Det låter kanske lite formellt - men en ISO-certifiering kan vara nyckeln om du som anordnar evenemang eller verkar i kultursektorn vill få upp kvaliteten på ditt hållbarhetsarbete. För Vätternrundan, som har olika aspekter av hållbarhet inskrivet i sitt syfte, har det blivit ett oumbärligt stöd. 

– Vi är bara tio personer som jobbar heltid, så alla måste jobba med olika saker. Jag själv är projektledare och ansvarig för upplevelsen på plats i Motala. Och ska samtidigt ha övergripande ansvar på hela hållbarhetsarbetet. Då är det viktigt med struktur, säger Andreas Lundgren, projektledare på Vätternrundan. 

Folkhälsa för alla en av grundbultarna 

Idén bakom Vätternrundan väcktes i mitten av 60-talet av läkaren Sten-Otto Liljedahl, som ville höja folkhälsan i Sverige, och började med sig själv och några vänner. Sedan dess har folkhälsa för alla - att medverka till rörelse - och stöttning av lokala idrottsföreningar, varit två grundbultar i organisationens vision och en del av arbetet med social hållbarhet. 

Tillsammans med miljö- och klimatfrågor – särskilt viktiga i en verksamhet som samlar tusentals deltagare på kort tid – utgör de Vätternrundans fokusområden på hållbarhetsområdet. 

– Det har sina utmaningar att med vår lilla organisation driva dessa tre områden framåt och visa att vi faktiskt gör framsteg, säger Andreas Lundgren. 

För att säkerställa framdriften och få verktyg för avstämning och prioriteringar, valde organisationen redan 2012 att skaffa sig ISO 20121 – standard för  hållbarhet vid evenemang. 

– Vi skaffade certifieringen långt före jag började, men den gjorde det enkelt för mig att ta över arbetet när jag började. Den ger mig struktur och verktyg för samarbete, framdrift och uppföljning och innebär ju också att vi får revisioner på ett strukturerat sätt. 

Varje år arbetar 4000 funktionärer tillsammans med de anställda med att evenemanget ska bli verklighet. Andreas Lundgren påpekar att det krävs en tydlig metodik för att nå till alla dessa människor. 

Avdramatiserar deltagande 

– Att ha den här certifieringen är viktigt för att vi själva ska veta att vi gör framsteg, men också att kunna visa för externa intressenter, som våra sponsorer, hur vi arbetar och att vi lever som vi lär, säger han. 

Han exemplifierar med en så enkel sak som att man har upprättat dokument där alla aktörer kan föra in idéer för förbättringar. Och att man alltid är två ansvariga för varje fråga. 

– Vi vill inte att arbetet stannar upp om en person är borta en period. 

För att leva upp till det egna löftet om att bidra till rörelse för alla, har man exempelvis startat fler lopp av olika karaktär, men också initierat olika initiativ för att avdramatisera deltagandet och sänka trösklarna att vara med. 

– Det är lätt att man fastnar i bilden av män i tajta lycra-kläder och snabba tider. Inget fel i det, att utmana sig själv och nå en prestation tillsammans är en del av Vätternrundan, men utmaningen och prestationen är minst lika stor för den som cyklar på 17-18 timmar som den som cyklar på åtta. 

Ett exempel på det är initiativet med Stephan Wilson, som blev känd i SVT när han lärde sig åka skidor och så småningom tog sig igenom Vasaloppet, som samlar en grupp som cyklar Vätternrundan i maklig takt och har trevligt tillsammans. Ett annat är att tillsammans med en aktör hyra ut anpassade cyklar på plats för att på så vis möjliggöra för fler att ta tåget. 

Den största miljömässiga påverkan sker under själva loppen, när många människor samlas på samma plats på kort tid. 

RISE agerar extern revisor på plats 

– Här handlar det om hur skyltning är utformad och att vi tänker till med var vi placerar återvinning. Det ska vara lätt att göra rätt. Men vi måste också tänka till kring vad vi återvinner så det inte slutar med att vi orsaker mer utsläpp med lastbilstransporter än vad vi vinner med återvinning. 

Inom ramen för certifieringen agerar RISE extern revisor. Två gånger per år, en gång tillsammans med personalen för att gå igenom rutiner och målsättningar, och en gång under själva evenemangen för att se hur de efterlevs. 

