BEWI's environmental progress for 2024: Together we're closing the loop

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Interview with Camilla Louise Bjerkli, Chief Sustainability Officer

Continuing the efforts to lead the change to a circular economy

Substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and advancements in circularity and recycling are just some of BEWI’s environmental milestones over the past years. We had a talk with Camilla Bjerkli, Chief Sustainability Officer, about the achievements, the activities behind them, and the path forward.

Camilla, looking back at 2024, what stands out most to you about BEWI’s environmental progress?

Honestly, I’m incredibly proud of what our teams have achieved. We managed to reduce our total greenhouse gas emissions by 14 per cent and cut scope 1 and 2 emissions by 24 per cent. It reflects the hard work going on behind the scenes, such as optimising production processes and increased use of renewable energy sources, and of course – a significant increase in the use of recycled feedstock in our production.

That’s impressive. What role did circularity play in these results?

A big one. In 2024, we collected more than 33 000 tonnes of used EPS for recycling, a 23 per cent increase from the year before. This enabled us to ramp up the use of recycled raw materials in own production by 77 per cent. That’s a result of long-term investments in circular capabilities, innovation, and huge effort from our teams. Everyone’s pulling in the same direction.

Can you give us an example of innovation in practice?

I can give you three. The first is construction boards intended for wet rooms including lignin, a bio-based by-product from the paper industry. Second and third, we recently launched XPS perimeter insulation and grey EPS with up to 45 per cent recycled content. These are great examples of how we’re increasing the use of renewable and recycled material in our products, turning waste into value and helping our customers reduce their carbon footprint at the same time.

What’s next for BEWI on environmental priorities?

The momentum we’ve built over the years is strong. Circularity is key, and we plan to boost EPS collection and increase the share of recycled and renewable materials in our products. The newly opened circular hub in Norrköping has increased our EPS recycling capacity by 10 000 tonnes. This brings us closer to reaching our target of 30 per cent recycled content in our product offering by 2030. We are confident that our efforts will lead the change to a circular economy within our industry.