People are talking and thinking about the climate, global environmental challenges, and sustainability everywhere we look. People are taking action as well. The most significant shift will be that the market will expect all ingredients to be traceable and produced in a sustainable manner. In the food business, we’re seeing the same thing. Being environmentally friendly or sustainable no longer provides a competitive advantage. It is increasingly becoming a means of entry into the market. This is obviously seen in Europe and America, as well as Asia and other regions of the world.
Algalif is at the forefront of sustainability in this industry. The company’s CEO, Orri Bjornsson, says, “My motivation is to do good for the environment, for society, and for my team.” He’s worked in the sector in Iceland and Eastern Europe, where Icelandic firms acquired businesses. While working in Europe, he obtained vast expertise in establishing and setting up new facilities, as well as upgrading plants in various states.
Orri’s track record of completing projects on time and on budget led him to Algalif over a decade ago. There have been several obstacles along the way, both large and minor. The most challenging ones, on the other hand, are always related to the human aspect of operating a business.
Orri has 25 years of experience in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and supplement industries. It has taken him around the globe. He worked as a special consultant for the United Nations in Africa, as well as a manager in the algae industry, while reconstructing factories in Eastern Europe. He adds, “What it has taught me is that quality, sustainability, reliability, and team building are the key factors to success.” All of this experience in a variety of nations has helped him develop skills in GMP, general quality, project management, recruitment, and operations.
Biotechnology is a young industry that is rapidly developing and evolving. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of the firms and ideas that begin the trip ever mature and become successful. At Algalif, the management was able to do this, and the team is grateful to everyone who assisted them along the way.
Orri’s advice to other entrepreneurs interested in biotechnology is to keep in mind that it’s a team effort. He emphasizes, “You need vision, you need knowledge and capital, but the team is the heart and soul of each start-up company. And do not forget your social responsibility. No person, and no company, is an island. Give back to society and be a leader in sustainability. This has been my guiding light in building one of the biggest and most successful microalgae companies in Europe. ”
Algalif is a biotechnology startup that is still in its early stages. It began operations in Iceland in 2013 after being created in 2012. Not long after that, it had its first successful harvest of microalgae and commercial astaxanthin, which is its major product. The firm has succeeded in becoming a significant industry leader in such a short period of time.
Algalif is a manufacturer of natural astaxanthin, a sustainable raw resource. Its whole marketing strategy is geared toward other firms. From the organization’s perspective, it seeks to communicate to all existing and potential consumers the high quality of its work processes and the expertise of its quality assurance staff. The company also knows that the product quality of their astaxanthin is excellent since consumers, independent labs, and researchers have informed them so.
In the realm of science, the health advantages are undeniable. Muscle rehabilitation, anti-inflammatory advantages for joints, skin, eyes, hearth, vascular system, healthy ageing, and so on are all well-known health benefits. Every year, additional research is released to support this. The reality is that astaxanthin is a fantastic natural substance with a wide range of health benefits. And, because it works, it is growing in popularity year after year. All Algalif’s production is basically sold out, and therefore it is building new facilities and will triple its production capacity in two years.
Algalif business is basically very simple. It makes a specific sort of plant microalgae. However, in order to produce good outcomes like it has, it must make full use of all available technologies. The algae are grown in glass pipes inside the facility, and the entire atmosphere is meticulously controlled. This is a high-tech method of growing simple organisms. The organization employs exceptional scientists who approach every stage of the manufacturing process from a scientific and technological standpoint.
As per Orri, the way Algalif sets its lamps is a result of comprehensive experiments and extensive usage of data. “To find the exact spectrum of light to get the maximum growth at every stage of the algae lifecycle is a huge task where we use both biology and data driven technology,” says Orri. “And the result is that we have great productivity.”
Orri’s key responsibility is to ensure that Algalif has a fantastic team, with the greatest people in every position, and that the company’s mission of sustainability, quality, and reliability is apparent in all it does.
People are the Real Value of an Organization
The staff at Algalif follows a basic concept of quality and sustainability. Three words guide the team: quality, dependability, and long-term sustainability. Orri aspires to make Algalif a fantastic location to work. As a result, he strives to keep workplace hierarchy to a minimum and as inconspicuous as possible. “My doors are always open, and we are informal in our communications,” he explains. He also ensures that everyone in the organization is on board with the company’s vision and purpose to become the greatest and greenest in the market.
Orri recognizes that the company’s success is built on the excellent employees that he has been able to attract, and that, while technology, expertise, financing, and leadership are all important, the people who work there are the company’s foundation.
Creating a Sustainable Work Environment
A few things are required for any business to be successful. Of course, you’ll need a concept and some cash to get started. However, the team’s expertise, as well as leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and vision, are the most important factors in any business’s success. In other words, the primary component in a recipe for a successful firm is a solid team with the correct mentality. This is something that tech businesses realized decades ago, and I believe that their success is a result of that awareness.
Orri wants to bring the philosophy of putting people first to the nutraceutical industry. However, there is another major factor in Algalif’s success. Sustainability, according to the firm, should be a way of life. All of Algalif’s energy is renewable, and all of its vehicles are electric. The firm also strives to ensure that the food in its canteen is locally produced, and that all other inputs it purchases are ecologically certified. Orri asserts, “I would like to bring that vision of sustainability into the nutraceutical industry as a whole.”
“A transparent and open approach is vital for the industry to reach higher grounds.”
In Orri’s opinion, the best way to do that is to be a leader and a role model and really show by example that a successful company can be carbon neutral and sustainable.
The Industry’s Best and Greenest
The goal of Algalif is to become the top microalgae producer on the planet. It is already one of the largest, and buyers say the quality of its product is unrivalled. Apart from that, it has always prioritized sustainability. Orri’s goal is to create a business that may serve as an example for others in terms of green technology and sustainable business practices. Orri opines, “We are already a green company, only using 100% renewable geothermal energy and working under strict Zero Fossil Fuel and Zero Waste policies.”
Algalif also aspires to be a fantastic workplace. As a result, quality, dependability, and sustainability are three essential phrases that management and staff keep in mind every minute of the workday in order to achieve the company’s goal of being the best and greenest in the business.
