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Event

The Swedish sludge inquiry – what now for the region?

What are the implications of the Swedish sludge inquiry report for the circular management of nutrients in the Baltic Sea Region? On 30 January SEI hosted a panel discussion with stakeholders from Sweden to discuss how nutrients and carbon can be turned into economic and environmental benefits. The discussion built upon the outcomes of the inquiry by the Swedish government into a possible ban of sewage sludge spreading on farmland and the introduction of a phosphorus recycling requirement.

30 January 2020 at 15:00

ending at 17:30

About this Event

On 30th January 2020, Stockholm Environment Institute hosted an event at Södra Teatern, Södermalm, on the circular management of nutrients in the Baltic Sea Region. A panel discussion featured perspectives from stakeholders in the region.

This discussion built upon the outcomes of the inquiry by the Swedish government into a possible ban of sewage sludge spreading on farmland and the introduction of a phosphorus recycling requirement.

The event premiered “Sea of Opportunity”, an 18 minute film produced by BONUS RETURN highlighting solutions for recovering and reusing nutrients in Europe.

Sea of Opportunity - Trailer

The Baltic: A Sea of Opportunity. SEI

Our assumption was that if we could at least understand the technical readiness, and policy and market dynamics of solutions for recovering phosphorus -the nutrient which has the best chances of “making it” into a circular economy because of increased focus for its recovery in recent years-, we could probably understand what is needed to accelerate a circular economy of all nutrients.

Karina Barquet - Research Fellow, SEI

Karina Barquet opening speech, Bonus Return

Panelists Jakob Granit – HAV, Elin Kusoffsky – Uppsala Vatten, Jennifer McConville – SLU, Matts Johansson – Ecoloop, Annika Blix, NIRAS, Jan Eksvärd – INACRE

The panel discussion heard from experts from academia, business, and policy. They engaged in a lively discussion on the consequences of the Swedish government’s sludge inquiry and the phosphorus recycling requirement. The guests were moderated by Sten Stenbeck from RISE.

After Work mingle, Bonus Return

About BONUS RETURN

BONUS RETURN is a project exploring how ecotechnologies can turn nutrients and carbon from environmental problems into circular solutions in the Baltic Sea Region. This three-year project started in 2017 under the coordination of Stockholm Environment Institute, together with the following partners: Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS), Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Uppsala University(UU), RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and University of Copenhagen (UCPH)​.

Through systematic research, testbeds in catchment areas, and engagement with many other Baltic Sea initiatives and stakeholders in the region, BONUS RETURN explores solutions towards reducing emissions by turning nutrients and carbon into profitable innovations in the Baltic Sea Region. For more information on the project, visit www.bonusreturn.eu.

Featuring

Karina Barquet
Karina Barquet

Team Leader: Water, Coasts and Ocean; Senior Research Fellow

SEI Headquarters

Design and development by Soapbox.