During the year, major steps were taken to establish phosphorus recovery plants in Sweden and Germany. The Ash2Phos technology was also at the centre of a series of meetings with Canadian authorities to explore the possibility of supplying the country’s farmers with recycled feed phosphorus. The reason is that unlike the European Union, Canada does not ban the use of phosphorus from waste in animal feed.
– More and more decision-makers are waking up to the need for sustainably sourced phosphorus. But regulatory developments are still too few and too slow, says Jan.
As an example of a policy that is pushing development in the right direction, Jan cites the updated Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, which will require EU member states to reuse or recycle phosphorus from wastewater.
– This is an important step as Europe is currently dependent on phosphorus imports from deeply problematic and emissionsheavy sources. By turning our wastewater treatment plants into resource recovery plants, we can meet Europe’s phosphorus needs in a more sustainable way, says Jan.
Beyond technology and politics, EasyMining’s success also depends on the 60 talents working in its offices in Sweden and Germany.
– What I am most proud of is that we have built such a strong and diverse team. When you look for the best talent out there, you get people from different backgrounds. That is a huge asset, says Jan Svärd.
This article was originally published in Ragn-Sells Group Sustainability Report 2024.