– De agerar själva deltagare för att uppleva hur det är att agera rätt, hur väl mottagen man faktiskt blir om man cyklar i måttfull hastighet och så vidare. Det, tillsammans med vårt eget utbyte med de andra loppen i En Svensk Klassiker, är värdefullt. 

Foton: Petter Blomberg/Vätternrundan

The number of people with overweight and obesity continues to increase. This in turn increases the risk of several future chronic diseases – not least among children and youngsters. The Public Health Agency of Sweden has pointed out healthy eating as an opportunity to prevent, for example, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and even mental illness. 

Diet is a complex issue 

What must we eat to feel good is something most of us know. But it's not quite as simple as just having knowledge of advice and recommendations.  

"There is a lot of information, and if we had eaten according to it, the incidence of the problems we see would have been lower. But what we eat and why is more complex than that. We are affected by so many factors, such as availability, portions that get bigger and bigger, advertising and the food messages we encounter – what we see advertising for is often not fruit and vegetables, but calorie-dense food,” says Maria Biörklund Helgesson, researcher in sustainable consumption and production at RISE. 

But then what is a healthy eating habit? Basically, it is about the food on our plate being fibre-rich and nutrient-dense, and for the most part coming from the plant kingdom. A diet that also contributes to a more sustainable food production. To find examples of that type of food, we don't have to look far away. The Nordic pantry contains a number of ingredients and cooking traditions that provide both a sustainable and healthy plate.  

The Nordic pantry shows the way 

In an EU-funded project, Switch, RISE and other partners are working towards a shift towards healthy and sustainable eating habits and dietary behaviour. With Denmark as the initiator, they have formulated the manifesto "New Nordic Food" – a gastronomic manifesto highlighting the Nordic ingredients and cooking techniques that have been developed over a long period of time, such as acidification and pickling. Methods that are a little forgotten but often are both sustainable and healthy.  

"But New Nordic Food is also about the raw materials, that we should eat more from the plant kingdom and more of what is around us, such as fish, shellfish, mussels, seaweed, wild plants and animals, root vegetables, berries, cabbage, peas, beans, rapeseed oil and meat that has been produced in a good way. Food that grows and is grown here. That food is both healthy and sustainable. We should become better at using what is around the corner, and which is also not dependent on a functioning import chain,” says Maria Biörklund Helgesson. 

Several actions interact – not least innovation 

In order to reverse the trend, a number of measures are required. It can be anything from political decisions such as subsidies for healthy food and higher taxes on unhealthy food, that commercial forces such as food companies, grocery stores and restaurants take greater responsibility for what they expose, clear labelling of food in stores or to start with the children. 

“What do we expose our children to in terms of food and food messages? Today they are met with soft drinks, fast food and various temptations every day. Not everyone can handle it," says Maria Biörklund Helgesson. 

New, innovative foods also play an important role in development. At RISE, research and projects are conducted on all parts of the food system, from primary production to product development. It can be about how to reduce salt in different products, how to develop meat substitutes or what our public meals should contain.  

Develop raw materials and products we are not used to eating 

An important part is about developing raw materials and products that we are not so used to using, such as seaweed, algae and insects. Or that the industry processes more of the animals that are raised for consumption and the consumer chooses to eat more parts.  

"In the past, you ate a lot more of the animal, you had a lot of respect for the animal you raised and followed until slaughter. They did not take the best pieces and threw away the rest, but there was pâté, slow cooking, broth and stews of all parts. But it must be done in a way that appeals to those of us who live now, and it must be good,” says Maria Biörklund Helgesson, who believes that we generally need to eat less meat, and when we do, choose meat such as naturally grazed.  

“We need to eat more vegetables but that doesn't mean everyone has to become vegetarians. In meat and fish there are many minerals and vitamins that are difficult to get enough of otherwise, especially for the elderly, sick, children during growth or pregnant women.” 

Sweden has a favourable position on the starting grid for the European battery supply chain. Facilities for cell production, recycling, electric motor manufacturing and testing are at different stages of construction or operation. More than SEK 100 billion is being invested in various parts of the country. 

Fifty European battery production facilities operational by 2030 

The global market for battery production facilities is expected to generate EUR 250 billion come 2025. Today, the EU’s share is four percent – but within Europe, around fifty plants could be operational by 2030 

“If we’re going to establish the industry in Sweden, we need all parts of the value chain. All raw materials need not come from Sweden, but all other links must be in place for us to get the products to market,” says Claes Winzell, a research and business developer at RISE. 

