ASSA ABLOY recently hosted a Sustainability Seminar attended by investors, industry analysts and employees, showcasing the Group’s past achievements and future opportunities in sustainability.
The agenda covered ASSA ABLOY’s 2025 sustainability program, progress on science-based targets (SBT), people and social metrics and the strategy for commercializing sustainable innovation.
Charles Robinson, Head of Sustainability, Anders Forslind, Head of Global Product Sustainability and Compliance, and key members of the Group management team, including CEO Nico Delvaux, CFO Erik Pieder, CHRO Helle Bay and Head of Opening Solutions EMEIA Neil Vann, shared insights on ASSA ABLOY's sustainability journey.
Guided by our ambition to lead the industry towards a more sustainable future, ASSA ABLOY places sustainability at the heart of its business and is committed to being Net Zero no later than 2050.
“Sustainability is really a natural part of who we are and how we operate,” said Nico Delvaux. “We, as a truly global company and as a leader in our industry, have the responsibility to play our part to mitigate climate change and ensure the health and safety of our employees.”
In addition to addressing what sustainability means to ASSA ABLOY, Nico explained how we are delivering on our 2025 sustainability program.
“We are on track to achieve our 2025 targets,” he said. “In 2022, against our 2019 baseline, we reduced our energy intensity by 24 percent, our water intensity by 40 percent and our waste intensity by 12 percent. We also had our SBT ratified and we appeared on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for a 2nd year in a row.”
Charles Robinson updated on the Group’s SBT plan, emphasizing the challenges of Scope 3 emissions.
“Looking at our near-term targets to 2030, we are committed to reducing Scope 1 and 2 by 50 percent and Scope 3 by 28 percent in absolute terms,” Charles explained. “So we have set up a clear governance structure and actionable strategies, and we are on track to meet our SBT goals.”
ASSA ABLOY's sustainability ambition extends beyond SBT, covering aspects like employee wellbeing. Helle Bay, CHRO, stresses the importance of a supportive culture and diversity in management.
“We aim to have zero injury rate,” she said. “But employee wellbeing is so much more—it means a supportive work culture that enables positive employee experiences.”
ASSA ABLOY also champions the circular economy concept, focusing on sustainable resource usage throughout product lifecycles and continuously innovating for better sustainability in product design.
In his segment, Anders Forslind emphasized sustainable innovation as key to our sustainability goals. Using the sustainability compass, we prioritize eco-friendly lifecycles, low carbon footprints, and efficient designs. Additionally, he underscored our close collaboration with suppliers for lifecycle analysis and circular business models.
Neil Vann, EVP & head of Opening Solutions EMEIA, shared that the demand for green projects in Europe is growing, presenting both environmental benefits and business opportunities. He showcased collaborations in the Middle East, including significant projects like NEOM in Saudi Arabia
Concluding, CFO Erik Pieder highlighted the financial aspects of sustainability, outlining both opportunities and risks. “Our sales has grown by 150 percent in the last ten years while our absolute carbon emissions have almost halved. This clearly shows that we can grow while reducing our carbon footprint,” he said. “We also continue to invest in R&D to ensure that we capitalize on opportunities.”
For a detailed seminar presentation, please visit here.