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BJØRNULF ØSTVIK, FOUNDER AND CEO OF ECOGENSUS INCLUDED IN WORLD BIZ MAGAZINE - TOP 100 INNOVATION LEADERS OF 2023.
About Bjørnulf Østvik
Bjørnulf Østvik is the Founder & CEO of Ecogensus, a technology company focused on alternative energy, sustainable materials manufacturing, resource recovery and advanced recycling methods. Bjørnulf has over 15 years of experience in advanced technologies, energy infrastructure and engineering, and has a long history of fostering collaborations that further sensible energy and sustainability policies.
Bjørnulf founded Ecogensus in 2015, and the company quickly gained industry attention by developing new efficient and clean methods for recycling waste. Since its inception, the company has built a strong foundation in the alternative energy and sustainability space, which includes significant development and growth in the areas of waste management, sustainable building and 3D printing materials, and wastewater. Its leading product, the Rhino Recycler, a mobile advanced recycling system, is transforming the way people think about waste and has already yielded significant results toward its mission of ending garbage landfills and dumps.
In 2023, Bjørnulf announced the launch of the House of Ecologie, of which he is the founder and CEO. The House of Ecologie is a sustainable furniture and home goods brand specializing in modern design. Offering inspired, unique designs and handcrafted pieces, the House of Ecologie is committed to be a good steward of the planet. To prevent deforestation, the furniture pieces utilize proprietary waste-derived advanced composite materials in lieu of wood and also incorporate other recovered and recycled materials.
Previously, Bjørnulf was a Portfolio Manager at Lockheed Martin, a global security and aerospace company. He joined Lockheed with a desire to build programs that could achieve wider societal goals like energy security. He developed and led a range of energy and water programs, including for the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial customers. He also led collaborations with Sandia National Laboratory and the Joint Bioenergy Institute.
Bjørnulf holds a BA and MPA from Cornell University, and later earned a JD from The George Washington University Law School.
"Innovation is the heart and soul of Ecogensus. In addition to being the CEO, I am also the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Ecogensus. Ecogensus has now achieved over 80 issued patents globally and over 100 more pending, across 12 patent families (continually growing)."
WBM: Tell us about some of your recent successes.
BØ: We have had a number of highlights over the last year. These include:
Major Patent Grant (Bjørnulf is inventor) of sustainable lumber directly produced from waste with strength-enhancement features.
Achieved Milestone of Over 80 Patents Issued Globally (Bjørnulf is named inventor or coinventor on all).
Ecogensus Company Secured $120+ Million Licensing & Supply Deal.
Personally designed and launched Eco-Table, a luxury furniture piece/line directly produced from mixed waste (including food waste and organics), processed and reconstituted into lumber
Launched House of Ecologie; Partnership with Campion Platt (award-winning architect).
Launched Rhino Recycler – second generation of patented 5000L recycler, a revolutionary machine capable of converting mixed unsorted solid waste into a novel new material (for sustainable building materials, furniture, plastics substitution, or a biofuel).
Multiple speaking/interview features, e.g. expert speaker on energy and innovation at KPMG Global Energy Transformation Conference; featured for Eco-Table in Park Magazine.
WBM: Tell us about Ecogensus' innovation DNA.
BØ: Innovation is the heart and soul of Ecogensus. In addition to being the CEO, I am also the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Ecogensus. Ecogensus has now achieved over 80 issued patents globally and over 100 more pending, across 12 patent families (continually growing). Ecogensus is revolutionizing the waste industry with a novel recycler system that can be deployed almost anywhere to transform waste into products. The Recycler uses a novel process to break down mixed materials (e.g. waste – paper, plastics, food waste, wood, textiles, diapers, yard waste, etc. all mixed together) and reconstitute them into a new material.
With its roots as an engineering company, Ecogensus has now expanded to become a materials science company as well. Ecogensus is now using waste-derived (sustainable) products from its patented Rhino Recycler as a material platform to add additional features, such as strengthening waste-derived lumber to be stronger than wood, making it fire resistant, insect-resistant…developing sustainable recycled powders from waste materials that can then substitute polymer (plastic oil-derived) granules for plastic production…building consumer goods (such as furniture and household goods) from waste.
"Ecogensus has the world’s leading coal-replacement biofuel that can even replace coal in pulverized coal boilers (e.g. what most coal power plants use) on a direct 1:1 ratio."
WBM: How does Ecogensus differentiate itself in the market?
BØ: Ecogensus can produce lumber and plastic substitutes directly from waste that then are better than the original first-use products it is replacing. Imagine, lumber boards directly produced from converted waste that then are more resilient than wood, yet can be worked with, painted, etc. just as wood is.
