05 Feb 2024

New Framework Sparks Business Opportunities for Industrial Residual Streams

Traditional methods for managing residual streams are often not sufficiently flexible or innovative for the environmental challenges we face. BizMaker, one of the actors in North Sweden Cleantech, has developed a simple framework to help industrial companies identify and sort valuable residual streams that can pave the way for new circular business models, collaborations, and increased profitability.

Johan Vestberg, business developer at BizMaker, has been working at the intersection of industry, business startups, and supporting and developing new companies for many years. In his work, he has encountered a recurring challenge - lack of knowledge, information, and reliability regarding the capacity of by-products.

- A central challenge for industrial companies revolves around assessing which by-products should be prioritized and how they should be integrated into the core operations to create real value. And how they can be reused in other industrial processes and by startups, says Johan.

BizMaker is introducing a simple framework for how the industry can classify its by-products to make reuse easier. This way, it becomes easier for companies to find collaborators and commercialize waste. The framework involves categorizing the waste into three categories:

1. A-Level: Residual streams with guaranteed volume, quality, and availability. An example is ash from a boiler fueled by a specific raw material. This category offers a reliable and immediate opportunity for reuse or commercialization, making them an attractive resource for companies.

2. B-Level: Residual streams with varying quantity and quality, requiring flexibility to be utilized. An example could be heat or steam sometimes used in the main operation but occasionally resulting in surplus. These streams offer potential opportunities but require more flexibility and strategic planning to be utilized effectively.

3. C-Level: Future residual streams that may arise and offer new opportunities. These are the potential streams that may emerge in the future, presenting opportunities for industrial symbiosis. This could include various types of sludge or nutrients.

The developed framework will be disseminated and tested by companies along the coast of Northern Sweden through the project "Innovation for Green Transition", led by North Sweden Cleantech and consisting of innovation actors from Sundsvall in the south to Luleå in the north. One of the participating actors is RISE Processum in Örnsköldsvik, which has extensive experience in handling and refining by-products from the industry.

- If a common principle for classifying residual streams can be found, it could facilitate and expedite the green transition of the industry, says Helena Näsström, Senior Project Manager at RISE Processum.

Furthermore, this framework will create greater opportunities for industrial symbiosis. This means that different industries collaborate to utilize each other's by-products, reducing waste and increasing efficiency. By sharing resources and expertise, waste from one industry can become a resource for another. This contributes to reducing environmental impact while simultaneously increasing profitability and innovation within the industry.

Text and photo: BizMaker

Click here to read more about the project Innovation for Green Transition