Anders Brolin has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Lixea. He brings extensive and well-founded experience from the forest industry, not least through his long career at Stora Enso, where he held several senior executive positions. As Director of Group Innovation and R&D, he was a driving force behind the company’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.
In recognition of his contributions to research and the collaboration between academia and industry, Anders Brolin was awarded an honorary doctorate by KTH in 2022. He has also taken on leading roles in several research and innovation platforms, including serving as Chairman of Paper Province, Chairman of the Board of several major research consortia, as well as engaging in industry-wide initiatives, particularly in matters related to product policy.
What made you take on the role as Chairman of Lixea?
– For me, it’s a matter of conviction. We need to close our material cycles more effectively and make greater use of renewable raw materials. That is crucial. I also see a parallel with the broader debate on strategic raw materials – carbon, whether renewable or fossil-based, needs to have a longer lifespan before ending up in energy recovery.
Lixea has developed processes that broaden the raw material base and make it possible to turn residual products and challenging raw materials into new intermediate materials. In doing so, we can increase the amount of bio-based carbon in circulation and create a better balance between what is recycled into materials and what is incinerated. This way, we extract more value and extend the time between harvesting a raw material and its eventual combustion, says Anders Brolin.
Where do you see the main challenges for Lixea?
– This is an extremely exciting technology, already proven at laboratory scale. The key challenge now is to ensure the best possible conditions for scaling up. That means avoiding shortcuts, doing things properly, reducing risks step by step, and identifying development needs throughout the scaling process.
What is most important for you in the near future?
– The next step is to minimize risks. We need to build a solid foundation to ensure that mistakes are not made as the process is scaled up.
One clear advantage of this technology is that it can demonstrate profitability even at a relatively modest scale. It has the ability to grow together with customers and can be integrated with other processes, for instance by utilizing residual heat.
It is equally important that we focus on the right products – those with strong market potential that fully capitalize on the benefits of our production process. This autumn, we are eagerly awaiting the results of application studies across several product areas.
At the same time, we are open to broadening the ownership structure, particularly with partners who bring industrial expertise.
