Some time ago, Hummeltorp CEO Christer Otterström participated as a speaker at SBMI's industry day, an important meeting place for the Swedish rock materials industry. During his presentation, Christer emphasized how crucial it is to have a sustainable and circular material supply and efficient construction waste management, not only for the climate, but also for a more resource-efficient and robust community construction.

One of the questions discussed was why so many players have difficulty reaching a recycling rate of over 30 percent. At the same time, we showed that it is possible to think bigger. Hummeltorp currently has a recycling rate of 96 percent. This figure is the result of a long-term focus on research and development.

During the industry day, not only technical solutions were discussed, but also what circularity means for society. We see great opportunities in the form of reduced climate impact, better resource efficiency, cost savings and the creation of new green jobs. But to get there, more people need to realize what is actually already possible. There are still major challenges in the form of sluggish regulations and a general lack of knowledge in the decision-making process.

The way forward is about showing concrete examples, disseminating research results and educating – something we are doing by, among other things, building up the Hummeltorp Academy. It is clear to us that the future requires cooperation between construction companies, authorities, organizations and academia. Only then can we achieve real change. Many thanks to SBMI for a fantastic industry day!