EDITORIAL
3recyclinginternational.com | September/October | 2025
This issue contains two stories about
metal recyclers who run a side busi-
ness in wine next to their core activity
of recycling.
Denmark’s HJHansen Recycling Group
is a known and respected ferrous scrap
recycler. It’s a big player. It operates
30 yards and has deep-sea port access
to ship materials all over the world.
One million tonnes of ferrous per year.
Turnover: EUR 400 million.
You could argue that company ceo
Mogens Bach Christensen’s hands are
more than full already. But few may
know he also heads HJHansen’s wine
company, H.J. Hansen Vin. It’s not a
hobby, it’s serious business. It has 50
stores across Denmark, along with
online sales, and supplies some of the
best restaurants in Copenhagen,
together generating EUR 50 million.
Italy’s RMB is among the country’s
leading metal recyclers. Less than
three km from its headquarters in
north Italy, the owners have a vineyard
and winery overlooking Lake Garda.
They make great wines that are served
to guests during lunch in the company
canteen.
Two examples of side businesses. It is
inspiring to see how recyclers follow
their dream and use their talent
exploring activities other than recy-
cling and make a success of them.
We can learn from brands making the
best of their side business. Ikea is a
good example. We go there to buy
our furniture and household stuff, of
course, but Ikea’s ‘Swedish Meatballs’
served in the stores’ food outlets – a
multi-billion-euro business in itself –
are just as famous. Which proves side
businesses are no hobby or experi-
ment; they can be tools that diversify
revenue, boost innovation and even
redefine a brand.
Of course, there are risks and hurdles.
Running a side business can lead to
brand confusion or reputational dam-
age if the venture does not align with
the core identity – or fails publicly.
Operational complexity is another
challenge: managing multiple supply
chains can be tough.
Back to HJHansen: combining wine
and recycling may seem unusual but
they are surprisingly complementary
for Mogens Bach Christensen. ‘It
makes you even more aware of the
importance of quality. What applies to
wine certainly applies to scrap.’
I’m eager to hear about your side busi-
nesses. Share it with the rest of us.
Martijn Reintjes
Chief Editor, Recycling International
Recycling International
Informaticaweg 3
7007 CP Doetinchem
The Netherlands
What’s your side
business?
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03_editorial.indd 3 10-09-2025 14:35
