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Circular Economy
Circular flows of materials Accelerating commitments on plastics within the Axel Johnson Group. HIGHLIGHTS • Mapping of resource flows at Axel Johnson companies highlighted the Group’s substantial use of materials as predominantly linear. • Plastics were identified as key materials and Axfoundation initiated a project to set a common goal for plastics at the Axel Johnson Group.
With one million daily customers, the Axel Johnson Group accounts for a considerable share of the packaging put on the Swedish market. With most materials being discarded after use, what would be the potential effects of increased resource efficiency and keeping materials in use? Axfoundation and the Axel Johnson Group decided to map resource flows to identify circular opportunities.
Results The mapping of resource flows highlighted key risk materials and identified hotspots to address. Plastics, key materials in both packaging and products, were identified as materials with similar challenges and opportunities for the companies. A new journey begun where Axfoundation supported Axel Johnson companies to raise the bar with a joint commitment regarding the use of plastics – a goal which today is adopted on Group level. The purpose is to streamline commitments on recyclable plastics, assessing the amount of plastics used, push to reuse models as well as prioritize renewable and recyclable raw materials. In the process of setting the goal,
Axfoundation worked in close collaboration with representatives from Axel Johnson companies through our collaborative Circular Economy Network. Axfoundation later initiated yet another a venture together with Axel Johnson companies to map plastics flows in more detail. Together with experts and consultants, Axfoundation is currently building a methodology and a tool for companies in retail to map and analyze plastics footprints, enabling businesses to act upon the accumulated knowledge. The aim of Axfoundation is to spur dialogue in the whole value chain through increased understanding of the materials put on the market.