Sustainability foundations are set and ambitious goals are in sight

Sustainability: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs – United Nations (UN)

This is the goal that universally binds us, and we have a part to play. Bruks Siwertell Group’s aim is to set the sustainability standard for the industries that it serves. The company has now formalized and road-mapped its short- and long-term sustainability goals and ambitions. 

“For 2023, we have clear short-term goals that we aim to achieve,” says Peter Jonsson, CEO, Bruks Siwertell Group. “Environmentally, we have developed new targets for renewable energy sources and we will continue with climate calculations throughout the business, as well as those in the value chain. A pilot study has proved very informative and this will now be expanded. It helps us identify which areas we should focus our activities to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy use, and limit the generation of waste. 
 
“As for social responsibility, we have introduced regular personnel surveys and set new goals for gender equality, and in terms of governance, anti-corruption training has been completed, a third-party whistleblowing system has been introduced and a new, expanded supplier Code of Conduct has been developed,” explains Jonsson.

Twelve months of intense groundwork

The past twelve months has been a critical evaluation process for Bruks Siwertell Group’s sustainability journey. To map the business, and the company’s role in a macro-perspective, a number of activities, which together constituted a materiality analysis, have formed the basis of the Group’s priority areas. 

In summary, in 2022, Bruks Siwertell Group has: appointed a sustainability team with representation from all its business units; conducted a Group-wide materiality analysis, including risk analysis and stakeholder dialogues; developed a multi-year sustainability strategy at Group level and a sustainability policy; developed local action plans and increased awareness of sustainability work in general. 

“All aspects of our sustainability work are designed to be educational, so that we increase our knowledge and adjust our ambitions accordingly,” Jonsson notes. “The goal for our sustainability work is for it to permeate our entire business, which is how we get the greatest results. We need to continue to break down all the goals we have set, continue to plan our journey with milestones, and make sure we pay attention and celebrate successful achievements. Everyone should join the journey and everyone should contribute, both at a large and small level. We recognize the urgency of the issue that we are working on.”

Longer-term ambitions 

Bruks Siwertell Group’s sustainability goals are aligned with the United Nation’s (UN) 17 sustainable development goals (SDG) and its global compact principles, and are assessed from an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) perspective, with each initiative falling into one or more of these categories. This classification helps to identify how different initiatives impact the Group’s overall sustainability work, and how any results can be used to maximum effect. 

In the longer-term, the Group has set a number of ambitions for 2030. For example, targeting environmental issues, it is aiming for a fifty percent reduction in CO2 emissions across the Group, in comparison to the levels measured in 2019; ninety percent circularity of products; zero percent waste at offices; and for the Group to switch to 100 percent renewable energy.

Social targets include zero accidents within the workplace; 30 percent women in managerial roles by 2030, which is a nine percent unit increase; and raising personnel satisfaction levels from an employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) of 25 to 30 by 2030. The eNPS is scaled from -100 to 100 and is one of Bruks Siwertell’s new key measurable figures. In terms of governance, the Group is aiming for 100 percent compliance with Code of Conduct regulations for both supplier and customers and 100 percent of work processes updated and improved.

“We have made a fantastic start in 2022; a year that laid the foundation for our continued sustainability work based on a solid strategy and structure. It is wonderful to see our personnel's interest and commitment, as well as our owners. It is easier to drive sustainability work when we all have a common understanding of how important the issue is,” concludes Jonsson.

Throughout the year and beyond, Bruks Siwertell is aiming to publish sustainability cases. These contain updates about initiatives and measurable results connected to the company’s 2030 targets.