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Sustainability is part of all ÅF's processes

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ÅF's sustainability work aims high

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Sustainable development is ÅF's core business

ÅF works on a broad front for long-term sustainable development. Of greatest significance in this respect is the work ÅF performs on assignments to improve its clients’ enterprises and performance. But, in order to raise awareness, increase understanding and reinforce the credibility of its message, it is equally important that the company sets its sights high, too, for its own internal work on sustainability.

Background

Sustainable development and sustainability are concepts that were first widely adopted following the UN’s "Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future" published in 1987. This is frequently referred to as the "Brundtland Report" after the politician Gro Harlem Brundtland, who chaired the commission. Sustainability is a very broad concept that embraces three overlapping spheres: economic, social and ecological sustainability. The report emphasises that the right conditions for sustainable development can only be achieved by creating a balance between these three elements that leads to "development that satisfies the needs of the present generations without compromising the capability of future generations to satisfy their own needs".

Over the past ten years the concept of sustainability has become firmly entrenched in the world of trade and industry. "Sustainable business" is business that is conducted in a way that maintains a balance between, and makes use of, the synergies in all three spheres of sustainability.

Sustainability is and will remain the core of ÅF

Sustainability is part of ÅF’s business strategy and a prerequisite for all aspects of ÅF’s operational activities. For ÅF, sustainable business is about generating long-term economic, social and ecological values for all of the company’s stakeholders. When ÅF was founded back in 1895, the company was conceived out of a desire to develop more sustainable forms of entrepreneurship. Today, more than a century later, ÅF’s ambition remains the same, even if the conditions and the world in which we live have changed.

ÅF is convinced that technology and technical solutions will play a decisive role in solving many of the challenges the world is now facing – especially when it comes to the future of energy production. ÅF is also convinced that the company’s experience and core values are the key to making things happen.

ÅF makes a difference

The greatest difference that ÅF can make in terms of underpinning sustainable future development is through the projects it performs for its clients. Sustainability is part of every assignment that ÅF carries out. But more than that, sustainability is even written into the company’s corporate mission: "ÅF’s joint pool of expertise creates solutions that are profitable, safe and sustainable."

It is a mission that brings with it a commitment to responsibility. ÅF does more than merely satisfy its clients’ needs. Every day in their work on thousands of projects worldwide, 4,500 ÅF consultants are also tirelessly seeking to achieve the right balance between environmental, social and economic factors.

Technology, knowledge and experience are all needed to foresee and tackle the issues of climate change. ÅF wants to be a positive force behind the creation of a sustainable future. ÅF wants to make a difference.

ÅF Green Advisor Plan

Seen from the perspective of the environment and sustainability, 2009 marked the start of a new era for ÅF. In spring the senior management group made the strategically significant decision to increase efforts to promote ÅF’s credentials and image as a "green business". A new position and new areas of responsibility were created for a Director for Sustainability and CSR, extending and superseding that of the Group’s former Environmental Director.

"The ÅF Green Advisor Plan" is an action plan for sustainable business. ÅF has its sights set on becoming Europe’s leading technical consulting company. A major step on the road to this target is to establish some of the most demanding sustainability goals among European technical consulting companies.

By the year 2015 ÅF aims to:

• have halved its direct climate impact (baseline year 2009, calculated per individual).
• include a proposal in every offer or tender that ÅF submits, to enhance the sustainability aspect of the project.
• be perceived as the technical consulting firm that, from a sustainability perspective, best solves the technical challenges that its clients are faced with.

"The ÅF Green Advisor Plan" is the strategic sustainability tool that ÅF works with. By following and systematically implementing the plan in the markets where the company operates, ÅF can improve the opportunities for generating more business. Alongside this, thanks mostly to the difference that its solutions make to its clients’ operations, ÅF can also contribute to a more sustainable pattern of development in society as a whole.

ÅF Olympic Green Advisor

ÅF is extremely proud to have been appointed Green Advisor to the Olympic Committees in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. The Olympic Games provide a stage for the ultimate achievements in the world of sport. But the games also present a unique opportunity to raise environmental awareness and implement a raft of highly visible green initiatives. Collaboration between ÅF and the national Olympic committees centres on strategic sustainability studies and on educating employees and athletes in sustainability-related issues.

ÅF Green Advisor Reports and Seminars

As part of its commitment to achieve its sustainability targets, from 2010 onwards ÅF will publish reports on projects, technological progress and challenges within the fields of energy, buildings, infrastructure and industry. The purpose of these reports is to present a clear picture of how technology and technical expertise can be applied and adapted to meet the many different needs of clients. An "ÅF Green Advisor Report Seminar" will be held to coincide with the publication of each report, focusing on areas of topical interest and giving invited experts within the area an opportunity to share their thoughts on the current situation and what the future holds.

Work environment at ÅF

ÅF does all it can to ensure co-workers of an unbeatable environment in which to work. For further details about ÅF as an employer, the educational opportunities the company offers, its shared values and incentive programmes, please see Human resources.

Sustainable ownership

Ångpanneföreningen’s Foundation for Research and Development is one of the company’s largest shareholders. It uses some of its earnings as an owner to offer support in the form of research grants and scholarships to projects at Sweden’s universities, colleges and research institutes in fields that include energy, environmental engineering, security and industrial processes.