2025 has been a year in which SoilSteam clearly moved from being a “promising technology” to a documented solution in real-world applications. We have experienced strong international interest, several important projects – and, not least, a clear direction: soil as a resource, not waste.

This was not just a demo – it marked that the market is now moving rapidly toward more circular solutions for soil management.

First major step in Sweden: EWGroup

In 2025, we took an important step into the Swedish market through our collaboration with EWGroup, which became the first operator in Sweden to implement the SoilSaver 20 at its facility in Flen. This marks the beginning of a broader commitment in the Swedish market, where the need for circular handling of soil masses and control of invasive species is growing rapidly.

Trafikverket and Svevia tested SoilSaver in a project in Umeå, Sweden

SoilSteam then entered into an agreement with Svevia and Trafikverket for the treatment and recovery of approximately 1,500 tonnes of soil masses infested with lupins in Umeå. The project was planned for completion during May–June 2025 and was described as SoilSteam’s first collaboration with Trafikverket in Sweden.

This sends a strong signal that our method addresses a growing need in European infrastructure projects: stopping the spread of invasive alien species while simultaneously reducing landfilling.

An international meeting place: SoilSteam Demo Day 2025

In the autumn of 2025, we gathered more than 200 participants from eight nations at Gjennestad in Vestfold for SoilSteam Demo Day. The event demonstrated how thermal treatment can transform contaminated or infested soil and peat into a valuable resource, both for construction projects and for greenhouse production.

Gavin Griffiths Group – Japanese knotweed and the first UK unit

In the UK, 2025 has been a breakthrough year. Together with the Gavin Griffiths Group, we have taken important steps to document effectiveness against Japanese knotweed. This work is linked to the launch of what has been described as the UK’s first steam treatment unit for soil at their facility in the summer of 2025.

This marks the beginning of a broader UK journey, where documentation and strong partnerships are central.

Our goal is to save as much soil as possible from being landfilled. During 2025, our fantastic customers used their SoilSaver machines to save more than 23,000 tonnes of soil from disposal. This took place in Norway, Sweden, and the UK. Without SoilSavers in the contracting industry, this would never have been possible. A huge thank you to everyone who made this happen 😊

Professional documentation and international relevance: Sardinia Symposium 2025

In September 2025, we also participated in the Sardinia Symposium, where we demonstrated how SoilSteam technology is already being used in practice across multiple segments – from road and construction projects to the reuse of growing media in greenhouse production.

For many, this comes down to a fundamental question: Is it possible to control pests and invasive species without destroying soil quality? Our experience and documentation clearly show that the answer is yes.

New applications: substrates and growing media

2025 has also been about growing media and circularity in greenhouse production. SoilSteam has published several articles on the reuse of substrates and how this can contribute to more sustainable production.

In the summer of 2025, we carried out our first research project documenting that peat and substrate products can be treated using our SoilSaver technology and reused instead of being replaced with new material. This represents a new way of thinking about circularity in international greenhouse production and will also lead to significant reductions in methane and CO₂ emissions.

New customers and new continents

The end of 2025 was intense. We held meetings with several stakeholders in greenhouse production, waste management, and the contracting industry across multiple countries. This resulted in several SoilSaver units being sold for delivery next year during the final months of 2025.

One of these units will be delivered to North America, becoming SoilSteam’s first machine operating outside Europe. This is a major milestone for SoilSteam.

What do we take with us into 2026?

2025 showed us three things very clearly:

1. The need for circular soil management is growing rapidly – across multiple industries at the same time.
2. SoilSteam is moving from “pilot” to “scalable practice.”
3. We have documented that soil steaming works – and people understand it. During 2025, we were contacted by more than 200 companies from 24 countries interested in SoilSteaming. We believe this strong interest will grow even further in 2026.

Thank you to our customers, partners, and everyone who met us in 2025 – we look forward to building further in 2026.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Lindum, in collaboration with SoilSteam, has carried out an exciting trial to combat the highly invasive plant Bohemian Knotweed. Using SoilSteam’s SoilSaver 20 machine, soil masses containing knotweed rhizomes were treated with steam at 70 °C for 12–16 minutes.

The results are very promising:

• Control samples (without steam) produced up to 13 new shoots.
• The steam-treated samples showed no regrowth at all.

This demonstrates that steam can be an effective and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical control methods. The trial confirms that treatment at 70 °C is sufficient to prevent further spread of Knotweed, a plant notoriously difficult to eradicate.

The report concludes that steam treatment has significant potential as a tool in the fight against invasive alien species. For Lindum and SoilSteam, this marks an important step toward finding sustainable solutions for both nature and society.

👉 Read the full report here:

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Soil – A Vital, Non-Renewable Resource

The day opened with Vestfold County Mayor, Anne Strømøy, who reminded the audience that soil is one of our most important – yet non-renewable – resources. She announced that the county will now require contractors to recycle soil masses containing invasive species and plant pathogens instead of treating them as waste.

“We cannot continue to treat soil as a waste problem. It must be seen as a resource to be protected and reused,” said Strømøy.

Technology That Changes the Industry

SoilSteam CSO, Hans Kristian Westrum, emphasized that landfilling soil has no place in a modern, sustainable society.

“SoilSteaming is often more affordable than landfilling. The technology removes weeds and plant pathogens while improving soil quality. With three machines already in Norway, one in Sweden, and one in the UK – the solution is here. Now we call on municipalities, consultants, and contractors to make SoilSteaming the standard in construction and road projects.”

The audience also heard from Gjennestad Drift’s Arne-Olav Klevsgård, who shared why his company is now adopting SoilSteaming:

“We’ve long struggled to secure soil of good quality. Now we can guarantee weed-free soil for ourselves and others, while contributing to a more sustainable resource cycle.”

