Circular Arctic Sweden
The Circular Arctic Sweden (CAS) project aims to improve circularity in waste management in Norrbotten by mapping material and energy flows, inventorying municipal organization, and developing digital tools for resource sharing. Coordination across municipal boundaries and increased knowledge exchange between municipalities, industry, and academia will strengthen the region's sustainability and resilience to global challenges.
The project will be carried out between 2025 and 2028 in collaboration between Luleå University of Technology and Region Norrbotten. Luleå University of Technology is the project owner. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) via the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and Region Norrbotten, with co-funding from Luleå University of Technology and Region Norrbotten. The project is led by Lena Abrahamsson (Professor of Hman Work Science, Luleå University of Technology). Other project managers are Roland Larsson (Professor of Machine Elements, Luleå University of Technology), Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck (Professor of Product Innovation, Luleå University of Technology), and Kairi Pääsuke (Strategist, Region Norrbotten). The municipalities of Norrbotten are also participating in the project, as are many municipalities, municipal companies, and other organizations involved in waste management in Norrbotten.
The project formally started in June 2025, had its kick-off on August 21–22, 2025, and will have a start-up period in the fall of 2025 with a focus on project planning, mapping, knowledge compilation, and networking.
In the project, we will, among other things
- Map flows and logistics in terms of materials, energy, and waste in Norrbotten to get a picture of the flows into and out of the county, both the current situation and changes.
- Map the municipalities' organization and systems for circularity in waste management. This also includes other actors in Norrbotten.
- Compile the state of research in a knowledge overview by mapping Luleå University of Technology research and conducting a literature review.
- Compile a summary of similar projects, collaborations, and activities and synchronize with other ongoing initiatives in Norrbotten.
- Collaborate with student projects and project courses at Luleå University of Technology.
- Identify user needs and frameworks for digital tools/methods to enable the sharing of material, energy, and human resources.
- Conduct in-depth case studies of the activities of some actors (municipalities, municipal companies, businesses, and other actors).
- Analyze challenges, such as organizational and operational problems, conflicting goals, and conflicting systems, in order to develop ideas for solutions for more sustainable and efficient "business models" for circular thinking and circular flows.
- Strengthen networks, coordination, and exchanges of experience between municipalities, the region, academia, etc. by arranging workshops and meetings with researchers, municipalities, companies, organizations, and other actors.
- Communicate and establish project results within the region, municipalities, and Luleå University of Technology, and more broadly via social media and so-called "Impact Days"and similar events.
Contact
Luleå University of Technology:
Region Norrbotten
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