The refractory industry plays a critical role in high temperature industrial processes, but it is also resource intensive. For us, investing in the recycling of refractory materials is not only a sustainability ambition, it is a necessity. By increasing the use of recycled raw materials, we can reduce environmental impact, secure long term access to critical resources, and create competitive, high performance solutions for our customers.
If done right, refractory materials can be recycled to reduce environmental footprint
Successfully recycling refractory materials requires more than collection and processing. Deep material knowledge, advanced sorting and analysis, and a solid understanding of how recycled materials behave in demanding production environments are essential. Equally important is having the right industrial infrastructure in place to ensure stable and predictable quality.
The key to ensuring a successful subsequent life cycle for refractory materials lies in having valuable information from both the previous and subsequent applications. This is the only way to fully realize the materials’ potential and enable an efficient flow of materials, especially when the recycling plant and the end-use facilities are located close to each other. In addition to the environmental aspects, this also contributes to a more stable supply chain with a local focus.
Over the past period, we have therefore made targeted investments to strengthen our recycling capabilities. In Mo i Rana, we are upgrading and further developing our recycling facility to enable the production of high quality refractory products based on recycled materials. In parallel, we have invested in a material drying facility in Bjuv, ensuring sufficiently low moisture levels and stable material quality. This is a key requirement for recycled materials to perform reliably in both manufacturing and application.
Lasse Axelsson, Höganäs Borgestad and Kjell Reidar Aabø, Eramet Sauda
This spring, we also entered into a collaboration with Eramet to develop refractory products based on recycled materials, adapted to their specific production processes. The work focuses on matching material properties with operating conditions, ensuring that recycled content can be used in an industrially sound way.
The collaboration with Eramet supports our broader ambition of integrating recycled materials into high performance refractory solutions. By combining material expertise with practical process insights, development work can move from concept to practical application more efficiently.
“Eramet welcomes this development from our partner Höganäs Borgestad. We have clear goals to reduce our environmental footprint and increase our resource utilization, in addition, recycled materials can provide a better predictability in a volatile commodity market. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Höganäs Borgestad towards less waste and lower emissions.”
– Kjell Reidar Aabø, Eramet Sauda
“From an R&D and quality control perspective, successful recycling of refractory materials is about maintaining good control over raw material variability and validating performance throughout the entire process chain. This is crucial to ensure stable and reliable product quality. This collaboration is a concrete step towards making recycled refractories a credible, high‑performance alternative on an industrial scale.”
– Edina Alibasic, R&D Manager Höganäs Borgestad
We appreciate the trust and constructive collaboration with Eramet and look forward to continuing the journey together. Through ongoing development and dialogue, we aim to reduce our shared environmental footprint while maintaining the high performance standards required in demanding industrial environments.
