Category: 3. Business

As Southeast Asia’s creative economy continues to grow at pace, the Philippines is making significant strides as a hub for lifestyle and fashion brands with global ambitions. Manila’s annual design, culture and creativity marketplace, Purveyr Fair, spotlights local businesses on the path to rapid growth. Part trade fair, part talent scout, Purveyr has become a key stage for brands to find new markets for both sales and investment. It has grown from showcasing 20 homegrown brands in 2016 to platforming more than 125 at its latest edition. In order to house this year’s event, its biggest ever, Purveyr had to expand into Manila’s World Trade Centre Tent.

Beyond retail, the fair has become an incubator space where creative entrepreneurs test products and meet investors. Founder Marvin Conanan believes that it’s this mix of commerce and community that sets Purveyr apart. Here he walks Monocle through the Philippines’ creative economy, the new generation of Filipino shoppers, the brands to watch and the opportunities still untapped.

What led to launching Purveyr?
We started as a blog. The goal was to share independent brands and street culture in the Philippines with more people. From covering local spaces for fashion, music, art and design, the vision grew to encompass other methods of helping them to grow and develop. Our first foray into hosting a fair was in a 200 sq m co-working space. About 300 people attended.

What are the key retail and consumer trends that you’re seeing in Manila?
Reflecting global shifts, vintage and secondhand retail has taken root in Manila’s youth culture, as pop-ups and fairs breathe new life into the local fashion scene. With exposure to so much more online nowadays, consumers are more informed and more deeply engaged with the products that they buy, the shops they visit, the brands they connect with and the spaces they make time for.

What are the biggest challenges facing Filipino brands trying to scale up?
Online congestion. Establishing a space online is easy – getting noticed is the real challenge. On a positive note, the maturity of the Filipino consumer and their developed interest in local brands means that the market has grown considerably. There are now more than enough customers to go around – as our most recent fair has demonstrated.

Where are the biggest gaps and opportunities for investment and support in Manila?
There’s a lot missing but perhaps the most significant are private funding and government support. Filipino creatives are left to survive and thrive on their own and this includes the capital-intensive fashion industry. Where opportunities exist, they are rarely long-term. Fashion labels and brands need time to mature, so it takes long-term support and planning to really make a difference.

And finally, Christmas is coming. What Filipino brands should we be buying?
If I had to choose three brands: Carl Jan Cruz, Don’t Blame The Kids and Proudrace. Each has been in the game for quite some time and carved its own path in the industry. Don’t Blame The Kids expanded through numerous collaborations and licensing agreements with global brands – it’s now the most mainstream of the three. Carl Jan Cruz is known for its technical and cultural approach to making clothes, weaving Filipino stories and culture into collections through quality fabrication and design. And lastly, Proudrace has always been recognised as a label to follow by local and global voices, with its understanding of popular culture and creative Manileños. All three are now globally present through retailers, pop-ups and collaborations.

BEIJING/NEW YORK:

A fuzzy, toothy-grinned creature called Labubu has quietly transformed shopping habits from US toy aisles to Chinese cultural hotspots, driving a wave of holiday-season consumer excitement that blends collectability, curiosity and the pursuit of personal happiness.

Across the US, retailers are scrambling to meet demand for blind box toys after Labubu’s explosive popularity this summer pushed mystery collectibles firmly into the mainstream. These tiny mini monsters, often impossible to find on shelves, triggered a nationwide chase.

American consumers searching for authentic Pop Mart Labubus this season are mostly returning empty-handed, as the dolls sell out within minutes before reappearing on resale platforms for strikingly high prices.

Their scarcity has inspired rival companies to flood the market with cheaper alternatives. Retail giants such as Walmart and Target have filled holiday gift lists with blind box figurines and trading cards, encouraging repeat buying by concealing each toy’s identity. The trend now stretches from Furby and Barbie variants to Spin Master’s CrystaLynx dragons.

Target has doubled its blind box assortment for the holidays, expanding into brands such as Baby Three, Miniverse, Zuru’s Minibrands and Aphmau. Retailers expect strong results because shoppers often buy multiple boxes in one go, fuelling a sustained cycle of purchasing.

Market adviser Juli Lennett said toy makers are enthusiastic because buyers rarely stop at a single box. She noted that customers frequently collect entire series, turning the mystery element into a profitable driver of store traffic and impulse spending.

