From Strategy to Action: How Husqvarna Construction is Exploring the Potential of Remanufacturing

A Sector with Circular Potential

The construction industry generates 35% of all waste in the EU and accounts for over 20% of Sweden’s carbon emissions—while turning over more than SEK 1,100 billion annually in Sweden alone. In 2020, Sweden produced 14.6 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste.

At the same time, construction equipment contains valuable materials and components that can outlive the product as a whole. More and more manufacturers are starting to recognise the value of these resources.

“Data shows that remanufacturing can significantly reduce climate impact compared to producing new components. For some technical parts, the savings can be as high as 8,000 kg CO₂ per unit. Even smaller components offer clear environmental gains—both per kilo and per finished product,” says Hanna Lindén, researcher and project manager at RISE.

Sustainovate – Strategy that Demands Innovation

Part of the Husqvarna Group, Husqvarna Construction develops professional equipment for the construction industry—such as power cutters, drilling systems and demolition robots. Remanufacturing is a key component of the company’s sustainability strategy, Sustainovate, where circularity is one of three core pillars.

By repairing and remanufacturing products, the company reduces resource consumption and brings valuable materials back into circulation. But turning ideas into action takes both knowledge and collaboration—something a joint project, led in part by RISE, has helped support.

“The project gave us new perspectives and strengthened our belief in the potential of remanufacturing. It’s been incredibly valuable to share experiences with other companies and researchers,” says Adam Björk.

Reverse Logistics – A Key to Circularity

With a broad product portfolio and many different machine types, remanufacturing is a complex process. It requires knowledge development, standardisation, documentation—and also practical solutions for quality assurance, operational adjustments, and above all, reverse logistics, the ability to retrieve products after use.

Insights for Other Manufacturers

Husqvarna Construction’s work offers valuable lessons for other companies looking to transition to more circular business models. Hanna Lindén at RISE highlights a few success factors:

• Map product flows – Understand where products go after use.
• Identify potential – Focus on products with high residual value and significant environmental impact.
• Engage the whole organisation – Design, procurement, service and marketing must all be involved from the start.
• Collaborate – Shared learning across industries creates both speed and depth.

Shared Learning as a Driver of Change

During a workshop within the project, participants worked hands-on with product disassembly alongside other companies and researchers. According to Adam Björk, this was a crucial piece of the puzzle:

“Working together created both concrete solutions and new perspectives. We were able to identify shared challenges and explore possible paths forward.”

Next Steps – From Pilot to Scale

To make remanufacturing profitable and scalable, several changes are needed. Husqvarna Construction highlights a few key areas:

• Business models that support remanufacturing
• Product designs that facilitate disassembly and repair
• Stronger collaborations across the value chain
• Increased demand through procurement and clearer regulations

“We believe remanufacturing will play an increasingly important role—both as a business strategy and in meeting market and customer expectations. We’re now using what we’ve learned to further adapt our products and processes,” says Adam Björk.

At the same time, the company is exploring other circular solutions, such as within battery systems. The focus now is on scaling up activities, building internal expertise, and expanding the offering.

“We’ve only just begun our remanufacturing journey, but the potential is clear—both for the climate and for the business,” Adam concludes.