When we started working with this company, the employees were very stressed and production was consistently lagging behind. They had identified poor drawings as one of the main contributing factors and we coached them to realise how big the problem actually was. Mistakes in the design and preparation phase meant that the parts that were manufactured did not fit together in reality, and then you had to start all over again", says Kalle Persson.

When the designers started to support each other by working thoroughly with checklists and raising the level of accuracy, something happened. Suddenly production felt it could stop pouring water and start rowing. The company is now heading for a new sales record with the same number of employees.

"The production lift is very much about sharpening the capabilities of a company through its people and management, and it almost always starts with the soft factors. Getting the direction of the business clearer, communicated and agreed. We see this as a necessary step in order to be able to achieve the actual change," says Kalle Persson, who is supported by Christina Jönsson:

"Agreeing that continuous learning is important creates a good breeding ground for innovation. When several people are on the same journey and learning new things, change becomes a collaborative effort rather than something that comes from the top. That makes it easier to create movement," she says.

As sustainability requirements increase, reclaiming construction materials is becoming an increasingly important solution to reduce climate impact. But the lack of quality assurance, traceability and clear regulations means that the potential is often lost.

- We know that the will is there in the industry. But without clear rules and structured support, reuse risks getting stuck in the pilot stage, says Katarina Malaga, Business Development Manager for Sustainable Construction at RISE.

Major climate benefits 

According to RISE, reclaiming load-bearing building components, such as concrete frames, can reduce the climate impact by up to 80 percent compared with new production. These structures often have many years left in their lifespan when demolished.

Examples of reuse projects have shown how previously discarded materials can be reclaimed while maintaining their function and safety. This shows both the potential and the need for structured approaches to quality assurance and logistics.

Supporting the industry to transition

To help the construction sector transition and make reuse a competitive alternative, RISE offers concrete support through the Center for Quality Assured Reuse in the Construction Sector.

- We offer a comprehensive solution that combines research with practical support. By working closely with both public and private actors, we can help to ensure that reuse is not just seen as an alternative, but as a natural part of future construction, says Katarina Malaga.

Through research, quality assurance and collaboration, the goal is to simplify the path from idea to implementation while building confidence in the performance and sustainability of reclaimed products.

- It's about creating a sense of security at every stage. With the right support and knowledge, we can work with the industry to scale up reuse and contribute to a more resource-efficient and climate-friendly construction sector, says Katarina Malaga.

>> Read more and contact us today: Center for Quality Assured Reuse in the Construction Sector