Toy prices have climbed due to tariffs on goods made in China, but blind box items remain relatively affordable, making them attractive as stocking stuffers or small gifts for adults and children seeking a brief dose of gratification during the season.

New Yorker Ashley Harseim said she plans to request a Miniso gift card for the holidays, explaining that she enjoys purchasing mystery figurines featuring familiar characters. She described the surprise element as a welcome “dopamine boost” amid daily routines.

Harseim buys cat-themed blind boxes costing between six and ten dollars, displaying them on a shelf at home. She said she finds comfort in looking at them after scrolling through her phone, describing the feeling as a tiny moment of relief.

Collectibles such as Pokémon trading cards have helped revive toy industry growth this year after two years of stagnation. Circana’s retail data showed strong performance for collectibles, though it did not include sales figures for Labubu itself.

Even with high interest, analysts believe blind box popularity may not meaningfully increase total holiday spending, since many of these items are historically marketed as year-round impulse purchases rather than major seasonal gifts.

Meanwhile, in China, Labubu has become part of a broader movement known as “emotional consumption”, where young consumers buy goods or experiences that make them feel happy, seen or momentarily transported away from everyday pressures.

In Beijing, a new themed restaurant allows diners to “time travel” into ancient China, with visitors dressing in traditional hanfu garments while enjoying an eight-course meal and theatrical performances. Labubu dolls are also cited as key emotional purchases within this trend.

Women in ornate clothing wander through the restaurant’s courtyard, posing beneath pavilions as the soft strumming of the Chinese zither echoes across the space. The experience offers a curated escape blending nostalgia, fantasy and cultural pride.

Before dinner, guests select costumes from an array of Song and Qing dynasty designs. They accessorise with faux-jewel headpieces before visiting make-up stations staffed by artists applying blush and powder to complete the immersive transformation.

Businessman Carey Zhuang paid 1,000 yuan to dress as a character from the classic Chinese novel ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’. He said the experience was worth it because it allowed him to enjoy the moment rather than prioritise frugality.

Broadcast host Wu Ke, dressed in lilac hanfu, said she values such experiences despite economic caution in China. She argued that savings accumulated through daily thrift naturally find their way into meaningful experiences like cultural dining or themed outings.

Teacher Huang Jing, who paid at least 900 yuan for her daughter to dress up and take professional photos, said the restaurant offered far more than a typical meal. She appreciated the cultural connection it provided for younger generations.

China’s recent fascination with hanfu is strongly tied to emotional spending, according to scholars. The trend encourages identity exploration and helps young people feel connected to what they see as the deeper cultural roots of their heritage.

Videos and images of hanfu outfits dominate platforms such as Xiaohongshu, generating billions of views and creating a viral ecosystem similar to the one that helped propel Labubu and other collectibles into the national spotlight.

For many of these consumers, spending on traditional clothing, mystery dolls or immersive dining is not viewed as wasteful. Instead, they describe it as choosing happiness in the midst of economic uncertainty and a rapidly shifting social landscape.

Labubu’s rise across both markets, although playing out differently, reflects the same emotional shift: a desire for small, immediate joys and the comfort of a surprise that feels personal, meaningful or simply fun in an unpredictable world. 

Haemonetics (HAE) has seen a lift in its stock price over the past month, gaining more than 51%. This move stands out when compared to the company’s broader track record and recent financial performance.

See our latest analysis for Haemonetics.

This kind of sharp 30-day share price return, up more than 51%, signals a dramatic shift in sentiment for Haemonetics. This comes after a challenging year with a 12-month total shareholder return of -17.6%. Recent momentum may hint at renewed optimism about the company’s prospects as investors look past last year’s struggles and consider its potential for recovery.

If you’re interested in what else might be catching renewed investor attention, it’s a great moment to check out opportunities with other healthcare stocks using our See the full list for free.

With shares soaring more than 51% in just 30 days, the key question now is whether Haemonetics is truly undervalued or if this surge means future growth is already reflected in the market price.

Haemonetics’s most widely followed narrative places its fair value at $83, noticeably higher than the recent closing price of $73.49. This difference points to possible upside embedded in key growth and profitability assumptions that diverge from past market trends.

