Trash to cash: How SWESTEP gives plastic waste a new life
People all over the world are throwing out large quantities of plastic each year, representing a huge sustainability issue. SWESTEP aims to address this by converting household plastic waste into sustainable oil and new plastic raw materials.
Over the past year, the Swedish green tech company has been working closely with Climate-KIC and the City of Copenhagen to carry out a feasibility study on the conversion of plastic waste to new sustainable oil. Since being established in 2012, SWESTEP has been developing an industrial process capable of turning all hydrocarbon-based waste and residues, such as plastic, into renewable fractions. In practical terms, this means that any organic waste stream can be considered as a feedstock, and duly be transformed into a wide range of renewable fuels or useful sustainable liquids and materials to be used again.
In theory, this process could have huge implications for how we deal with plastics, as well as waste management in general, as it could lead to the establishment of major circular economy loops into a city’s ecosystem, provide new sources of renewable energy, and create new revenues and jobs—effectively converting what was previously considered waste into a resource. One key aspect of SWESTEP’s technology is that the feedstock doesn’t require separating prior to processing, meaning mixed waste streams are just as effectively processed as sorted ones. This contrasts wildly with the status quo, in which mixed waste streams require appropriately sorting before the separate elements can be recycled.
Creating industrial inputs from waste plastic for industries that typically require fossil-based fuels or petrochemicals for major parts of their operations doesn’t just represent a welcome remedy to the problem of municipal waste, it also embodies potential to reduce the consumption of fossil-fuels and thus, contributes to climate change mitigation.
Given what was on offer, it’s easy to understand why Copenhagen was interested in a potential collaboration. Per Boesgaard, coordinator of the city’s Climate Plan 2025, had this to say:
“Waste management, and particularly plastic waste management, has represented a huge problem for the city for a long time. Plastic is now a large part of people’s daily lives, yet it represents a huge environmental problem with regards to both the consequences of its disposal and its carbon footprint.
Our challenge [as the City of Copenhagen] is to manage this problem holistically, which means solving the environmental issues without disrupting the day-to-day of our citizens. Thus, participating in projects such as this and collaborating with pioneering companies like SWESTEP to investigate the potential of their technology is both necessary and exciting for us as a city. We are very pleased with the outcome of this project and look forward to working more with SWESTEP and Climate-KIC in the future”.
Source DAILY PLANET; Read the full article – click here
SWESTEP was invited by Scandinavian Partner LaB, on participating on a workshop on the EU project INTERREG Öresund, Kattegat, Skagerrak.
It turned out be an good, constructive and fruitful day with both new contacts and projects to follow up on.
Host of the event where for the event was SCANDINAVIAN PARTNER LAB is under the umbrella of INTERREG – Öresund, Kattegat, Skagerrak and the European Regional Development Fund.
On the picture from the left; JP Morgan Friberg Creative Director – New Business SWESTEP, Ole Langeland Pedersen – Consult and advisor INTERREG ÖKS / EU
Link to more information about Scandinavian Partner LaB – Click here
Interesting and fruitful workshop at KTH on feedstock recycling of polymers.
Molecular recycling (so-called feedstock recycling) offers an opportunity for converting different qualities of plastic material into chemical raw materials with properties similar to those obtained from virgin feedstock.
This is a key element for enabling circular flow of polymer materials since all polymers are subject to aging and cannot, consequently, be reused or material recycled endlessly.
The main objective of this project is to establish an effective mechanism that will support the development of best-tailored solutions enabling circulation of polymer materials and to find a model for this mechanism to function well in the future.
The topic of the day was;
- Finding viable technological solutions for different polymer products based on their structure and properties.
- What kind of instrument is needed to assist technology users in their decision making and for technology providers to find their customers?
- How can future platform/test bed serve both groups in the match-making in the best way?
SWESTEP meeting with the management team of the Port of Rotterdam.
Invited by Clean Tech Delta and the city of Rotterdam, we were given the opportunity to introduce SWESTEP as an alternative for how the harbor can recycle all organic waste, including plastics, to renewable fuels, energy and oils which in turn can be refined to performance chemicals and other liquids for most fossil dependent industries.
