Hanna Kipatsi, sustainability manager at VSV Frakt, receives the first load of biobased absorbent to be tested on the roads.
Paper Province companies collaborate for environmentally friendly oil decontamination
The logistics company VSV Frakt and the developing company Biosorbe have started working together to help the environment. Hauliers are testing a new kind of forest-based absorbent to clean up oil spills from vehicles in a climate-smart way.
“Through the collaboration, we close the cycle for locally grown forest in a sustainable way”, says Hanna Kipatsi, Sustainability Manager at VSV Frakt.
“Our customers sell forest to Rottneros, a local pulp mill, and our hauliers transport it there. At the mill, Biosorbe manufactures the absorbent and the same hauliers get to use the final product to decontaminate oil in case of leaks on the road or in the forest”, Hanna Kipatsi explains.
Cluster power
All three companies in the supply chain are members of Paper Province. And that is where they found each other. Biosorbe has an eco-friendly innovation that cleans oil spills, Rottneros provides the raw material and production facilities, while VSV has a large vehicle fleet and several contractors perfect for testing the product.
“This is truly a demonstration of the power that comes from being part of a business cluster. The forest can contribute with lots of sustainable solutions and we continuously discover that fantastic results can be achieved when companies work together”, says Gunnar Hellerström, Innovation Advisor at Paper Province.
Biosorbe’s paper-like absorbent is produced by a process that combines cellulose with a number of natural components.
Biobased newcomer winning ground
“This product is extra powerful in wet environments because it absorbs oil but not water. It is completely unique, and we only use processes from nature’s own ecosystem”, says Biosorbe’s Co-founder and Sales Manager Erik Josephsson.
VSV’s vehicles are already equipped with other types of absorbents. But none is made of wood or locally produced. Moreover, they are not as effective. Ten kilos of Biosorbe’s absorbent GreenAll is enough to absorb 90 to 140 litres of oil, which is several times more effective than other products on the market.
After decontamination, the oil can be reused, composted or resold as fuel for heating plants. Thanks to the absorbent’s light weight and high absorbency ability the customer can also make major savings if the residues need to be handled as hazardous waste after the decontamination.
All set for Swedish roads
VSV’s large network of entrepreneurs and drivers is now becoming an important component in the company’s environmental work and Biosorbe’s product development.
“The hauliers have solid expertise and know what is needed in the field, a better test panel can hardly be found. They are curious and enthusiastic about getting started”, says Hanna Kipatsi.
First out for testing are timber trucks and forest machines. The absorbent comes in a fluffy, paper-like form and the drivers can submit development proposals.
“The material can be formed in different ways and we want to know what is best for different industries. There is no better way for our product to grow than to test it together with our customers”, says Erik Josephsson.
Erik Josephsson (to the right) and Lars-Erik Sjögren at Biosorbe
