A family business at the circular forefront

– The principles of circularity have always been at the core of our business. Protecting and housekeeping the planet’s resources is our most important undertaking. This includes tackling the issues arising from the overproduction and overconsumption of increasingly complex materials, says Linnéa Sellberg, Head of Section at Ragn-Sells Recycling and Deputy Member of the Board of Ragn-Sells Group.

Erik Sellberg, Chairman of the Board of Ragn-Sells Group, and Linnéa Sellberg Head of Section at Ragn-Sells Recycling and Deputy Member of the Board of Ragn-Sells Group.

Erik and Linnéa Sellberg represent the third and fourth generation of the Ragn-Sells owner family. They believe that being family-owned helps the company stay true to its vision and enables decisions guided by long-term goals rather than short-term financial interests.

– There is of course an emotional attachment to managing a family business – we are literally putting our name on this. Even if that sometimes may slow us down, it also enables long-term thinking. Parts of our business that are successful today, might have been shut down in another company because they were slow to take off. Since we are in it for the long haul, we can afford to be patient, says Erik Sellberg, Chairman of the Board of the Ragn-Sells Group.

Erik and Linnéa both emphasise that it is their colleagues’ commitment to problemsolving that gives the company its innovative edge.

– The desire to solve problems is truly the spark that ignites business development. We are determined to find solutions to challenges our customers or society face, no matter how big or small. With this mindset, you find opportunities for new solutions everywhere, says Linnéa.

For example, Linnéa mentions that her team in Stockholm recently began recycling paper towels into new paper towels, closing the loop on a material that was previously discarded. They have also partnered with energy transition company St1 to produce HVO from used cooking oil, a waste stream once very difficult to recycle.

Erik adds that Ragn-Sells’ operational structure is another key success factor.

– Many of our solutions – be it recycling, detoxification, or new circular loops – originate from our co-workers’ continuous efforts to find better ways of doing things. By harnessing their creativity, we grow as a company, get more satisfied customers, and benefit society even more. It is a true win-win-win. As I often say, you should be happy as long as you have more ideas than money!

As for the board’s responsibility, Erik stresses the importance of forward-thinking governance.

– The board’s job is to ensure that we live up to our mission, even when things get tough. Given how deeply rooted our society is in linearity, the transition to a circular economy will take time. However, we remain determined to lead that change, Erik concludes.