Innovation

Renova is a recycling company that has strong beliefs in doing great things for the environment. They are working on several projects such as creating a fossil free fleet, having an environmental school for high school students and other programs to improve recycling. Lindman is constantly working towards making the company better and more eco friendly. He points out that it is crucial that everyone takes responsibility in each step of the product cycle and that Renova takes their responsibility seriously. Lindman noted that he sees sustainability from three different perspectives: environmental, economic and the socially. For example, making the fleet program sustainable is good in all three areas.

Inspiration

Lindman gets his inspiration from two perspectives: knowledge and feeling. Knowledge stems from society's over consumption of resources and the resulting carbon dioxide emissions are more than the ecosystem can manage. He believes that a lack of resources and an ecosystem collapse are visible in everyday life. His second inspirational source is feeling. He has two young children and said "When I think when I come home from work, have I really done anything for them today to have it as good as I have during my upbringing?" He hasn't always succeeded. "It's simply about having respect for their future," he stressed.

Overall impact

Renova is located in Gothenburg, Sweden where they have an impact on the regional population. Their two main innovations are their fossil free fleet and their environmental school. Renova started their work towards an entirely fossil free fleet in the beginning of the 1990s. By 1993, they already had a few fossil free trucks and in 2015 they reached their goal, 15 years before the United Nations' national goals to have an entirely fossil free fleet. This lessens environmental harm and serves as a role model for other companies to take this action. Lindman noted that "It's good to bring awareness that it's possible to do so, in order to make more companies to do the same."

The second innovation that Renova has worked with over the years is their environmental school. The school is being held for approximately 3500-4000 high school students every year. The purpose of this is to inform the young adults about exactly how they can recycle and how to consume in a smart way, together with other important things regarding the environment. Lindman sees this project as a good business idea since they receive money from the municipalities to finance this and they also get the information out to the youths about the environment. He said that "this makes it a win win situation for everyone involved."

Business benefit

Renova is providing sustainable solutions to handle waste in the west of Sweden. They have a contract with municipalities and other businesses in the area and business has been very profitable.

Besides their financial benefits, Renova has also received several rewards throughout the years regarding their environmental work. Some of their nominations and awards are Waste Processor of the Year, This Year's Entrepreneur, and This Year's Environmental Initiative at the Swedish recycling awards.

Social and environmental benefit

Renova thinks that it's important to recycle as much as possible and that's the reason why they also value the waste heat from the industries. Waste heat isn't the biggest resource of renewable energy but even small contributions makes a difference. Lindman explained that waste heat is an excess from hot water from the sewers.

Most of Renova's work combines both business, social and environmental benefits. For example, the environmental school is business beneficial because the municipalities finances it. It's socially and environmentally beneficial because the youth get more aware of the problems that are faced in today's society and hopefully make a difference in their actions. Their fossil free fleet is good for the environment and good for society. Since it is the trucks that people see on an everyday basis, it sends out a message that they are taking actions not only in their waste processes but also within the logistics.

A future goal for Lindman is to decrease the amount of fossil emissions. He pointed out that one ton burned waste equals one ton of carbon dioxide where 40% is pure fossil fuel emission. "Then you understand that I have nine years left before I retire and that number will go down before that," Lindman explained. "Otherwise I will work here for another 31 years."

Interview

Kurt Lindman, Head of sustainability