Sustainability
Sustainability at AFRY
Sustainability is an integral part of our business strategy and our strong commitment is reflected in our mission to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society. We aim to deliver sustainable solutions for generations to come and take responsibility for the impact we have as a company.
We have been in the forefront of industrial transformation for more than 125 years. Looking ahead, our aspiration is clear – to be pioneers of technology and the leading partner in the sustainability transition. We are proud of our history and what we have achieved and we are confident that we can do more together with our clients all over the world. We are prepared to take on your sustainable challenges.
Sustainability as a business strategy
Global challenges such as climate change, rising sea levels, biodiversity loss and increasing water stress are expected to lead to a growing demand for scalable and sustainable solutions, while digitalisation is set to remain a driver in all industries and sectors. In addition, several sustainability initiatives and legislations such as the EU Green Deal, Fit for 55, REPowerEU and EU taxonomy will drive investments and accelerate the transition to a sustainable society.
Sustainability is an integral part of our business strategy, and a strong driving force to increase our positive impact, growth and profitability. Our most important sustainability topics are reflected in our strategy and are embodied in our sustainability targets.
Annual and Sustainability Report 2023
Making Future
A holistic perspective on sustainability
The foundation of AFRY’s sustainability work lies in our ambition to embed sustainability in everything we do.
Our approach to sustainability
Complex and interlinked global challenges require a holistic approach that encompasses the social, economic and environmental dimension of sustainability. For AFRY, sustainability means actively contributing to sustainable development, continuously improving our sustainability performance and integrating a holistic sustainability mindset into our client offering and the way we operate as a company.
We acknowledge that the work we do can have a positive and negative impact simultaneously, and that we need to consider this impact throughout the entire value chain – upstream, direct and downstream. AFRY applies a risk-based approach which aims to minimise risk for negative impacts whilst supporting and enhancing the positive impact – in order to increase the net positive impact of our business.
We have committed to actively seek out transformative and innovative assignments and share our knowledge and expertise through investments in cooperation and partnerships. We focus on fully integrating sustainability in our engineering, design and advisory services, encouraging clients to adopt solutions that promote sustainable development and developing solutions that contribute to the 2030 Agenda. By this we generate long-term value for clients, our shareholders, society and the planet.
In AFRY’s publications Sustainable Stories and AFRY Insights, you can find examples of some of the many sustainable solutions that we are proud to have accomplished together with our clients.
AFRY Sustainability Services
External evaluations of our sustainability efforts
AFRY receives Leadership score from the CDP
In the global environmental disclosure system CDP, AFRY was ranked to be in the highest category for the Climate Change Questionnaire, the Leadership category, with an A- score. This score demonstrates climate leadership from AFRY. Read more here.
AFRY awarded the highest Platinum level
AFRY has received top ratings from several evaluations of our sustainability initiatives which demonstrates our continuous improvement and commitment to sustainability. In the 2023 EcoVadis evaluation AFRY was again awarded the Platinum level, the highest level, with a score of 79/100, which places us among the top one percent of all companies evaluated by EcoVadis.
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Validated Science-based targets
In 2022, AFRY’s science-based targets were validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, which means that our climate commitments are externally validated to be in line with the 1.5°C ambition according to the latest climate science research. AFRY is well on track to meet its group-wide target to halve its CO₂ emissions by 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. Read more here.
Nasdaq ESG Transparency Partner
We share our sustainability data with Nasdaq and have been certified as a Nasdaq ESG Transparency Partner. The certification is used by Nasdaq to highlight a company's engagement in market transparency when it comes to Environmental, Social and Governance topics (ESG).
A robust foundation
We base the way we run our operations and how we care for our employees on recognised frameworks, science and requirements from various stakeholders, such as employees, clients and investors. AFRY’s sustainability approach is based on the 2030 Agenda (the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals), the Paris Agreement and the 1.5°C ambition and the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact on human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption. Our sustainability commitments are integrated into our governance.
Our sustainability commitments are measured and followed up on through our sustainability targets. These targets focus on increasing our net positive impact, promoting health, safety, inclusion and diversity, ensuring ethics and compliance and reducing our own climate impact. Aside from our sustainability targets, we monitor our progress on a wide range of KPI:s that helps us to continuously improve our sustainability work.
Our Sustainability Learning Programme aims at increasing our employees’ awareness and knowledge about sustainability in our areas of deep sector knowledge. This is vital in meeting our clients’ expectations and for sustainability to be a growth driver to its fullest extent. Developing sustainable solutions also brings the need of tools, guidelines, best practice for assessing and managing sustainability topics and support from our sustainability specialists.
AFRY’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
Through our client assignments, we have a positive impact on society through increased energy efficiency, increased use of renewable energy, resource efficiency, safe workplaces, improved health and safety, streamlined production processes, circular resource flows, improved accessibility, greater traffic safety, inclusive societies and improved air and water quality. These values are reflected in the 2030 Agenda and the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (the Global Goals).
Achieving the 2030 Agenda is a complex challenge. The Global Goals are interconnected and they also entail numerous conflicting goals. The UN sees an integrated approach as critical to taking on the difficult challenges we are facing. We aim to ensure a holistic perspective in our assignments based on the Global Goals to minimise negative impact and maximise positive values.
The work we do either directly or indirectly contributes to all the 17 Global Goals through our responsible business conduct, our focus on gender equality, diversity and inclusion, our active work relating to collaboration and partnerships, our focus on climate change mitigation in line with the 1.5°C ambition, and the impact of our assignments. The Global Goals form the basis for all AFRY’s work and is an important part of our Sustainability Policy.
AFRY Climate Action
Climate change is the most pressing challenge of our time. We make it our business to address climate change and aim to deliver on the 1.5°C ambition together with our clients, suppliers and other strategic partners.
AFRY's Youth Panel
AFRY’s young workforce has initiated a Youth Panel, which is a youth-led platform and space for collaboration that aims to challenge all levels of the company to take climate action.
Sustainability Insights
Sustainable Stories
In Sustainable Stories you can read more about some of AFRY’s recent assignments within the fields of infrastructure, bioindustry, energy and digitalisation, and how we, together with our clients, accelerate the transition globally.
We see transformation as the key core competence of AFRY where we as an enabler can support our clients with the holistic view and adding the competencies and capabilities needed to continue the acceleration for change. The projects in Sustainable Stories, are examples of how our mission is transformed into reality.
