Swedish recycling leader Sortera exports its game-changing sustainable solutions into the UK
Rooted in Nordic heritage, Sortera Ltd is a leading company specialising in the collection, recycling, processing, and sale of residual products derived from construction waste. By adopting a comprehensive approach, the company offers sustainable solutions that enhance environmental performance across the entire value chain, from collection and sorting to treatment and disposal. Every day, Sortera delivers services that generate a positive impact on the environment, benefiting thousands of companies and individuals throughout Northern Europe. A testament to its prominent position in the market, the enterprise operates facilities and offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, Orebro, Helsinki, and London. 
With us today is Sebastian Wessman, CEO, who sheds light on Sortera’s evolution and recent expansion into the UK. “As a leading supplier of sustainable services to the construction and infrastructure sectors, our geographical footprint encompasses operations in Sweden, Finland, and the UK. Across all these locations, our group offers a wide range of services focused on recycling and treatment of contaminated soil and water. Our ultimate vision is to serve as the industry benchmark in driving the transition towards a more circular society. At the end of 2023, we had approximately 900 employees and achieved a turnover of 3 billion Swedish Krona (SEK). Since our establishment in 2006, we have acquired a total of 21 businesses to expand our geographic reach and enhance our customer offerings,” he begins.
On that note, Sebastian tells us more about Sortera’s extensive services portfolio. “Globally, we are divided into four business areas. The first one, Sortera Recycling, offers a comprehensive range of products and services that facilitate cost-effective recycling or reuse of construction and civil engineering waste in an environmentally friendly manner. Secondly, Sortera Industry specialises in remediation and decontamination for the heavy industry, construction, and demolition sectors. Additionally, Sortera Materials manages waste materials within its own production sites and assists customers in optimising all types of resource flows by providing the most sustainable waste management solutions. Lastly, operating under the Envytech brand, Sortera Water Treatment delivers wide-ranging solutions for the treatment of contaminated soil and water. Regarding our work in the British market, we are currently focused solely on the recycling sector. However, we recognise the strategic significance of this market and consider it a key area for future expansion and growth,” he enlightens.
Strategic acquisition
Mark McCleery, Managing Director of Sortera’s UK operations explains why the UK is such an important strategic foothold for the company. “Sortera’s customer-centric and high-quality concept has proven to be extremely attractive to demanding construction customers. We see tremendous potential in expanding our approach to the vibrant city of London and potentially to other metropolitan areas in the UK. We strongly believe that our services will be attractive to British customers,” he reveals.
Still focusing on Sortera’s expansion into the UK, we learn more about the process behind the launch of Sortera UK. “In 2022, we made our entry into the London market through the acquisition of O’Donovan Waste Disposal. The following year, we further strengthened our market presence by acquiring GBN Services in the city. With our strong commitment to sustainability, we see a great opportunity for Sortera to drive the transition towards a more circular construction and civil engineering sector in London. Over the past six months, our UK team has been preparing for the integration of O’Donovan Waste Disposal and GBN Services. This has now been successfully completed, and as of the 3rd of June 2024, we have commenced operations under the unified Sortera brand. Consequently, we have a strong foundation to establish ourselves as the top player in construction waste collection and recycling in London,” Mark adds.
Across its various geographical bases, Sortera has honed its competitive edge by developing a unique approach to construction waste recycling. “Our business covers the entire value chain of waste management, including collection, sorting, processing, and responsible disposal to end recipients. Throughout this chain, we strive to drive the highest possible value. By offering innovative, efficient and flexible waste management solutions to our customers, we facilitate sorting close to the source and an increased proportion of recycled waste,” Mark shares.
With its unique expertise in the remediation of PFAS-contaminated water, Sortera boasts a prominent position in water treatment in Sweden and Northern Europe through its Water Treatment division under the Envytech brand. “The acquisition of REWALBI complements Sortera’s existing portfolio, as REWALBI has established a strong presence for itself in western Sweden with both its mobile and permanent water treatment equipment. Through this strategic acquisition, Sortera continues to expand its footprint within the water treatment sector, serving as a solid foundation for future growth on both national and international levels,” informs Sebastian.
Revolutionising recycling
Leveraging his wealth of experience tackling recycling projects worldwide, Sebastian offers insights into what he sees as the most significant obstacles to sustainability in the construction industry. “There is a broad mix of barriers to increasing the level of recycling practices in the industry, ranging from regulatory and political considerations to attitudes and know-how within the field. To encourage the wider adoption of recycling, it is vital for all parts of the value chain to contribute more. This begins with ensuring that each construction site is established with a mindset focused on maximising opportunities for re-use or recycling.
“Additionally, different waste fractions should be segregated early on and kept as environmentally clean as possible. Site operators would also benefit from proper training, and the integration of collection services should be seamless to ensure an efficient construction flow on-site. As active participants in the recycling industry, we must then ensure that we have the appropriate sites and logistics in place to handle all collected waste in the best possible way, thereby facilitating the transformation of waste into new materials or products,” he concludes.
Under Sebastian’s visionary leadership, Sortera is poised to continue revolutionising the recycling process, bringing communities closer to achieving a true circular economy.