Alina Oprea • 5 May, 2023 at 5:30 PM
The Electrolux Group has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions from direct and indirect operations by 82% and emissions from the direct use of household appliances by 25%. According to the sustainability strategy, "For the Better 2030", the company set these ambitious targets for the year 2025, so the group met its science-based climate goals three years earlier than planned. 98% of the electricity used by the group in its global operations comes from renewable sources, and 35% of its marine cargo uses more sustainable fuels. The objectives were set as a result of the "Initiative of objectives established on scientific criteria" (SBTi), developed within the framework of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming, a commitment also supported by Electrolux.
"Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the entire planet, so the need to act is essential. Therefore, the Electrolux group has committed itself to contribute to climate protection through a series of ambitious objectives: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from operations by 80% and emissions resulting from the use of products by up to 25%, until 2025, and in the long term, until 2050, to become a climate-neutral company with zero carbon emissions," the company announced.
These targets were set in 2015 and revised and approved in 2018 by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), with Electrolux being among the first companies to join the pact. The initiative helps companies set a path to reduce emissions in line with the latest scientific data on climate change.
"The results recorded in 2022 by the Electrolux group are a confirmation of the fact that the integration of sustainability throughout the value chain is fundamental to have a harmonious development from a business point of view and to inspire consumers to make the right choices for their home. Meeting the two greenhouse gas emission reduction targets three years ahead of schedule is an achievement we are extremely proud of and gives us courage and confidence that we can contribute to the development of a better future. On a local level, we aim to contribute to the achievement of the objectives by continuing the programs launched by the group, such as Food Heroes which has already reached its third edition in Romania, but also by promoting sustainable habits among consumers, in all consumption segments, to the care of clothes, the reduction of food waste or the promotion of products that have a low impact on the environment", said Teodora Juravle, Marketing Director of Electrolux Romania.
The main results recorded by the Electrolux group in 2022 are:
• 98% of the electricity used in global operations comes from renewable sources;
• 35% of maritime cargo transport used more sustainable fuels;
• 124,000 people involved in education projects regarding sustainable eating habits, through the Electrolux Food Foundation, from 2016 until now;
• in 2022, the Electrolux Food Foundation launched a platform that provides teachers with information sources to educate children about the integration of sustainable eating habits. To date, 88,000 children from all over the world have taken part in the Food Heroes program, also launched in Romania;
The company's steps for better solutions:
• 24% of all appliances sold by the Electrolux group and 39% of gross profit were generated by products that have high efficiency in terms of water and energy consumption, an increase of 5% compared to the previous year;
• 70% recycled plastic used in the inner cavity of the new built-in refrigerators;
• 4,000 components tested for chemical compliance;
• almost 98% of the total waste produced by the production units was either reused or recovered. In the long term, the company aims to reach zero waste transported to ecological landfills.
• by the end of 2022, 55% of the factories of the Electrolux Group have been certified "Zero Waste to Landfill" - an internal program, through which the company aims to recycle and recover up to 99% of the waste generated by the production units by 2025 worldwide.
Technological innovations to give consumers a better life:
• The launch of the refrigerator with Cooling 360 and ColdSense technologies, which contribute to keeping ingredients fresh for a long time and thus reducing food waste;
• The launch of the first vacuum cleaner without paint in order to reduce the consumption of chemicals and materials used and the energy impact;
• Launching a range of front-loading washing machines that save an average of over 450 liters of water per year compared to a top-loading washing machine;
• Launch of the global Break the Pattern campaign, in order to promote sustainable laundry habits;
In the long term, the Electrolux group has proposed to integrate several solutions related to the circular economy, by replacing raw materials with recycled materials, where possible, but also by using more sustainable packaging solutions. In this regard, the company has set out to increase the proportion of recycled plastic by up to 50% by 2030, increase the amount of scrap-based steel and identify relevant circular business models that can be scaled up. Furthermore, the Electrolux Group has set out to develop ever more energy-efficient and water-efficient household appliances in the future, helping consumers save money and reduce their own carbon footprint on the environment.
Regarding the carbon footprint on the environment, Electrolux has set itself the goal of becoming a company with climate-neutral operations by 2030, by integrating renewable sources and optimizing energy consumption Among the company's goals are improving energy efficiency in production units and warehouses, with an increase of 12.5% until 2025 (reference level 2020), optimizing water consumption by up to 25% (reference level 2020), but also increasing the proportion of renewable energy for the group's operations to 65% by 2025.