Alfa Laval has introduced ThinkCircularity, a take-back programme aimed at recycling materials from its ThinkTop valve control units. The pilot project has been positively received by customers and partners, with the first used units already returned for recycling.
“Circularity is more than a concept for us – it’s a responsibility,” said Inger Bygum, Head of Sustainability at Alfa Laval Hygienic Fluid Handling and Heat Transfer Technologies. “ThinkCircularity ensures that materials from end-of-life ThinkTops are reused, recycled, or handled in the most responsible way possible.”
The initial focus of ThinkCircularity is plastic recycling. Each ThinkTop contains approximately 500 grams of plastic, and trials have shown that this material can be reused in new units without affecting quality. Testing confirms that products made with a blend of recycled and virgin plastic meet all performance requirements, including strength and durability. In addition to plastics, other materials such as metals and electronic components are also recovered and recycled responsibly.
Industries such as food, dairy, and pharmaceuticals continue to prioritize efficiency and resource savings. Upgrading existing ThinkTop control units can reduce water and energy use during cleaning-in-place by up to 90 percent. In Norway, Skala, Alfa Laval’s Master Distributor for hygienic industries, has introduced the ThinkCircularity programme to its customers and has already returned several hundred units.
“Our customers are highly focused on sustainability, water savings, and energy efficiency,” said Owe Barsten, Responsible Manager at Skala Components. “Upgrading equipment used to mean scrapping old units. Now we can offer a circular solution where used ThinkTops become part of the next generation.”
Designing products for long service life, efficiency, and durability is a core part of Alfa Laval’s sustainability approach. With ThinkCircularity, the company now adds an end-of-life solution that closes the loop by ensuring responsible disposal and reuse of materials in future products.
Inger Bygum noted that the programme is just the beginning “Recycling plastic from ThinkTops is a small step, but it has already provided valuable insight. These learnings will help us develop new partnerships, business models, and scalable approaches to reuse and recycling.”ThinkCircularity has so far been rolled out in selected European markets.
Making better use of existing resources has never been more important. Together with its customers, Alfa Laval develops technologies that support industries essential to society, helping deliver energy, food, and clean water to billions of people. At the same time, the company is working to reduce emissions across the global marine fleet.
Alfa Laval focuses on solutions that improve efficiency, strengthen customer operations, and support responsible growth. By optimizing processes and enabling sustainable progress, the company helps customers meet both business objectives and sustainability goals.
Founded 140 years ago, Alfa Laval serves customers in more than 100 countries, employs over 22,300 people, and reported annual sales of SEK 66.9 billion (EUR 5.8 billion) in 2024. The company is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.
