Nature is a part of who we are
“I’ve always enjoyed fishing,” says Hallingplast’s CEO Sverre Tragethon. “Ever since I was a kid, nature and fishing have been an important part of my life.”
Sverre, who represents the third generation of the family business and grew up in the ski resort of Geilo, says that he loves everything to do with mountains and outdoor life. “I enjoy cross-country skiing and ski touring and also like hiking and of course alpine skiing. But fishing is definitely closest to my heart. Compared to running a business, life is quite simple and straightforward when you’re out in nature. It’s relaxing to stand there, far from screens and digital meetings, and just be a part of nature and feel how deeply rooted it is in our DNA.”
Sustainable nature and sustainable lives
“Nature and its well-being are a natural part of Hallingplast’s business,” Sverre explains. “We have always strived to be at the forefront when it comes to development, and this also applies to the environment and sustainability. When bio-circular raw materials were introduced to the market, we immediately saw the potential and chose to participate in this development. As a result, we were the first to manufacture pressure pipes made of polyethylene with bio-circular raw material, a revolutionary product that was delivered to a successful pilot project in Gothenburg in 2023. Bio-circular raw material is now an important part of our offering.”
Sverre emphasises that for Hallingplast, sustainability means both environmental and human consideration. “We invest heavily in responsible products and solutions, but we focus equally on our employees. Everyone who works with us should be able to live a life that is sustainable on a personal level. We therefore think long-term in all respects, especially when it comes to our view of people.
The goal is a completely circular value chain
Today, Hallingplast supplies a total of 26,000 tonnes of pipes made of polyethylene and polypropylene. When the company’s new production facility is completed in 2025, our total production capacity will reach 45,000 tonnes, a considerable volume that requires major investments in sustainability for an environmentally conscious company.
“We only use PE and PP, two materials that are not only weldable but also easy to recycle,” says Sverre. “Several of our pipe systems are also ISCC-certified for traceability, but have also been developed to handle trenchless installation, which is beneficial from a CO2 perspective. Since we are not the only ones influencing the end result, we work closely with our partners with the goal of creating a completely circular value chain.”
Our own recycling facility
Sverre also says that Hallingplast is investing in its own recycling facility with the capacity to receive end-of-life plastic from external players, such as fish farms and municipal pipeline owners.
“Every year, several thousand tonnes of PE pipes are delivered from various manufacturers to the fish farming industry in Norway, mainly in the form of floating collars. According to current regulations, these must be replaced after 15 years and there are now large volumes that have to be recycled,” he says. “With our newly built facility, we have the capacity to recycle 10,000 tonnes per year and the possibility to expand and double the volume if necessary.”
Sverre, who has lived in Svanesund, Sweden, since spring 2024, says that he often thinks about sustainability and climate issues and that it can be difficult to know what really applies. “There doesn’t seem to be an absolute truth about which investments are best and work over time. It is therefore important to be open to new insights. But it’s obvious to us that we will be at the forefront of this development. Nature with its mountains, fishing and fantastic outdoor activities demands it”, he concludes.