Goal #3 Resource focus instead of waste focus

To build a sustainable society, we need to reuse the materials we already have. This requires that we stop treating waste as a problem to be minimised and instead embrace it as a sustainable source of raw materials.

Goal: The established waste hierarchy (part of the EU legislation) has been replaced by a resource focus instead of a waste focus principle, that emphasises the importance of securing the availability of circular resources.

Further we need to stress the perspective of decontamination – circulation of contaminants cross our economic system will not help us.

The current view of waste is rooted in the waste hierarchy, a principle that directs regulation towards waste minimisation only. But in a circular society, the aim is not to reduce waste, it is to reduce the harmful extraction and transformation of virgin raw materials.

The waste hierarchy is therefore trying to solve the wrong problem. To promote circularity, the waste hierarchy should be replaced by a sustainable raw material supply strategy that break our dependence on the extraction of increasing amounts of depleting virgin 
resources.

With this focus, waste minimisation would still be relevant, only in a few cases including if it contributes to a reduced use of virgin materials, caused for example by inefficient production. But it is not a useful guiding principle for waste flows not designed for circularity, or waste flows in need of detoxification. These waste streams should instead be collected, treated, and stored in a secure way, which in many cases will require an increase in the amount of waste, rather than a decrease.

"In a circular society, it is not waste that we want to minimise, but the unsustainable extraction and processing of virgin raw materials.”

Anders Kihl, Chief Strategy Officer and R&D Director at Ragn-Sells Group

During 2024, we have worked to promote this shift through advocacy efforts, knowledge sharing, and stakeholder dialogue, both globally and in our local markets. One notable example is Ragn-Sells’ contribution to the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences project Roadmap for Metals and Minerals, which explored how Europe can secure the supply of metals and minerals in a sustainable way. The final report highlights circular material flows as a key strategy but also identifies current legislation as a barrier to the circular transition.

A key focus in 2024 was also to promote the idea of transforming wastewater treatment plants into resource plants to recover valuable materials from sludge. Throughout the year, Ragn-Sells shared this perspective in a wide range of high-level fora, including events arranged by the United Nations Environment Programme, the EU Water Conference, and the World Trade Organisation. 

The importance of recovering resources from wastewater was also in the spotlight when Ragn-Sells attended the UN Climate Change Conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. In our local markets, we participated in advocacy events such as Arendalsuka in Norway and 
Almedalen in Sweden.

To share our knowledge on circularity and  build a common understanding of the need for a new view on waste, we have developed an e-learning tool open to employees, partners, and customers. 

In 2025, we will continue our efforts to accelerate the circular transition and ensure that waste is recognised as a valuable resource.