Anferra’s Recycling Solution Recognized with Renova Environmental Scholarship
Solving the Grinding Sludge Challenge
Each year, the Swedish steel industry generates thousands of tonnes of grinding sludge. This fine, metal-rich residue is often classified as hazardous waste. Without a viable recycling pathway, it typically ends up in landfill or is incinerated, resulting in resource loss and environmental harm.
Anferra’s solution addresses this issue through a combination of chemical-mechanical separation and microfiltration. The process recovers valuable metal oxides and removes harmful residues, converting the sludge into a usable, high-value material that can re-enter industrial use.
Anferra co-founder Thomas Ottink has been awarded the Renova Environmental Scholarship 2024, for his work in developing Anferra’s patent-pending solution for recycling grinding sludge from the steel industry. The award highlights the growing importance of circular solutions in heavy industry and recognizes the innovation behind a process that prevents hazardous steel waste from ending up in landfill.
Recognizing Scalable, Real-World Impact
The Renova Environmental Scholarship is awarded to individuals and projects that show innovative thinking, measurable environmental benefit, and strong potential for implementation. Thomas Ottink was selected for his contribution to sustainable industrial practices and the clear potential to scale Anferra’s technology within the steel sector.
A Step Forward for the Circular Economy
This recognition reinforces Anferra’s core mission and highlights the relevance of our technology in building a more circular and resource-efficient industry. As we continue to pilot and scale our solution in industrial settings, we welcome the growing support for approaches that reduce landfill, recover materials, and rethink waste.
We are proud to see Thomas’ work and the Anferra vision acknowledged by one of Sweden’s leading environmental organizations.