Vallakokerskan paving the way for sustainable ski wax from the forest

With a protective mask over her face and the Vasaloppet in mind, the idea of creating a fossil-free wax was born.  Grooming and skiing are in Erica's DNA. Her great-grandfather founded the wooden ski boot company Tegsnäs in 1907, and after many years in the family business and a close look at the contents of traditional waxes - such as paraffin, mineral oils and PFAS - the idea of a more environmentally friendly way emerged. Although the knowledge was there, she realised early on that to break into the market she needed to prove that her ski wax was at least as good as conventional ski wax products. At the same time as experimenting with different recipes, she got in touch with RISE. With the R&D advice of the Processum Biorefinery Cluster, she took decisive steps towards developing a fossil and fluorine-free ski wax that is biodegradable.

Bio-based ski wax from the forest

Together with RISE, an innovation project was launched to investigate the performance of a biodegradable whey made from forest residue streams.

"Switching from fossil to bio-based and biodegradable ingredients was not easy.  A lot of testing was done before we found a product that delivered what we wanted - excellent glide while being gentle on both the user and the environment," says Erica.

Sliding tests were carried out at the Örnsköldsvik site to determine how quickly the grassland would decompose in the wild and how well it would withstand wetness and wear. The project also included various chemical and physical analyses of the grassland.

"For me, it was important to test everything from biodegradability and water repellency to various functional parameters. Working with researchers who share the same drive and wealth of knowledge was great fun and gave me invaluable insights and a deeper understanding of my own products," says Erica.

Using the results of the study, Erica created four types of wax for different snow conditions, as well as a special wax for wooden skis. All with biodegradable ingredients. The products are now available for sale and are made at home in the garage at Tegsnäset in Västerbotten.

Further development with research support from the R&D Council

Research raised new questions. Thanks to the R&D Council  she has been able to continue working on the prototypes, optimising them to create the ultimate glide under all conditions.

"Combining research and entrepreneurship in this way has been a fantastic journey. Through the R&D Council, I have been able to develop and validate a prototype that is now the basis for large-scale production of a completely new type of ski wax - bio-based, biodegradable and unique to the market. To be able to refine forest residues into something that both performs and makes a real difference gives me a sense of pride," says Erica.

David Blomberg Saitton, Business Developer at RISE, sees great development potential in this area.

The project has been very interesting from a research perspective where we have had the opportunity to investigate how bio-based raw materials can be formulated into high performance ski wax. Through a series of analyses, we have generated data that shows both good functionality and a good environmental profile. The results are promising and interesting for further development and future research collaborations," says David.

Erica is optimistic about the future. Within a few years she hopes to be able to devote herself entirely to Vallakokerskan, which she currently runs in parallel with her work for the Västerbotten Region.

"My ambition is to develop the company and eventually work full-time with Vallakokerskan. Research and development will be a fundamental part of the business - it is through constant innovation that I can be at the forefront and continue to offer products that really make a difference. I also see great potential in applying research to more customer segments in the future. My dream is to one day see skiers all over the world gliding on my wax," says Erica.

Are you interested in finding out more about the R&D Council or do you have a bioeconomy idea you would like to develop with us? 

Contact us and read more about the R&D Council here.

Read more about Vallakokerskan.