After participating at the UN Climate Conference COP30 in Belém, Brazil, SKF is planning a follow-up event focused on industrial decarbonization. At COP30, SKF’s circular technologies and remanufacturing solutions were recognized in SBCOP’s Best Cases program.
SKF will host the first SKF Friction Fighting Summit on Dec. 3-4 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The company said the event will bring together stakeholders from industry, academia and finance to discuss practical steps for reducing energy loss from friction and scaling circular manufacturing approaches.
The Friction Fighting Summit will focus on barriers that can delay sustainable innovation, including technical challenges and issues tied to business models, incentives and decision-making. SKF said discussions will center on scaling established approaches such as remanufacturing, RecondOil and energy-efficient technologies. The company added that the summit is intended to support broader commercialization of sustainability initiatives and contribute to Europe’s industrial resilience.
From COP30 to Gothenburg: building on proven progress
At COP30, SKF showcased scalable solutions that contribute to net-zero emissions, including:
- Remanufacturing of roller bearings, which helped avoid 15,600 tones of CO₂-equivalent emissions in 2024 alone[1].
- RecondOil technology, enabling circular use of industrial oil.
- Magnetic and ceramic technologies for energy-efficient HVAC systems and heat pumps.
- Tidal power drivetrains.
- Internal decarbonization programs.
SKF’s remanufacturing solution received an SBCOP Best Cases award. At COP30, SKF joined LeadIT, a global initiative that supports heavy industry’s transition toward net-zero emissions. SKF also launched The Patent Bay, an open platform that shares selected patents intended to support development of sustainability-focused technologies.
Event details: Friction Fighting Summit
Date: Dec. 3-4, 2025
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Participants: Industrial leaders, policymakers, academics and investors from across the Nordics and Europe
Purpose: To accelerate industrial transformation through collaboration, knowledge exchange and the commercialization of circular solutions
[1] Approximately 4.5 million kg steel was reused globally in 2024. With a global SKF average CO2e of 3.6 CO2e per kg of newly produced bearing steel minus 0.135 kg CO2e related to ReMan Operation Service Level 3, means that 15.6 million kg CO2e was avoided.
Confirmed speakers at the SKF Friction Fighting Summit 2025:
- Anna Ryott, chief impact officer, EY
- Annika Ölme, CTO, SKF
- Carina Halvord, CEO, Universeum
- David Johansson, president industrial Region Europe & Africa, SKF
- Eija Pitkänen, member of the Board at Metsä Group
- Erich Labuda, president, Motion Services Division, ABB
- Håkan Buskhe, CEO, FAM AB
- Andréa Haag; vice president Sustainability Munters
- Johnny Sjöström, CEO, SSAB
- Lars Danielsson, senior advisor and former EU Ambassador
- Lisa Lindström, business reinvention leader
- Martin Nilsson Jacobi, CEO, Chalmers
- Mattias Frumerie, climate ambassador and head of delegation to UNFCCC at Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise
- Niko Pakalén, partner, Cevian Capital
- Rickard Gustafsson, CEO, SKF
- Rob Anthony, SVP Global Supply Chain, Kongsberg Maritime
- Åsa Persson, chair of the Swedish Climate Policy Council & Strategic Advisor & Researcher, KTH
- Tom Erixon, president and CEO, Alfa Laval
- Pia Lindström, Hållbarhetschef LKAB
- Frank Koch, CEO Swiss Steel
- Klas Nilsson, head of strategic & operational procurement, Stegra
- Martin Edlund, CEO Minesto
- Jarmo Valtokari, maintenance director, SSAB
For more information, visit skf.com.
Filed Under: Green engineering • renewable energy • sustainability
