Advantage Environment

Wood construction on the rise

Building small wooden houses – churches and homes – is a long-standing tradition in Sweden dating back several hundred years. But multi-storey wooden structures have not been so common. In North America, 80 to 90 percent of all multi-storey buildings are constructed of wood and can have up to seven floors. One reason for the difference is that Sweden has prohibited building wooden structures over…
A biogas revolution in the transport sector

In December 2014, Helsingborg opened a cold gas filling station for liquefied biogas (LBG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) to serve heavy trucks. These renewable gases are starting to compete with more traditional diesel fuel. A revolution has begun. Environmentally conscious shippers, trucking companies, truck manufacturers, and other companies are spearheading the development and distribution of…
Breakthrough technology for fluorescent lighting

Lighting costs for companies can be substantial. They may include shedding light on facilities like parking garages, warehouses, factories, stations, airports, greenhouses, or other premises where the lamps are lit most of the day. “Energy prices are rising, environmental awareness is increasing and there are many companies looking for smart lighting solutions to save money and reduce their carbon…
Climate compensating consumer goods

“Our brand Garant Såklart [loosely translated: Guarantee Of course] is a new way of addressing climate concerns to minimize environmental impact,” says Åsa Domeij, responsible for environmental and social responsibility at Axfood. “The range includes body care and cleaning products like detergents.” “Currently, the range includes 20 products sold through Axfood channels. Free of perfumes…
Lighter food packaging

In an increasingly competitive environment, food manufacturers are trying to trim their packaging costs without compromising quality. This is not a simple equation to solve. Food packaging performs many different functions such as protecting the contents and providing a surface for images and text. One feature that has become increasingly important is to minimize the environmental impact of the packaging…
Discarded clothes: a new lease on life

The world’s use of textiles amounts to around 73 million tons per year and is expected to increase by three percent each year. In Sweden, the annual amount is 130,000 tons. It is safe to say that most wardrobes contain unused garments that have seen better days. The environmental impact of textile production is well known. One of the problems is the lack of effective processes to recycle fibers.…
Grid Energy Storage

A major increase in the power production from renewable sources will emphasize the need for load balancing measures. Adding buffers of energy storage within the grid might allow for renewables to increase their share beyond what would otherwise be practical. A wide range of various storage methods is on the table, and thanks to recent progress in batteries and materials technology they are beginning…
Sustainability is an easy choice

“Sustainability is important for Åhlens. We want to contribute to a better society and lessen our impact on people, animals and nature,” says Anita Falkenek, sustainability manager at Åhlens, a leading department store chain in Sweden and Norway. “The new Åhlens On the Road strategy makes sustainability one of five main aspects of a new business model with updated and new decision-making…
Bio-based food packaging

Nowadays, most of the food we buy is packaged. The packaging makes it easier to handle, transport and protect food against impact and pressure, light, moisture, oxygen, microorganisms and impurities. The packaging also helps to preserve the nutritional value, taste and smell. Usually, plastic or paper packaging materials are used as well as glass and metal. From a consumer perspective, it is important…
Internet of Things – an environmental management tool

“We have developed a system where 500 fuel gauges automatically send liquid level information to the cloud where it is retrieved by traffic planning for distribution by several hundred trucks in Sweden,” says Jens Johansson, project manager at Top Fuel. “A chemical and oil supplier that supplies the pulp industry with products can save 25-40 percent of the distribution costs by utilizing sensors…