Rapid innovation and increased adoption of advanced plasma collection systems (NexSys with Persona and Express Plus), as well as new software contracts securing approximately 80% market share, are driving share gains and supporting double-digit organic growth ex-CSL in the plasma segment. These trends are expected to boost both revenue and net margins as upgrades and center conversions accelerate through FY26 and into FY27.

Read the complete narrative.

The key to this bullish view? It rests on a blueprint where profit margins climb, recurring revenues expand, and fresh innovation secures market dominance. Want to discover what bold projections lie behind this optimistic price target? The full narrative reveals the details shaping this valuation and the stakes if things do not go to plan.

Result: Fair Value of $83 (UNDERVALUED)

Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what’s behind the forecasts.

However, risks remain. Intensifying competition and dependence on a few core products could threaten Haemonetics’s growth if operational challenges persist.

Find out about the key risks to this Haemonetics narrative.

If you see the story differently or want to dig into the numbers yourself, it only takes a few minutes to build your own view. Do it your way

A great starting point for your Haemonetics research is our analysis highlighting 4 key rewards and 1 important warning sign that could impact your investment decision.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include HAE.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

Nuvalent (NUVL) has scheduled a webcast to present pivotal data from its Phase 1/2 ALKOVE-1 study. The presentation will focus on an investigational ALK-selective inhibitor for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. This update is drawing attention from investors.

See our latest analysis for Nuvalent.

Nuvalent’s momentum has been hard to miss, with recent clinical updates and positive analyst coverage fueling a 26.9% share price return over the past 90 days. While the 1-year total shareholder return stands at just 11.1%, the three-year figure tells a much more impressive growth story at over 200%. This highlights how recent milestones are renewing confidence among investors seeking long-term potential.

If you’re curious about where biotech innovation is heading next, this could be the perfect time to explore See the full list for free.

Despite robust analyst enthusiasm and a share price still trading nearly 30% below the consensus price target, the question remains: is Nuvalent undervalued at its current levels, or is the market already accounting for its expected future gains?

Nuvalent is currently valued at a price-to-book ratio of 8.3x, which means investors are paying a premium relative to its net asset value. The last close was $96.50, and this ratio is a key gauge for high-growth, asset-light biotech firms.

The price-to-book ratio compares a company’s market price to the value of its assets on the balance sheet. For biotechs, where tangible assets are often minimal but growth potential can be significant, a higher ratio may be warranted when future prospects are strong.

Nuvalent is considered good value compared to its peer group, which trades at an average price-to-book of 21.1x. However, when viewed against the broader US Biotechs industry average of 2.5x, Nuvalent’s valuation appears much steeper, reflecting a significant premium that depends on strong future growth expectations.

See what the numbers say about this price — find out in our valuation breakdown.

Result: Price-to-Book of 8.3x (ABOUT RIGHT)

However, continued net losses and the lack of current revenue raise questions about how sustainable investor optimism will be if clinical results disappoint.

Find out about the key risks to this Nuvalent narrative.

If you have a different perspective or would like to dive into the numbers yourself, you can easily craft your own outlook on Nuvalent in just a few minutes. Do it your way

A great starting point for your Nuvalent research is our analysis highlighting 2 key rewards and 2 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include NUVL.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

Banco de Sabadell (BME:SAB) caught the market’s attention following its Q3 2025 results, reporting improved profitability and solid asset quality. The bank also updated its guidance and shareholder remuneration plans.

See our latest analysis for Banco de Sabadell.

After strong quarterly results and the bank’s upbeat guidance, Banco de Sabadell’s recent share price has cooled a little, dipping 2% over the past day and 7.6% in the past three months. That said, its year-to-date share price return of 71% and a remarkable 82% total shareholder return over the past year tell the story of a company still enjoying impressive long-term momentum, even as short-term sentiment reflects some caution around future growth levers.

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With Sabadell’s robust returns and upgraded capital plans now in focus, the key question is whether the recent pullback leaves its shares undervalued or if the market has already accounted for its future growth prospects.

Banco de Sabadell’s widely followed narrative suggests the current share price sits below what the consensus sees as fair value, with a fair value estimate of €3.34 compared to the last close of €3.18. This modest gap puts the spotlight on the factors supporting further upside, outlined in the narrative below.

