SCA’s innovation process is deeply embedded in the Group’s strategy and business model. Innovation activities are based on market trends, customer and consumer insight, new technology and new business models. Sustainability aspects and product safety are incorporated throughout the process.
SCA's world-unique electric timber truck from Scania in operation
SCA's world-unique electric timber truck from Scania has arrived. The vehicle will transport timber on the stretch between SCA’s timber terminal in Gimonäs and the paper mill in Obbola outside Umeå.
"We are very pleased that we together with Scania can break new ground to make the heaviest transports fossil-free," says Hans Djurberg, Head of Sustainability at SCA.
SCA strengthens the sustainable value chain
R&D Centre
Innovation activities are conducted within each business area and at a central level. Our central research unit, SCA R&D Centre, focuses on the business areas' strategic direction and on new technologies and concepts. In addition to internal work, SCA also conducts development and innovation through strategic collaboration with external partners.
Read more about SCA R&DResearch and Development
With a well-developed innovation methodology and close contact with customers, SCA is driving dedicated innovation work to address today's challenges and to be prepared to address the future with changing markets and new customer requirements. Innovation work creates value in the business by increasing customer value and reduces costs by enhancing efficiency, for example, with regard to how we use raw materials and optimize transportation. This means both lower environmental impact and lower costs.
Innovation helps to improve existing products, satisfy new needs and build our brands. Innovation is also about developing service offerings, where, for example, digitalization involves new and extensive opportunities.
The Forest Business Accelerator
SCA is cooperating with start-ups through the Forest Business Accelerator. (Swedish page)
The Accelerator, which merges forest development with digitalization and entrepreneurship, is a joint venture between SCA, IBM, RISE Processum and the Bizmaker business incubator. The Accelerator program offers selected forest startups tailored business coaching for commercialization and internationalization. We view this venture as an opportunity to build new relationships and to initiate cooperation that contributes toward the renewal of our industry.
Forest Business Accelerator 2022
The application period to participate in the accelerator program 2022 is open until June 26 2022. Read more and apply at Bizmakers website.
Forest Business Accelerator 2021
The following three start-up companies are participating in the accelerator during 2021
Cass Materials from Australia, which has developed a new method for sustainable production of textile materials, based on nanocellulose.
Daika Wood from Israel, who has developed a new bio-based material that can replace plastic, made from residual streams from the forest industry.
Taigatech AB from Gothenburg which has an AI solution for sawmill optimization.
During their time in Forest Business Accelerator, the participants will have the opportunity to test and develop their ideas together with SCA and the other companies. New for this year is also that Forest Business Accelerator has got a sister program in Future Industry Accelerator. Meetings between the participants open up a new level of contact and experience exchange.
Contact about Forest Business Accelerator: Magnus Viström, Innovation Manager, SCA, tel: +46 70 377 21 02, e-mail: magnus.vistrom@sca.com
Innnovation in our business areas
Forest
Skogsvinge™
SCA Forest's innovation work is aimed at creating efficient and sustainable forestry. Innovative cooperation with diffrent partners contibutes to develop our wood handling and wood transports. A digitalized flow from forest to mill opens for an efficient flow and value-creating service offerings to forest owners.
Technical development for a sustainable forestry
Renewable Energy
Through efficient forest operations, our industrial tradition and technology developed in-house, SCA Renewable Energy is developing biofuels and green chemicals of the future.
This includes SCA's investment of SEK 50m in a pilot facility to manufacture renewable petrol and diesel from black liquor, a by-product from pulp production. The facility is located at SCA's paper mill in Obbola near Umeå.
BiorefineryInnovation within our business areas
Containerboard
Innovation work at Containerboard focuses on developing sustainable products based on safe, renewable and resource-efficient solutions. SCA Containerboard maintains close customer collaborations in order to develop innovations that help customers to achieve a competitive position. The focus is on accelerating the rate of innovation and the customer's opportunity to gain new market advantages, such as Innovation race, the innovation method developed by SCA.
As the only producer of wet-strength liner in Europe, SCA Containerboard conducts development of new customized liner grades to fulfil identified needs for more durable corrugated board boxes for use in damp environments and cyclical climates (such as the fruit and vegetable segment).
Innovation work at ContainerboardInnovation within our business areas
Pulp
The focus of innovation work at SCA Pulp is in the field of tissue, where the ambition is to be the world-leading pulp supplier with respect to innovation, environment, quality and service.
One important starting point in innovation work is a focus on insights into customer needs and customer cooperation, and this facilitates the development of customized grades.
Innovation work at SCA PulpInnovation within our business areas
Arcwise®
Arcwise® is a revolutionary innovation in corrugated board packaging. For the first time in history, Arcwise® makes it possible to shape corrugated board into a continuous curved form.
The technology enables the design of curved packaging and displays that create attraction in point of sale. The integration of graphic design with rounded shapes open up a new world of innovative design opportunities and a way to strengthen your brand.
The use of curved packaging with the strength of corrugated board is unique. Arcwise technology also entails a significant improvement in environmental and packaging performance. It is possible to achieve material savings of up to 30%.
ArcwiseInnovation within our business areas
Wood products
SCA Wood’s innovation work targets the development of wood products for the building materials trade, for professional builders and DIY customers, and products for the wood industry.
Innovation within our business areas
SCA particiapte in Treesearch
SCA is one of the participating organisations in Treesearch. Treesearch is Sweden’s so far largest investment in creating a collaboration platform for fundamental research, knowledge and competence building in the field of new materials and speciality chemicals from forest raw material. The platform is a collaboration between academia, industry, private foundations.
Read more about current news in Treesearch at sca.com
Read more about Treesearch at their website
Contact at SCA for our participating in Treesearch, Jerker Jäder, R&D Director.