Ecogensus has the world’s leading coal-replacement biofuel that can even replace coal in pulverized coal boilers (e.g. what most coal power plants use) on a direct 1:1 ratio.
Rhino sets the standard for solid material processing equipment. The company is best known for our Recyclers – a revolutionary, patented new class of equipment for upcycling mixed, unsorted residual municipal solid waste.
Ecogensus’ GlobalConnect is a digital platform to connect recycling and resource recovery facilities and and enable real-time monitoring, data gathering and analytics.
Ecogensus’ GlobalConnect is a digital platform to connect recycling and resource recovery facilities and and enable real-time monitoring, data gathering and analytics.
Award-winning architect and interior designer Campion Platt is collaborating with House of Ecologie to design a sustainable luxury capsule furniture collection that will use a new generation of advanced recycled materials. Ecogensus, a global sustainable resources technology company, will supply the proprietary materials.
WBM: Talk to us about ESG at Ecogensus.
BØ: We are actively working to ensure ESG is at the hear of the business. Here are examples:
Environment: Ecogensus is an environmental company. Our goal is to end waste. Landfills are actually one of the top 3 methane sources globally (along with the power sector and agriculture). Per US EPA, methane is more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere.
Landfills contribute to public health risks (due to air emissions, water pollution, wildlife disruption, disease spread) with decades of scientific research across the world confirming the risks, harms and damage. Ecogensus can directly intercept waste before it is dumped in landfills and instead process it into products.
Ocean plastics waste is an enormous problem – Ecogensus can address this by processing existing plastics waste in the ocean and intercepting waste before it enters the oceans. Ecogensus’ fuel can replace coal with an efficient solution that is sustainable, far cleaner than coal, keeps waste out of landfills/dumps and coal in the ground.
Social: Ecogensus is creating jobs of all skill levels by modernizing and transforming the waste management sector. In Africa, Ecogensus is developing and launching a micro-economy solution to create local jobs around waste collection and encourage entrepreneurship around recycling.
Governance: Ecogensus is committed to the highest of ethical standards and we have a history of standing up for what is right. Ecogensus is committed to stakeholder engagement by working directly with the community to foster collaboration and participation (e.g. the micro-economy solution for Africa). Ecogensus operates to empower employees. All employees are encouraged to speak up and contribute on any subject matter, no matter what their official title or role is. We don’t view people’s titles/roles/background as a limiting factor for them to contribute across all functions of the company. Ecogensus is also committed to inclusion/diversity, viewing ourselves as solving a global problem (waste) which requires involvement and contribution from voices across the world, from all walks of life, working together to carry out our vision.
Ecogensus has an ‘employees first’ policy (prioritizing employees over management in a number of key matters including financial).
"A good leader must be able to envision a future that does not exist yet, articulate the vision, and guide people towards achieving that future."
WBM: Share some insight into Ecogensus' advocacy work.
BØ: We want to see the waste industry modernize and end all landfilling/dumping. We are enabling that through novel technologies that can intercept all waste and transform it into products, safely, efficiently, and economically.
We want to see total collections coverage so waste does not get dumped in nature (outside, forests, the oceans) and are empowering communities through our micro-economy solution to develop collections coverage where none exists today.
We want to see the utility sector and factories that use coal (especially cement kilns) switch to sustainable, waste-derived biofuels and coal alternatives, while maintaining economical baseload power. Ecogensus’ patented, industry-leading fuel can help achieve this; we hope to one day see Ecogensus fuel replace tens of millions of tons per year of coal, or even hundreds of millions of tons per year.
We wish to reduce deforestation by providing sustainable, recycled alternative lumber and to reduce the demand for first-use plastics by providing sustainable alternatives.
WBM: What makes a good leader?
BØ: A good leader must be able to envision a future that does not exist yet, articulate the vision, and guide people towards achieving that future. Along the way, a good leader must foster collaboration, encourage resilience, and continue to “paint the picture” of the vision we are headed towards, picking people up as they fall along the way, identifying other leaders who can help drive towards progress, empowering people to find their unlocked value and then bring it to life.
About Ecogensus
We are helping drive the resource revolution and putting an end to waste. Preserving the earth and protecting people’s future is our mission.
Ecogensus is committed to innovative technology solutions that create value, reduce waste, and protect environmental and public health. Our solutions range from patented waste recycling systems to revolutionary luxury furniture made directly from mixed, unsorted household wastes. We are growing from humble roots and today are organized into six different business lines – all bound together by a common mission: ending waste.
For more information, visit: ecogensus.com
