We are now replacing our recycled plastic waste bags with a new, even more sustainable solution made of lignin. It may sound like a small thing - but it's a big step for the environment. And yes, we are the first to do it. Because we believe in doing the right thing, even when it starts with a garbage bag.
At Speed, we like to try new things. Especially when it makes the world a little better. That's why we're now replacing our regular waste bags with something completely different: bags made from lignin in combination with recycled plastic.
Lignin is not well-known to the average person. We had never heard of it. But it's actually something as down-to-earth as a natural by-product of the forest industry and is found in all plants. Lignin is one of the three main components of wood and acts a bit like a plant's own glue. It binds the cellulose fibers in the wood together and gives strength to the tree trunk. When paper and cardboard are made, the lignin is usually not wanted, but is separated and considered waste. And that waste is now helping us to reduce our carbon footprint.
By switching to bags with lignin, we are making a difference. The reduction in CO2 emissions won't be revolutionary, but it's fully in line with our "every little helps" philosophy. Moreover, lignin is a residual material that would otherwise not be used - and we like to use it.
- This is a typical example of how we work with sustainability: small, concrete steps that together make a big difference, says Camilla Parneving, Communications and Marketing Manager at Speed. And it's particularly exciting that we seem to be the first with this solution.
The waste bags look like ordinary bags, but they have a slightly different texture than plastic bags and smell more like the forest than plastic. The bags are being deployed in our operations from now on and are the result of a close collaboration with our supplier.
- Speed is always quick to pick up on ideas and really dares to try new things. For example, they were the first company in Borås to introduce paper towel recycling. That says a lot about their attitude, says Johan Flodin, Sustainability Manager at Ahnviks.
The waste bags are part of Speed's sustainability initiative, where we work long-term, curiously, and with our heart in the right place. Because we believe that sustainability is not about big words, but about doing things a little better. Every single day.
READ MORE ABOUT OUR SUSTAINABILITY MINDSET