He says that Sweden, just like burgeoning battery hub Germany or mineral-rich Finland, is not acting alone. All parts of the value chain – raw materials, refined battery materials, battery cells, etc. – will be part of a global market with products flowing in both directions. 

“The major stakeholders are industrial companies, while those of us in academia, politics and government will help in various ways.” 

Maciej Wysocki, a project manager at RISE, says that the public sector must be involved as a financier to reduce risks by means of loans or guarantee commitments. One example is Stena Recycling’s facility in Halmstad, which has received SEK 70 million in support from the Swedish Energy Agency. 

“Sweden needs national coordination in matters such as this. Things are happening here and there, but there’s no national action plan,” says Wysocki. 

What happens if no one dons the yellow jersey? 

“The opportunity for organic growth is certainly still there, but that’ll take longer. And the outcome won’t be as favourable,” says Winzell. 

“Right now is when the growth for the next five to ten years is established. If you can win market shares in a growing market, this tends to attract even more investments.” 

“The right policies can help speed things,” says Winzell, mentioning, among other things, facilitating mining permit processes and investing in testbeds. 

China and South Korea dominant, but the USA and the EU investing heavily 

China and South Korea currently dominate the battery market. The USA and the EU are investing heavily to catch up on the technology side and to become as self-sufficient as possible. 

Two influential reports* have been presented with proposals for enhancing Sweden’s competitiveness in the European battery value chain. The key take-homes from both reports: Invest in education. Invest in strengths. 

“Today, there’s a lack of expertise in almost the entire world except Asia. Both the USA and Europe need to import skilled labour,” says Winzell. 

Different strengths at Swedish universities 

According to the EBA expert group, 800,000 people in Europe need to be trained or retrained by 2025 to meet the battery industry’s needs. And these needs are found in both the private and public sectors. Specialist as well as systems knowledge will be key. 

Swedish educational environments within the battery value chain include Uppsala University, Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Luleå University of Technology. These universities have different strengths, such as within active materials, battery control systems, ore geology and process metallurgy. 

Wysocki considers RISE the perfect battery partner for academia, trade and industry and government. 

“At RISE, we have long aimed to be the interdisciplinary force for gathering leading-edge technologies in Sweden. Here, we can commodify needs, we can gather knowledge. It’s a case of industrialising outstanding academic research.” 

“We’re among the few places in Sweden that can offer that breadth and, as an interdisciplinary institute, that can do something meaningful,” he says. 

Winzell highlights RISE’s technical expertise and processes for, among other things, standardisation and verification. 

“We have specialist knowledge that could prove useful in cell production, packing production and handling techniques. Looking downstream in the value chain, we also have experts in recycling technology.” 

Recycled materials key to achieving goals 

We will see colossal growth in batteries across society. Maximum sustainability within battery production will require so-called secondary streams of recycled materials. Without them, no circularity. The forthcoming EU battery regulation stipulates that 70 to 95 percent of the metals are to be recycled by 2030. 

“While it’s not top priority today, in five to ten years, huge numbers of used batteries will be handed in at recycling facilities,” says Wysocki. 

Calculations** show that batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage within the EU will need up to eighteen times more lithium and five times more cobalt to reach the 2030 climate goals. For the 2050 climate goals, the estimate is sixty times more lithium and fifteen times more cobalt. 

“We need to invest earlier and more directly in the strategic parts of the value chain. These include mines, mineral processing and material production,” says Winzell. 

“Here at RISE, we have a great deal of interdisciplinary systems expertise within materials, logistics, environmental impact and policy development, to name but a few areas that may prove useful in these endeavours.”  

*: Fossil-free Sweden's proposal for a strategy for sustainable value chains in the battery industry was published in 2020. In autumn 2022, the Swedish Energy Agency, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Geological Survey presented twelve proposals to strengthen the battery value chain in four areas: 

• Strengthened coordination and collaboration within government, academia and industry. 
• Securing a sustainable supply of innovation-critical raw materials. 
• Strengthened efforts and funds for research, innovation and business development based primarily on Swedish strengths. 
• Strengthened skills supply in the ongoing electrification process. 

**The EU Commission's Joint Research Centre has calculated future needs for battery metals compared to current EU supply.