Bjørn Arild Thon

Reflections on our visit to Nashville from Norway

Bjørn Arild Thon & the RENAS Team

Reflections on our visit to Nashville from Norway

As part of their 25th anniversary, RENAS—a Norwegian compliance company focused on the collection and recycling of electronic waste and batteries—traveled to Nashville, Tennessee for a week of connection, learning, and innovation. The visit included a sustainability summit at the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt University’s center for innovation, live music events, and a tour of the Tennessee State Capitol with Senator Heidi Campbell. In the Q&A below, RENAS CEO Bjørn Thon reflects on the highlights and takeaways from the trip.

Q: What was the biggest highlight of this experience for you?
A: The nice people of Tennessee. We were met with open arms wherever we went, and the overall experience with the people is something we will never forget.

Q: Out of the perspectives you heard while visiting Tennessee, which or whose was the most compelling?
A: The fact that Tennessee has just a few years of landfill capacity left, and still, almost everything is landfilled. That 95% of drinking bottles and cans are still landfilled. These products are so easily collected and recycled—companies want these resources for their production and value creation but can’t get access to them.

Q: What is something you took away from this experience or a lesson you learned?
A: The spirit of innovation everywhere we went. The ability to find possible solutions and act on them, creating positive value and growth. Also, that even if something seems like an easy thing to do, it is not so easy when it comes to politics.

Q: What about your visit do you think benefited the cause of sustainability the most?
A: Meeting with people—sharing stories and experiences is always a winner.

Q: Did you try anything new in Nashville? If so, what was your favorite?
A: Everything from visiting the Senate with Heidi, a street concert with Keith Urban, Jack Daniel’s, Music Street of Nashville, music night happy hour, and so many more things.

Q: Who was your favorite performer at the showcase? If you performed, please share your experience.
A: They were all great. For me, the highlight (if I can name one) was Jeff Hanna’s performance of Mr. Bojangles.