“Strong and accelerating loan growth, especially in Spanish mortgages, consumer lending (up 20%+ year-on-year), SME/corporate, public sector, and international portfolios, suggests robust underlying demand for banking services and positions the company for future revenue expansion and higher net interest income. Sustained increase in customer funds, particularly through off-balance sheet investment and savings products (up 6.7% year-on-year), demonstrates growing customer engagement and enables greater cross-selling of fee-based products. This supports long-term growth in recurring fee income and revenue diversification.”

Read the complete narrative.

Want to know how Sabadell’s long-term revenue mix and ambitious cost controls underpin this valuation? The blueprint combines rising loan demand and shifting profit margins with a profit multiple rarely seen in banks. Curious about what future projections analysts are banking on? Read the full narrative to uncover the numbers driving this fair value.

Result: Fair Value of €3.34 (UNDERVALUED)

Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what’s behind the forecasts.

However, continued reliance on Spain’s economy and sustained margin pressures could challenge Sabadell’s outlook, particularly if local conditions change unexpectedly.

Find out about the key risks to this Banco de Sabadell narrative.

If you see things differently, or want to dig into the numbers yourself, you can build your own view in just a few minutes. Do it your way.

A great starting point for your Banco de Sabadell research is our analysis highlighting 3 key rewards and 5 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include SAB.MC.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

It takes time, money and fossil fuels to make the electronics that underpin modern life. From the mining of rare earths and metals to processing, manufacture and shipping, the engineering and logistical innovations that make it possible to buy a new phone every year produce incredible amounts of waste.

According to the latest Global E-Waste Monitor, the world is generating 62m tonnes of e-waste annually and is on track to reach 82m tonnes by 2030. Australia alone produces 580,000 tonnes yearly. Between planned obsolescence, advancing technology and genuine malfunctions, this figure is expected to rise.

An estimated 23m mobile phones sit idle in drawers around Australia, including about 13m that are unusable. The average Australian generates about 22kg of e-waste each year, almost three times the global average, according to a recent Productivity Commission inquiry.

“It’s the fastest growing waste stream but it’s also the most valuable,” says Anne Stonier, from the Australia New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP). “There’s a lot of hard plastic as well, with electronics. By recycling it, you’re making sure it is being properly managed. You’re helping create a more circular economy.”

Where is best to dispose of old phones? How do you keep sensitive data safe? Here’s what to consider when recycling your old devices.

Look around for local recycling programs

Recycling e-waste is a little more complicated than simply throwing it into the yellow bin. The first step is to research options available near you. Local councils, for instance, have designated e-waste drop off points and recycling programs but the locations can vary. Disposing of e-waste in landfill is banned in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

Likewise, several large retailers host recycling programs. Officeworks, for example, collects batteries, computer accessories, printer cartridges and mobile phones at its stores and runs drop-off days for most other electronic items. Bunnings stores maintain collection bins for batteries and larger electronic items such as TVs, screens, computers and printers. MobileMuster, a program run by the Australian telecommunications industry, collects mobile phones, speakers, smartwatches and tracking tags, modems, routers, landline phones and old TV streaming devices.

Many device manufacturers have set up stewardship programs to allow customers to trade in old phones and laptops in return for a discount or credit on their next purchase. If you’re thinking about an upgrade, it is worth checking what may be available to you.

There are also charities that accept donations of digital devices, such as DV Safe Phone and the Reconnect Project, which repairs used devices before providing them to people in need.

Disposing of devices that store personal information

Whether it’s a smartwatch tracking your regular jogging route, a tablet once used for business, or a personal phone full of photos, devices can hold intimate and sensitive information about our daily lives and activities.

Before disposing of electronic items, backup or transfer any files you want to keep to another device or storage device, such as an external hard drive, cloud service, USB or NAS system, and remove any physical markings or stickers that may associate the device with you.

What happens next depends on the device. For most smart devices, tablets and phones, it is enough to perform a factory reset. For computers, laptops, hard drives, USB sticks and other storage devices, reformatting the drive and performing a factory reset will also suffice. Fax machines, printers and scanners should also undergo a factory reset, as they can still hold copies of recently printed documents.

Finally, you should also take steps to unpair the old device with any remaining computers or devices.

