NG Group are proud to announce the winners of the Master's Thesis Award in Circular Economy

With over a third of the world's emissions linked to how we produce, use and discard materials, transitioning to a circular economy is crucial for addressing the climate crisis and better preserving nature. Through the NG Group Award, we aim to promote and support young talents and support knowledge sharing for a more sustainable future.  

We are proud to announce the winners: Trude Vigre and Eline Lund Westgaard from NMBU (Norges Miljø og Biovitenskaplige Universitet) who wrote a case study of the insurance industry’s opportunity to promote circular economy in automobile repairs. They impressed the jury by writing a thesis that addresses disruptive innovation in one of the more traditional sectors and identifies issues that extend far beyond the insurance and automotive industries.  

After a thorough review of an impressive range of submissions from talented students, the jury  chose to honor this thesis that clearly addresses future challenges in sustainability and innovation. Topics such as material selection, traceability, transparency, and the "right to repair" under EU regulations were thoroughly explored, as well as product durability over time. The choice of the insurance industry as the context provided the thesis with an unexpected approach to these issues. 

“The inspiration to write about the circular economy came from the realization that the overconsumption of natural resources is increasingly visible as a major cause of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. We wanted to explore how economic activities can be structured to address these challenges in practice”, say`s Trude & Eline. They continue to tell that a surprising main finding was that there is a lack of effective systems to identify and distribute used parts. By promoting better systems for locating and distributing used parts, insurance companies can play a key role in increasing reuse. This could reduce the consumption of new materials and contribute to a more sustainable economy.  

Another clear finding was that the warranty for new cars from manufacturers effectively hinders repairs with used parts. This is a major challenge because it is difficult to solve without regulatory initiatives. Based on their findings, the students believe that inefficient technological solutions, inadequate communication and distribution systems, and a lack of financial incentives are barriers. Additionally, regulatory barriers make it difficult to promote reuse across industries. 

"We in NG Group are excited to honor young, forward-thinking, and innovative students who deliver outstanding work in the field of circular economy," say Hanne Fedje  Head of Group Sustainability. "This reinforces our commitment and daily work to promote sustainable solutions and the transition to a circular future." 

This year’s jury consisted of:  

Trygve Ulset, Seniorrådigver NHO, Kristine Laake-Bjurquist, Chief Sustainability Officer Zirq Solution,Helle Gaard, Communication advisor NG Metal,NG Metal, Eva Solskjær Boxaspen, Environmental Manager  NG Metal and from NG Group: Runa Opdal Kerr, Group Chief Sustainability Officer  – Hanne Fedje, Head of Group Sustainability, Janecke Mathiesen, Communication Manager