Johan Sidenmark - Materials of the future
We meet Johan at Torsåker Farm. The farm is an old barn that has been converted into offices and several experimental kitchens. It is beautifully located in the countryside outside Stora Väsby, Sweden. Here, Axfoundation resides, an independent, non-profit organisation that works concretely towards a sustainable society within two program areas: Future Materials and Future Food. We are invited into the office barn where Johan serves coffee with pastries.
Hi Johan! How nice with fika! What kind of cookies are you serving?
They are two cookies made from residual products. One is an oat cookie made from leftovers from oat milk production, and the other is an apple cake made from the pressed remnants from an apple cider mill.
You work at Axfoundation, what do you do there?
I work with future materials. Axfoundation believes in entrepreneurship as a force for change and often runs projects in collaboration with the business sector. We are non-profit, which allows us to work with whomever we want, which is great because we aim to tackle complex sustainability challenges relevant to the entire industry.
One example is Swedish Wool Initiative, where we bring the entire value chain together to collaborate on Swedish wool. It’s quite new to work with system innovation, and it’s exciting to see how various fashion companies are collaborating instead of competing. They now sit at the same table and place joint orders for wool to reach larger volumes. This has led to new ways of working where sharing knowledge is encouraged.
What is the plan going forward with Swedish Wool Initiative?
Axfoundation is good at being persistent and not abandoning projects too early. As long as we feel we have a role to play in the wool industry, as a catalyst that can open doors and build demand, we will continue the project. Currently, over 50% of all wool in Sweden is still being discarded, so there is much left to do to reduce this waste. The plan is to scale up and make the project even larger and more industrial.
What other materials do you work with besides wool?
I work with residual products from oats, mushrooms, algae, hemp, and reeds. For example, we use harvested reeds to remove nitrogen and phosphorus that remain in the plant material. The more reeds we remove, the better it is for the Baltic Sea. The reeds can be used as garden mulch, to produce disposable packaging, or as fodder for cows and horses.
Do you have any connection to sheep?
No, not at all! But I have become very fascinated by wool. I have always been inspired by "nature-based solutions," where you look at how nature solves various problems.
What have you done previously?
I am a trained biologist. Biologists are usually specialised in one area, but I am too restless to research just one thing. However, I have worked extensively with other researchers, including at the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, and conducted research on Antarctica.
How does a project work with Axfoundation?
Axfoundation is funded by the Axel Johnson family. We use our working hours to contribute "In kind" to projects, help write applications, and receive funding, which we then channel to researchers. We start with a problem that a company is facing, assess the scope of the problem, and see if there are other actors experiencing the same issue.
With Swedish wool, we noticed that there were many small projects but no one bringing the entire value chain together. Here, we could make an impact and contribute in several ways, so we launched Swedish Wool Initiative together with Filippa K.
What is the most rebellious thing you have done with wool?
The most rebellious thing must be exploring whether wool can absorb oil. When there is an oil spill in water, wool can be used as an absorbent, or as absorption mats in factories or workshops where oil often leaks.
Have you considered clothing packaging for clothing, given that there is currently a lot of plastic used?
We are looking into making packaging from algae, specifically algae that is not used for food. Algae cultivation is energy-efficient, it is not a fossil-based raw material, and no harmful additives are needed.
What is your hidden talent?
I am good at initiating things and find the early stages exciting. I see opportunities and constantly come up with new ideas for what can be done. Somehow, most projects are connected, and one project leads to another. It is also a hidden talent because I don’t like being in the spotlight. I prefer being the person behind the projects.
When do you wear the W.r vest?
I use it now in the fall and when I’m out here at Torsåker's experimental garden working, but I’m also looking forward to my new Beltex jacket that I’ve ordered.