The Science-Based Target Initiative: Nord-Lock Group taking action for more sustainable business operations

Nord-Lock Group have joined The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to levels in line with the UN Paris Agreement. The SBTi marks a groundbreaking, collaborative corporate effort to achieve an impactful, joint contribution to a sustainable future.

Analyzing carbon emissions: No stone unturned

The first step in setting any target and getting there is knowing where you start from, and the SBTi is no exception. With the support of external consultants and tireless contributions from almost seventy coworkers within ten business functions, Nord-Lock Group has mapped carbon emissions related to each of its four technology brands. From upstream activities relating to direct emissions from production to downstream activities, meaning indirect emissions from sources outside immediate control, the omissions of greenhouse gases have been scrutinized through a meticulous collection of data. This work has provided a detailed picture of the current situation, called the baseline.

Nord-Lock Group will now, over a two-year period, develop company-specific targets to be approved by the SBTi. However, there is no time to waste.

“The challenges we face when it comes to sustainability call for action, today. So, although we have time at our disposal to set targets and have them approved by the SBTi, we have several actions and initiatives that will go into effect immediately” says Fredrik Meuller CEO at Nord-Lock Group.

Initiatives to reduce distributor-related emissions 

To do so, Nord-Lock Group is using what they have learned from establishing the baseline to reduce the environmental impact by targeting carbon emissions in Scope 3, which consists of indirect emissions from sources the group does not own or control. Specifically, in this first step, Nord-Lock Group is looking into how involvement with the production and distribution of steel in Scope 3 contributes to the overall greenhouse gas emissions profile.

“Even before we joined the SBTi, we had committed to reducing our carbon emissions by 20% in 2030 in the value chain. So, the fact that we now have a clearer, more detailed picture of how to get there from developing the baseline puts us in a better position to focus our actions and achieving substantial results” says Christina Hansson, Chief Sustainability Officer at Nord-Lock Group.

There are already examples of how insights from the baseline manifest into concrete action. For example, Nord-Lock has invited suppliers of steel materials to review the current state of operations and evaluate how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

“Sharing what we have learned from developing the baseline with our suppliers is, of course, key to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions in scope 3,” says Anna Sjöberg, Quality & Sustainability Manager at Business Unit Nord-Lock. “We are excited to sit down with them and identify what areas in our partnership that can improve to achieve significant contributions to our sustainability profile”.

An ongoing journey

Nord-Lock Group puts a lot of effort into maintaining an ambitious sustainability agenda that permeates global operations on a daily basis. Being part of the SBTi is a given, natural development in the overarching approach to sustainability, tying into numerous processes previously set in motion.

 

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Fact box: Some of the actions taken 

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