From Theory to Practice

After the presentations, participants witnessed SoilSteam’s machines in action. Two models – SoilSaver 20 and SoilSaver 5 – were demonstrated in the field. Visitors also compared steamed soil with untreated soil, six weeks after treatment. The results were striking:

The steamed soil remained completely weed-free

• Grass grew better in the treated soil than in the untreated sample

“SoilSteaming doesn’t just eliminate weeds and pathogens – it can actually improve the soil’s growth properties,” summarized SoilSteam CEO, Ken Roar Riis.

A Step Toward a Circular Future

The Demo Day made it clear that interest in delivering heat-treated soil in line with the new upcoming standard is growing fast. With support from public authorities, industry leaders, and pioneering companies, SoilSteaming is becoming a key driver for a circular economy in both construction and agriculture.

You can see a summary of the day here

✅ Learn more about SoilSteam and our mission to redefine soil management: www.soilsteam.com

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Much of the food on store shelves today is produced in substrate. The substrate can be based on various raw materials, with peat and crushed coconut husks being the most commonly used. The problem is that these substrates are usually only used once. This is because fungi and other pests can establish themselves in the substrate during cultivation, potentially ruining future crops. Sterilization and reuse of substrate will be one of the most important environmental measures for greenhouse production worldwide:

1. Sustainability, Stability and Environmental Considerations

• Reduced peat extraction: Peat is a non-renewable resource that takes thousands of years to form. Large amounts of peat are used in greenhouse production, but its extraction releases CO₂, contributing to climate change. Reusing peat can drastically reduce the demand for new peat.
• Less waste: Used substrate is often discarded or treated as waste. If it is sterilized and reused, the amount of waste can be significantly reduced.
• Compliance with future environmental regulations: Several countries are considering restrictions on peat use in agriculture and horticulture (e.g., the UK plans to phase out peat in gardening products). Reuse can be part of the solution to meet new regulations.
• Less transportation and freshwater use: Coco coir is produced in distant regions and must be transported over long distances. In turbulent times, international transport becomes complicated and often costly. Additionally, large amounts of freshwater are used during production, freshwater that could have been used by local populations.

2. Economic Benefits for Growers

• Cost savings: Buying a new substrate is expensive. If growers can use the same substrate multiple times without losing quality, they can save significant amounts of money. This could also benefit consumers through lower prices.
• Production stability: Importing substrate is vulnerable to supply chain issues. Reusing existing substrates gives growers greater stability and predictability.

3. Proven Effectiveness

• Steam treatment eliminates diseases: Steam sterilization is a well-known method for eliminating fungi, bacteria, and nematodes from soil and substrate. Studies show that plants grown in steam-treated substrates often have the same growth quality as those grown in new substrates.

The reuse of substrate will be an important step toward sustainable agriculture. It will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower costs for growers, and ensure compliance with stricter environmental regulations.

SoilSteam is working with Europe’s leading research center for greenhouse production, Proefcentrum Hoogstraten, to document that steam treatment of substrate is a future-oriented solution. The first machines adapted for substrate recycling will be ready for delivery in 2025.

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The reason peat and coconut fiber (hereafter referred to as substrate) have become so popular is that they are clean, homogeneous growing media, completely free of fungi and other pests. Substrate is increasingly used for the production of fruits, plants, and vegetables in greenhouses as an alternative to soil. The problem is that after just one season, it can no longer be guaranteed to be clean. Therefore, producers cannot risk reusing the substrate, as this could lead to poor yields risk farmers cannot afford to take. This is, of course, not sustainable. Fortunately, there is a solution.

Innovative Collaboration for Sustainable Production

In collaboration with the research department of one of Europe’s most renowned strawberry regions, Proefcentrum Hoogstraten, SoilSteam has conducted tests to enable the reuse of substrates. Peter Melis, Strawberry researcher at Proefcentrum Hoogstraten, is very optimistic:

— We have a strong focus on sustainability in our production. Nevertheless, it is a fact that much of strawberry production takes place in substrates that are not reused due to disease presence. There are significant environmental issues related to the extraction of peat-based substrates and therefore heat treatment and reuse may be key to more sustainable production. After assisting SoilSteam during testing, I have high hopes that this method can make reuse possible, says Melis.

Promising Tests with SoilSaver 5

Proefcentrum Hoogstraten and SoilSteam have collaborated to steam-treat 10 m³ of substrate that has already been used in strawberry production. After steaming, researchers at Hoogstraten will attempt to grow new strawberries in the heat-treated substrate and compare the results with strawberries grown in fresh and reused substrate. External research shows that steaming of peat might give good results – something we now aim to verify. SoilSteam are ready to start serial production of the machine if the results are good.

Potential for Global Impact

If the results are positive, this could open up entirely new opportunities for sustainable substrate reuse. Oddbjørn Bergem, CEO of SoilSteam, says:

— We have been steaming soil for many years, but it is exciting to gain more experience with this type of substrate. The operation itself went according to plan, and we are fortunate to work with such a dedicated team at Proefcentrum Hoogstraten. Here, we will obtain solid documentation on whether steam-treated substrate performs as well as new substrate. SoilSaver 5 is a custom made machine for the substrate market according to Bergem.

Zero CO₂ Emissions with New Technology

The steaming in Hoogstraten, Belgium, was carried out using the brand-new SoilSaver 5 machine from SoilSteam. This is a 100% electric machine, which means the process is entirely CO₂-free. This makes the technology a sustainable alternative that not only reduces the environmental impact associated with substrate production but also the reuse process itself.

See a short movie of the process here

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