Innovation

The HALOSEP process purifies ash from incineration plants, such as Flue Gas Waste, recycling it into new raw materials such as salt and metals. This reduces pollutants in landfills.

Salt recovered from the chlorine waste can be used on roads or released into the sea. Other extracted materials can be used as a component in concrete.

Stena Recyling is constructing a new plant in Copenhagen, Denmark to facilitate the HALOSEP process. The plant is anticipated to be in use within three years, but the investment is not expected to payoff for another five to 10 years.

Mats Torring, Head of New Ventures at Stena Metall AB, explains developing this kind of technology is a long term strategic choice by management to have it's own R&D department and make Stena Recycling unique in its' segment. He says the company has a commitment to promote strong links between recycling and innovation.

Stena Recycling sponsors other research initiatives, including one at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.

Inspiration

Mats Torring, Head of New Ventures, Stena Metall AB, says the inspiration for the HALOSEP process began more than 10 years ago when the company turned an idea proposed for different type of recycling into a new application.

"From the inventor’s idea, we saw a possibility to expand and develop it further. We have very open minded leaders which all focus on innovations and to realize great ideas. Within the company we have our own Research and Development department (R&D). They have the responsibility and freedom to develop the ideas being brought in from the organization. Ideas can come from the sales representatives, clients, production units or from the specialist units."

He gives me a metaphor to better explain the company's approach. “It’s like take down a creation you’ve made out of lego bricks, putting all the pieces back in a box, just so that you can start building something new, nicer and better than last time”.

Torring's role is to expand the company's business, developing new markets, products, and solutions. His vision is to develop other ways to recycle waste materials so the company and their customers will be more profitable. Torring says examples of environmental waste pollutants the company hopes to phase out include PCBs, asbestos, and flame retardants.

His drive and passion is to make things happen that make a difference and lead to something good. He gets a kick out of being part of an innovation to recycle waste into new materials and measure the result. He likes to share his joy with colleague, and often does this spontaneously at the office.

Overall impact

According to Mats Torring, Stena Recycling's "business idea and goals are linked to the UN Global goals and this is something that is known to all employees. It is quite easy for us to track and measure our contribution as the result of our work. It can be reduced pollution in air and water, less hazardous waste in the ground, or less energy consumed to produce and recycle. Our business can also be linked to other UN global goals, as positive results of our work will impact other goals (e.g., purified soil that makes is possible to grow and cultivate food which in turn leads to less poverty)."

Torring says Stena Recycling has contributed to making materials so pure they can stay in circulation longer, including aluminium, copper, iron, oil, and plastics.

The company is a strong contributor to a sustainable society where we all can live from the available resources.

Business benefit

"Dealing with raw materials in an environmental friendly manner is our core business, which is what we make our living from. The business idea and vision of Stena Recycling started a long time ago when the founder collected scrap and started to recycle it to be able to sell new materials. Our business is strongly linked to the needs and focus areas prioritized in society, globally and in Sweden." (Mats Torring, Head of New Ventures, Stena Metall AB)

Social and environmental benefit

"We are reinvesting profits from our business so we can continue to contribute to environmental and social development for the future. It is a natural part of our sustainability goal to make profit for further investments.

The link to the UN Global goals is clear. We can easily measure the impact of our business in terms of reduced waste, energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions for extracting and refining virgin raw materials."

"For our employees a major driver is to be part of doing something good for the world." (Mats Torring, Head of New Ventures, Stena Metall AB)

Interview

Mats Torring, Head of New Ventures