If your device is so old that it won’t turn on and is not accessible when connected to a computer with a cable, there’s not much you can do. Make sure to remove any external or detachable memory storage, such as memory cards in old phones, before recycling.

What if my device holds very sensitive material?

Physical destruction, such as drilling through a hard drive, is unlikely to work and defeats the purpose of recycling in the first place. It can also be dangerous, especially if you are attempting to destroy a device with a battery that cannot be removed and cause a rupture that leads to fire or a health hazard.

If your device contains very sensitive information that you want to be sure is destroyed, consider reformatting the device, using data sanitisation software and encrypting the hard drive. Secure data destruction services are also available. The nature of these services vary, however, as does price. Some companies may offer a free data destruction service on donated hard drives so they can cannibalise them for parts to perform repairs for their clients. Other services are geared more towards large corporates.

Stonier says some specialist recyclers also offer data destruction services. “If there’s any concern about it getting into someone else’s hands, it’s better to just wipe it,” she says. “You just don’t know otherwise. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

What happens if I don’t do any of this?

Some threats are more significant than others. A hard drive that contains nothing but family photos is lower risk than one that holds detailed financial information. For most people, it is unlikely they will ever be specifically targeted unless they have a reason or are already vulnerable in some way.

Much criminal activity tends to be opportunistic, meaning that, for most people, even taking a few basic steps can help stop a headache or a fright later.

What are the early trends we should look for to identify a stock that could multiply in value over the long term? Amongst other things, we’ll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company’s amount of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it’s a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Ambertech’s (ASX:AMO) returns on capital, so let’s have a look.

This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality.

For those who don’t know, ROCE is a measure of a company’s yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Ambertech:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets – Current Liabilities)

0.094 = AU$2.5m ÷ (AU$53m – AU$27m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2025).

Therefore, Ambertech has an ROCE of 9.4%. Even though it’s in line with the industry average of 9.4%, it’s still a low return by itself.

View our latest analysis for Ambertech

While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you want to delve into the historical earnings , check out these free graphs detailing revenue and cash flow performance of Ambertech.

We’re glad to see that ROCE is heading in the right direction, even if it is still low at the moment. The numbers show that in the last five years, the returns generated on capital employed have grown considerably to 9.4%. Basically the business is earning more per dollar of capital invested and in addition to that, 25% more capital is being employed now too. This can indicate that there’s plenty of opportunities to invest capital internally and at ever higher rates, a combination that’s common among multi-baggers.

On a separate but related note, it’s important to know that Ambertech has a current liabilities to total assets ratio of 50%, which we’d consider pretty high. This can bring about some risks because the company is basically operating with a rather large reliance on its suppliers or other sorts of short-term creditors. While it’s not necessarily a bad thing, it can be beneficial if this ratio is lower.

A company that is growing its returns on capital and can consistently reinvest in itself is a highly sought after trait, and that’s what Ambertech has. Considering the stock has delivered 18% to its stockholders over the last five years, it may be fair to think that investors aren’t fully aware of the promising trends yet. Given that, we’d look further into this stock in case it has more traits that could make it multiply in the long term.

On a final note, we found 4 warning signs for Ambertech (1 makes us a bit uncomfortable) you should be aware of.

While Ambertech isn’t earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Cargobike in the Varvsstaden district of Malmö, Sweden.

Carlton Reid

The seat benches outside Oatly’s swankily sustainable HQ in Malmö, Sweden, are upcycled from girders. Not the metaphoric steel beams jokingly marketed as the main ingredient of Scottish drink brand Irn Bru, but actual girders. The girders were sourced from a databank of materials rescued, stored, and listed online by Varvsstaden AB, the urban regeneration developer in charge of reshaping the city’s Varvsstaden district, a historic former shipyard that closed in stages throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Stockholm-listed real estate company Balder and construction company PEAB own the development company, a previous incarnation of which bought the 190,000-square-meter former shipyard in 2005, later levelling what couldn’t be saved while retaining nine historic brick structures, including the Gjuteriet building, now home to Oatly.

Reclaimed girders repurposed as seat benches outside the Oatly HQ in Varvsstaden district of Malmö, Sweden.

