ÅF contributes to sustainable development through its positive influence on society, stakeholders and its own business. Sustainable development is based on a combination of financial, environmental and social factors. The ÅF mission statement recognises the benefits that its consulting activities bring to society by promoting and supporting technological development as part of the company's day-to-day work. The ÅF Group also carries out a significant amount of environmental consulting business not only in Sweden, but all over the world. Our objective is to liaise closely with our clients to carry out the assignments entrusted to us in a way that contributes to sustainable, long-term development in all senses.
Business policy
ÅF's ambition is to safeguard successful, long-term, sustainable development both for our clients and for ourselves.
The following factors help the company's consulting business in this aim:
- We combine a systematic and consistent way of working with good quality and a high level of environmental awareness.
- We implement working methods that place equal focus both on the client's needs and quality criteria, and on due regard and concern for the natural environment.
- We make the most effective use of energy and natural resources in our day-to-day work. We work to prevent pollution and we always comply with the relevant legislation.
- We seek always to work closely with clients to produce the best possible solution - from a technical, environmental and quality perspective - in all our consulting assignments.
- We develop the skills of our employees and constantly improve our working methods.
Quality and environmental management certificates
AB Ångpanneföreningen and its subsidiaries have been certified in accordance with ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management).
Responsibility for environmental impact
ÅF's consulting operations are directed at improving environmental performance or increasing energy efficiency in our clients' plants and businesses. In this way ÅF contributes to a positive environmental influence on the community.
In conjunction with the recertification of the environmental management system in 2005 to comply with the new edition of ISO 14001:2004, the most significant ways in which ÅF's activities impact on the environment were re-examined. The most important aspect is the influence that our consulting services have on the environmental performance of our clients. Other significant environmental factors are our own impact in the form of travel and electricity consumption.
In a knowledge-based company such as ÅF, employees' knowledge is decisive for the outcome of business operations. This also applies, of course, in the area of the environment. That is why ÅF runs an environmental training programme for all employees, which is built on Internet-based teaching materials. A knowledge-based test is linked to the training programme.
Environmental targets
1) Environmental targets for resource management:
In the ten largest energy efficiency assignments during the period 2005-2007 the energy savings achieved must be:
- 2 percentage points greater in 2006 than in 2005
- 3 percentage points greater in 2007 than in 2006.
The target means that ÅF must deliver a greater improvement at its clients' facilities in 2006 than in 2005. Quite simply, ÅF is committed to becoming constantly better at suggesting the best energy-efficiency improvements.
2) Environmental targets for business travel
The number of environmentally adapted vehicles in the company's fleet of company cars and pool cars will rise to 50 percent by 2010. The annual step-by-step targets are:
- 2006 5%
- 2007 10%
- 2008 20%
- 2009 30%
- 2010 50%
Responsibility for economic impact
The economic impact exerted by ÅF is twofold: on the one hand, the flow of capital to a variety of stakeholders; on the other, the economic impact on society as a whole. The flow of funds from the business goes primarily to the state in the form of employer's social security contributions and to employees in the form of salaries.
One of the major owners of ÅF is Ångpanneföreningen's Foundation for Research and Development. The annual dividend that the foundation receives from its shareholdings in ÅF is channelled into areas that benefit the community in the form of scholarships and research grants, primarily in those fields of technology in which ÅF operates.
ÅF denounces all kinds of corruption and the forming of cartels, and takes an active role to assist in the creation of a market that is based on healthy competition.
Responsibility for social influence
There are four aspects to the way in which ÅF exerts an influence on society.
- HR issues/working environment
ÅF frequently numbers among the top names in surveys among clients, engineering graduates and the labour market as a whole, and the company endeavours to offer a good, stimulating working environment for its employees.
- Product liability and responsibility for the quality of services
As one of Sweden's leading technical consulting firms, ÅF shoulders a major responsibility for the impact that its services have on clients and their business. ÅF takes this responsibility seriously and works actively to constantly develop and improve its advisory services. The aim is to help clients to create sustainability in their business enterprises and long-term profitability.
- Human rights/non-discrimination
Much of ÅF's business is conducted in Sweden, where freedom from discrimination and equal opportunities are high on the agenda. In order to increase the number of female employees and managers in the Group and ensure even-handed treatment of all employees in terms of salaries and respect, ÅF has recently conducted the Futura project.
- Social development
The Swedish business is run from some 60 offices throughout the length and breadth of the country. This widespread local presence makes a positive contribution to local and regional development all over Sweden. ÅF consultants also participate in a variety of social activities, lecturing at seminars and taking part in different types of development projects within business, the public sector and the academic world.
You can read more about ÅF's environmental work in the Group's Annual Report.