Rottneros Mill – An Open Space for Collaboration and Innovation

Rottneros AB is built on a solid foundation of over a century of experience. At the same time, new ideas are flourishing, and innovative collaborations are driving both business and sustainable development. At the pulp mill in Sunne, the company offers resources it is happy to share with other actors. Partnerships with startups and researchers benefit not only Rottneros itself but also the future of Värmland’s industry.

"Mutual Interest to Let Others Use Our Factory´s Resources"

“We are a smaller group within the Swedish pulp and paper industry, with a relatively small R&D department,” says CEO Lennart Eberleh.

“Success comes from a constant interest in product development and exploring new applications for our pulp products together with other actors. That’s why we see it as positive to let others use our factory’s resources as an ‘innovation hub’ or ‘testbed’ — there is a mutual interest and interdependence in collaboration and joint initiatives.”

Rottneros operates two pulp mills in Sweden: Rottneros Mill in Sunne, specializing in mechanical pulp, and Vallvik Mill in Söderhamn, specializing in chemical pulp.

“Our strength lies in fiber production, and we manufacture a range of customized specialty pulps used in products such as carton packaging, napkins, household paper, various filters, liquid packaging board, newsprint, and specialty papers for industry.”

"Our Goal is to Be Fossil-Free by the Year 2030"

“We are curious about new technologies that can improve our manufacturing processes and help us reach ambitious sustainability goals. Our aim is to be completely fossil-free by 2030. The biggest challenge right now is transportation.”

While some customers are local or based in Sweden, most are international.

“Our niche is tailoring products to meet our customers’ specific needs.”

Rottneros also has a packaging development unit in Sunne.

“This initiative has been ongoing on a modest scale for over 20 years. It gained new momentum a few years ago when we joined an EU project and began collaborating with eleven other partners across Europe.”

The partnership generated ideas that have since been further developed.

“One example of innovation is our investment in molded fiber trays, which we are now ready to scale up in production — both here in Sunne and through a joint venture with a partner in Poland.”

"New Business Oppertunities Leads to Better Welfare in Värmland"

Rottneros is also collaborating with the Värmland-based startup Blue Ocean Closures (fiber-based caps with unique quality properties), and recently concluded a multi-year development partnership with Biosorbe (a cellulose-based biomaterial that efficiently and sustainably absorbs hydrocarbons and oil in water, air, and soil).

“What makes Värmland’s business environment particularly attractive is the way traditional base industries operate in symbiosis with innovation and development. This not only creates new business opportunities for those of us working here, but also generates increased tax revenues that support our welfare and quality of life.”

Rottneros is a member of the business cluster Paper Province and sees great value in active participation.

“It gives us inspiration and places us in contexts that foster development and new business. Värmland is a forest-rich region where businesses and public actors — like Region Värmland, municipalities, and the county administrative board — share a common vision on several strategically important issues for the region’s future. We collaborate, for example, on skills supply and infrastructure expansion.”

Environmental, Economic and Social Sustainability

All of Rottneros’ approximately 300 employees are involved in the company’s sustainability efforts.

“Since we work with renewable raw materials from the forest, there is a natural link to environmental sustainability. We also strive to minimize our emissions and contribute to increased circularity by finding uses for our residual streams. Economic sustainability is essential for the company’s development and the region’s growth.”

Social sustainability is another key focus area, and in recent years Rottneros has taken concrete steps in consultation with employees.

“For us, operating in rural municipalities, skills supply is a challenge. To succeed, we need to create an inclusive and attractive corporate culture where all employees feel welcome and comfortable. It’s a long-term effort that involves how we treat each other at work and how we reach a broader audience in recruitment.”

Lennart Eberleh shares two concrete and norm-breaking initiatives:

“We’ve introduced broadened reference checks during recruitment to gain a more diverse and nuanced picture of a candidate’s skills, personality, and work style. We place special emphasis on obtaining references from minorities. We also have a policy of not serving alcohol at internal events or meetings. This is highly appreciated and creates a safer, more inclusive environment.”

Rottneros AB

Produces high-quality, customized pulp and develops innovative, sustainable packaging solutions. The group consists of two pulp mills — Rottneros Mill and Vallvik Mill — as well as Rottneros Packaging, which specializes in molded fiber. The raw materials company Nykvist Skogs AB has been part of the group since 2020 and operates as an independent subsidiary. Rottneros is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

Revenue: SEK 2,755 million (2023)
Location: Sunne and Söderhamn
Employees: Approximately 300
Website: rottneros.com