Wellspect continues shift towards renewable fuel sources with BioLPG

As part of its roadmap to achieving net-zero in 2045, Wellspect HealthCare is replacing traditional Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) at its main production facility with a bio-based version. The move is part of the company’s plan to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels, in its quest to become more sustainable.

In this interview, Peyman Torki, Head of Production Support at Wellspect, answers a couple of questions and explains what it all boils down to.  

• What is BioLPG?   

BioLPG refers to a mixture of various gases. The mixture is produced in special production facilities, upon the breakdown of organic matter like municipal solid waste, agricultural residue and organic industrial waste.  

BioLPG is derived from renewable feedstocks. Compared to traditional LPG, it allows for significant CO2e emission reductions. It can be used for various purposes, including fuel for vehicles. It can also be used for heating as well as in industrial production processes. 

• Why have you done this shift to BioLPG?   

BioLPG has a lower carbon footprint, compared to traditional fossil LPG. Replacing LPG used in production processes with BioLPG enables us to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by 77-ton CO2e per year. That’s equivalent to the emission generated by a diesel car, when completing 14 laps around the globe.  

While BioLPG can contribute to reducing the use of fossil fuel, it is not a zero-emission alternative.  This is because no-carbon fuels remain a rarity today. Going forward we must – at a global level – scale up investments in low carbon and no carbon fuels. In the interim period, businesses must unlock the full potential of any available fuel sources that have lower carbon footprint than the mainstream fossil sources. This is where BioLPG and different types of biogases come into the picture.  

• Is the use of biogas widespread in the manufacturing industry? 

We are seeing an increase in the use of biogas in European manufacturing, but it remains on a small scale. Local policies and regulations can help encourage the use of biogas, but much will depend on how much biogas is available and at what cost. At present, the use of biogas is more costly than the use of fossil gas. At Wellspect, we are willing to shoulder these added costs because the use of biogas aligns with our commitment to reduce our climate footprint as a business.  

The latest climate science shows that it is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, but collective and urgent action is required across all sectors. Fundamental changes to the gas and oil industry are also required. Businesses can pave the way, using available technologies and shifting to more sustainable sources as those become more available.  

• How critical is the shift to BioLPG for Wellspect’s sustainability journey?  

It doesn’t make or break Wellspect’s vision of achieving net-zero by 2045. It is merely one in a series of actions taken in support of transforming Wellspect into a more sustainable business. It helps us advance on our journey.  

Transforming into a sustainable business doesn’t happen overnight. It is all about incremental changes, sometimes big and sometimes small. But these changes add up.  And if we keep them up, we will achieve our vision of becoming the sustainability leader by 2025.  

Maria Lundbäck
Head of Corporate Marketing Communication
maria.lundback@wellspect.com

Wellspect Healthcare is a leading global provider of innovative medical devices that help people suffering from urinary retention or chronic constipation. More than 1 000 employees around the world are dedicated to making a difference to people who need our products and services. Wellspect is one of the worlds’ leading manufacturers of intermittent urinary catheters, with LoFric® as the most known brand. As a help to those with chronic or severe constipation Wellspect has developed what likely is the world’s most advanced irrigation system, Navina™, combining a high degree of user convenience, clinical effectiveness and connectivity into one smart system. Wellspect strives to become climate neutral and leave the smallest possible environmental footprint. The company, with headquarters in Mölndal, Sweden, is present in more than 30 countries, and part of Dentsply Sirona, the worlds´ largest manufacturer of professional dental technologies. The company’s shares are listed in the United States on NASDAQ under the symbol XRAY.