From left to right: Anders Thorén from Löfbergs, Susanne Timsjö from ABB and Pelle Stafshede at Melker of Sweden.

Coffee bags and sawdust – the next generation of kayaks, longboards and paddleboards

One of Paper Province’s newest member companies is Melker of Sweden. Their vision is to be able to give sawdust and old coffee bags new life such as longboards, paddle boards and kayaks.

Ever since Melker of Sweden started manufacturing outdoor products in 2015, the ambition has been to make it as environmentally friendly as possible. At the same time, you want to make unbeatable looking products. A combination that is exhausting to get. But with the help of paper from Paper Province and Sting Bioeconomy, as well as material and method development together with RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and the test facility Circlab, they have soon reached the goal: stylish, 3D-printed longboards, paddleboards and kayaks of bio-based material.

“Later, I see ahead of us that we manufacture several other types of products in the same way. Even bikes. The possibilities for product development are endless”, says Pelle Stafshede, CEO and creative director at Melker of Sweden.

Recycled as new products

The material used in the printing process can be recycled and used for new products. In addition, the products can be tailored to suit different specific needs.

“Everyone does not look the same and does not have the same conditions, with our unique ecosystem and production method we can satisfy all target groups with tailor-made products – completely circular”, says Pelle Stafshede.

Local partnerships

On their journey, Melker of Sweden has crossed paths with interesting companies that have led to circular and sustainable partnerships. Like Stora Enso, for example, who was involved in and developed the wood-based bio composite material.

Löfbergs is another company that has been hooked on. Their end-of-life coffee bags are used in the production of a 3D-printed longboard, which is made of bioplastics and sawdust from Moelven’s local sawmill.

Anders Thorén from Löfbergs with one of the many jute sacks left over in coffee production and which can now be reused to give, for example, paddleboards a nice finish.

“At Löfbergs, we work a lot with sustainability and take responsibility for both people and the environment. Managing our waste in a smart way is an important part. We recycle virtually all of our material. We buy some of our coffee in these jute bags and in one year there will be about 30,000 bags”, says Löfberg’s PR Manager Anders Thorén.

Closes the sustainability circle with a new service

Later this summer, the Melker Move service will be launched where companies and private individuals can subscribe to kayaks and paddle boards.

– This is our concept of sharing economy. Partly to make our products accessible in a simple way, but also because it is better for the environment to rent this type of product, which most people still do not use every day, says Pelle Stafshede.

Those who subscribe will easily access the kayaks through Bluetooth mobile phone technology.

– Primarily, we will sell the service to companies in the area that can have it as well-being for their employees, but it will also be open to private individuals. In the long term, we hope to be able to expand this in places along the clear-water delta, the west coast – yes, maybe even the whole world.

Pelle Stafshede explains the process of 3D printing a longboard of wood-based material.