Carlton Reid

The alt-dairy heavyweight’s “new” HQ was fashioned from reclaimed materials and erected in the shell of a former foundry dating to 1910. Restored by architecture firm Kjellander Sjöberg, the building’s partially ruined exterior walls were reimagined with reclaimed bricks sourced from nearby demolished buildings, and stored in a still-standing warehouse that houses Varvsstaden AB’s “Materialbanken,” a collection of reclaimed materials, with every corrugated panel, light fitting, and heritage brick searchable in an online database. Architects working on the regeneration project can use the digital Materialbanken to locate resources for upcycling.

One of Varvsstaden’s nine rescued brick buildings with, in the background, Malmö’s “Turning Torso” residential skyscraper designed by Spanish architect, structural engineer, sculptor and painter Santiago Calatrava opened in 2005.

Carlton Reid

Oatly’s HQ—veined with reclaimed woodern beams and dressed with genuinely distressed artefacts—is open to the public, housing a coffee shop serving the double-fat barista blend Oatly, the hero product that, after a major rebrand, helped the Swedish oat milk brand expand globally. Oatly’s distinctive environmentally-centered marketing and packaging copy—“wow, no cow” and “Milk, but made for humans”—is provocative, especially to “big dairy.”

Oatly packaging are seen in a store in New York City, United States on July 15, 2024. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

NurPhoto via Getty Images

Oatly’s sustainability plan qualified it as the world’s first food brand to become an official climate solutions company, reported Vegconomist.com—bolstering its eco messaging by headquartering in an upcycled building made perfect sense.

Oatly is part-owned by The Blackstone Group, Verlinvest, via Nativus Company Limited a part of China Resources (a conglomerate owned by the Chinese state), Industrifonden, Östersjöstiftelsen, and employees. Shareholders also include celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Jay-Z, as well as Starbucks founder Howard Schultz.

Probably

Cheekily adapting the marketing slogan of a particular beer brand made in Copenhagen, 32 miles away across the Oresund Bridge, Varvsstaden AB comms manager Elin Fasth said on a site tour: “Varvsstaden is probably the most exciting neighborhood in the world.”

Pointing to the Gjuteriet building, she said Oatly was a perfect fit for Varvsstaden, which is aiming to be a dockside regeneration project that’s as sustainable as possible and distinctive and memorable.

Thule’s new corporate HQ in Malmö’s Docken district, adjacent to the former shipyard of Varvsstaden.

Carlton Reid

Other businesses nearby and part of the adjacent quay, dry dock, and inner basin include the new corporate HQ for Swedish car racks to luggage brand Thule. Soon to relocate to the area is an offshoot of Lund University, which is appropriate given that the original recipe for Oatly sprang from research carried out by academics from the institution.

For more than a hundred years, and when it was still churning out ships and submarines, Varvsstaden was not accessible to the public but thanks to three new pedestrian and cyclist bridges, it is now connected to other parts of Sweden’s third-largest city. The mixed redevelopment project, when completed, will consist of 2,500 new homes, several schools and kindergartens, green spaces, and many more businesses, said Fasth.

Girders turned into playground equipment in Malmö’s Varvsstaden district, a former shipyard.

Carlton Reid

Several shipyard superstructures have been left in place, towering over toddler swings suspended from reclaimed girders.

“Not all of the steel products stored in the Materialbanken are strong enough to be used in buildings today, so they are upcycled into benches and other things,” said Fasth, pointing to the seat benches outside Oatly’s HQ.

Shipyard superstructure left in situ in Malmö’s Varvsstaden district.

Carlton Reid

Varvsstaden AB is based in one of the oldest buildings on the site, which was first developed in 1871, the year after Frans Henrik Kockum, the founder of Kockums Shipyard, bought the area. Fasth said the building’s foundations were sinking into the sea, so the historic structure was jacked up by a metre, and thereby saved.

Spiral staircase waiting to be reused in Varvsstaden’s “Materialbanken.”

Carlton Reid

Wandering into a nearby warehouse, I spotted girders that may be upcycled into benches sometime soon. There was also a spiral staircase that would look great in a future corporate HQ for a brand that, Oatly-style, may also choose to lean into the circular economy.

Varvsstaden AB—which measures the amount of CO2 emissions saved through the extensive use of the shipyard’s historic materials, data shared transparently on the company’s website—estimates that 80% of the rescued building materials and industrial artefacts in the Materialbanken will be reused on the project, due to be completed in 2041.