Environment

There are a number of crises and challenges in the world and society related to climate change and other environmental issues today. These challenges require robust, comprehensive solutions to drive the needed transition to a balanced living environment that meets international climate and environmental targets. The logistics sector and Elanders plays an important role in this. 

Elanders strives to reduce climate impact in its own operations and in the solutions the company offers to its customers. A greater responsibility is now taken on as a value chain actor in order to meet external expectations on transparent reporting and on ambitious climate targets and measures.

Greenhouse gas emissions
As a supplier of end-to-end solutions, Elanders has a unique position to drive changes throughout the entire value chain. Along the way, opportunities are created in particular for Elanders’ customers to reduce emissions. In 2022, the Group raised its ambitions concerning controlling and reducing emissions and participating in the development of resilient and long-lasting sustainable global logistic chains.

A great deal of progress has been made within Elanders. In line with external developments the Group has set ambitious climate targets that reflect stakeholders’ expectations. During 2022, the goal has been a thorough examination of the direct and indirect emissions generated by Elanders’ own operations (scope 1 and 2). In addition, the Group has shouldered its responsibility as a global player and initiated a long-term plan to map and reduce emissions in its value chain. In the beginning of 2023, the Group announced its climate targets.

During 2023, Elanders will continue to map the entire Group’s value chain emissions (scope 3) and draw up an action plan to reduce emissions. Elanders’ ambition is to present the total amount of CO2e emissions generated by the Group when mapping is completed. The currently adopted climate targets are aligned with the targets of several of the Group’s major customers.

Material and waste
A vital component in Elanders’ ambition to counteract climate change through lower emissions and a shift to renewable energy is resource utilization. The Group is committed to higher material efficiency and improved waste management. With this comes more circular and sustainable resource flows, while new cost savings are found.

Material
Elanders is primarily a service supplier and the material purchases within the Group’s operations are not particularly extensive. Business area Supply Chain Solutions mostly consumes packaging and pallet material used for storage, packing, handling and distribution. Print & Packaging Solutions consumes for example paper and ink for printed matter produced for customers.

At this point in time, Elanders does not have any definitive goals concerning material consumption and resource efficiency but is currently improving the quality of its data in this area in order to present key ratios for resource utilization in the Group. At the same time, value chain emissions from consumables and purchased equipment is being reviewed as an important step in identifying indirect impact and creating sustainable flows in every aspect.

Waste
In terms of volume, most of the Group’s waste is generated in business area Print & Packaging Solutions and consist mainly of paper and cardboard. A smaller portion of hazardous waste also consists of worn-out electronic equipment and waste in the form of alcohol and solvents. The latter is used mainly in cleaning the printing presses and plates. Steps are being taken locally to increase the amount of waste that is recycled as well as preventative measures to improve resource efficiency and increase the portion of sustainable material selection through certifications like FSC© (Forest Stewardship Council), the Nordic Swan ecolabel and CGP (Certified Graphic Production).

Elanders intends to increase transparency in how waste is managed and has in a pilot project collected waste data during 2021–2022. This data will be followed up in 2023 to reinforce monitoring and identify measures for the entire Group.

Road map

(Click on the image to enlarge.)