It was gratifying to have the harbor’s confirmation that we share the same view regarding the future of renewable fuels, energy and the importance of adapting all activities to both the circular economy and the CO2 neutral economy.
On the agenda was also discussions on new and forthcoming legislation on;
- Waste handling and recycling
- Marine fuels and also other renewable fuels for aviation and land based transportations.
- Guidelines and restrictions for both incineration plants and landfills
All the three points are key issues that the harbor must take decisions on how to deal with and resolve.
Port of Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port, with the exception of the shipping traffic loading and unloading freights and liquid products, there are refineries and industries from most segments in the port area.
The Port of Rotterdam has set itself the goal of becoming fossil-free in 2050, and SWESTEP’s hopes are to be one of the companies that supplies the harbor with a solution to help them achieve this goal.
SWESTEP participated at the CPH Climate Solution Conference in Copenhagen Denmark.
It was two intense days filled with interesting workshops, speeches and networking.
Copenhagen has set itself the goal of becoming Europe’s purest capital; so there were many
debates and discussions on incineration plants, waste handling and recycling, renewable
fuels and energy forms.
Reusing or Recycling of waste from both the Circular-, and CO2 Neutral Economy from a producer’s
responsibility, product life cycle and close the loop perspective, was also subjects discussed.
FEEDSTOCK RECYCLING WORKSHOP
The workshop was held at Johannesberg Science
Park at Chalmers in Gothenburg.
The workshops focus is to find viable ways for
molecular recovery (so-called feedstock recycling).
The goal within this project is to find solutions to recycle different grades of plastic
into new sustainable raw materials and circular materials with product characteristics
that correspond to the markets need and requirements. This is important in order to
increase recovery, circularity and reduce the dependence of fossil raw materials.
The participants in workshop/project are a broad mix of representatives from
universities, waste management companies, petrochemical industry, municipalities
and several companies from the private sector.
Within this “Feedstock Recycling Project” the ambition is to find answers on if
there is enough interest and knowledge to drive a future test bed and how it should
be designed in the form of technology and business model. The outcome/result will
be presented in a report for decision makers from both the public and private sector.
Climate KIC Nordic in Denmark has nominated SWESTEP for
the Nordic Council Environment Prize 2017.
The prize goes to a company, organisation or individual for exemplary
efforts to integrate respect for the environment into their business or
work or for some other form of extraordinary initiative on behalf of
the environment.
Two-day seminar on Green Bonds in Gothenburg,
included workshops on green financing, the future
of green cities and, last but not least, new regulations
and opportunities.
Several interesting participants from municipalities,
companies, banks and financial institutions.
Both good new contacts and tangible results
through our participation in this workshop.
To be continued…
SWESTEP invited to Copenhagen by CLEAN on
finding solutions for “Innovative plastic sorting
and reprocessing solution
Creative Director, JP Morgan Friberg gave a talk on SWESTEP’s
technology as well as a general picture of the difference between
– Reusing and Recycling plastic waste and residues – from a circular
economic perspective with focus on the product lifecycle and future
producer responsibility.
The challenge is that, through an announced, Danish international Tender,
come up with viable and profitable solutions throughout the value chain.
From collection and sorting to processing and recycling the plastic waste into renewable non-fossil end products and/or liquids
To be continued…
Environment and Energy Fund Denmark – Support validation of Swestep’s process
Copenhagen politicians, just over three years ago, adopted a plan to start kick the recycling of the capital’s waste and limit the incineration. The plan meant that 45 per cent of household waste would be recycled in 2018, against 27 per cent in 2010. According to an evaluation made by the municipal officials January 2016, the goal could be achieved if one could find suitable technology that could produce renewable fuel/gas and fertilizers of industrial and household waste.
The municipality of Copenhagen is interested in testing the SWESTEP patented CC Process (Catalytic Conversion Process), which is a “Liquefaction Technology”. SWESTEP’s technology can offer sustainable renewable fuel and oil production by converting all forms of hydro carbon based waste and residues to renewable materials, such as synthesis fuels, chemicals, oils and polymers.
The purpose of this project is to validate results from SWESTEP’s technology. The goal is a more cost-effective, climate-friendly and sustainable way of using plastic waste for the production of renewable fuels.