Work Training at the Intersection of Sustainability and Social Inclusion
In Bodø, Norway, FREM is a social enterprise that has built a set of innovative practices at the crossroads of sustainability, circular economy, and inclusive work training. Operating through several interconnected initiatives, FREM offers practical, green-skills-based work experience to people who are outside the labour market — and in doing so, generates genuine environmental value for the local community.
At the heart of FREM’s offer is Egna, a café and sustainable retail space where everything sold is made from sustainable, recycled, refurbished, or reusable materials. Egna is not just a shop: it is a model of circular business, a training environment, and a demonstration that green commerce can be both financially viable and socially meaningful. In collaboration with partners, FREM also uses Egna as a platform for developing new circular business models and local value chains, aiming to create more green local jobs and provide internship opportunities for people facing barriers to employment.
Green IT: Giving Technology a Second Life
One of FREM’s most tangible contributions is its Green IT project, developed in collaboration with iteam. The initiative collects used IT equipment, runs a licensed software-based secure erase process, resets operating systems, cleans and refurbishes the hardware, and gives it new life — either through resale or redistribution. Customers who hand in equipment receive a certificate confirming the secure deletion of their data, along with a report on what happens to the hardware next. It is a model that combines data security, environmental responsibility, and practical skills development in a single, coherent programme.
Environmental Services and the Repair Economy
FREM’s scope extends further: through its environmental services division, the organisation handles clearing and maintenance of roads, buildings, and outdoor areas — managing all waste responsibly in the process. Its repair and reuse programme handles assistive devices for people with disabilities, maintains parts warehouses for discontinued equipment, and manages returns and repairs for furniture retailers. All of this is done in partnership with the local recycling centre IRIS, ensuring that sustainability is not an add-on but an operating principle.
Relevance for Sustainable Learning
FREM’s model shows how sustainability and social inclusion can be pursued simultaneously through practical, workplace-based learning. For young people or adults distant from the labour market, the experience of working in a genuinely green enterprise is not only a professional development opportunity but a form of values education — learning what it means to produce and consume differently. The practice connects to SDGs 8, 11, 12, and 13.
Website: egna.no | frembodo.no
