In each issue of Swedish Chamber Insights, we have the pleasure of showcasing the expertise of one of our member companies in the Insight features. This month, Electrolux shares valuable perspectives on their ongoing sustainability efforts.
ELECTROLUX SHAPES LIVING FOR THE BETTER
Electrolux Group, born in Sweden in 1919, has been committed to shaping living for the better for more than 100 years and is on a journey to become a truly sustainable company. The Group’s sustainability leadership has been recognised by the prestigious EcoVadis Gold rating, which places it as a sustainability leader in the industry and within the top 5% of 70,000+ companies globally. The global non-profit CDP also awarded Electrolux Group sustainability leadership with an A- score for its work on Climate. Electrolux Group was one of the first 100 companies worldwide to set science-based targets and achieved their first short-term targets three years ahead of schedule in 2022. New targets for 2030 are within the most ambitious in the industry: 85% in scope 1 and 2 and 42% in scope 3.
The Group’s sustainability framework — For the Better 2030 — defines how Electrolux works to achieve a Better Company, Better Solutions and Better Living, as well as its Climate Goals. The framework, which supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), includes Electrolux’s most important sustainability topics and helps to strive toward its purpose to Shape living for the Better.
So far, Electrolux made strong progress in reducing its carbon footprint. In 2024, the company achieved a 36% reduction in emissions from production (Scope 1 and 2) compared to 2021. Additionally, 94% of the electricity used in manufacturing now comes from renewable sources. Electrolux also achieved a 31% reduction in scope 3 emissions — mainly from the use phase — by producing products that are increasingly efficient in their use of water and electricity. Furthermore, sustainability efforts extend beyond Electrolux’s own operations. The company actively collaborates with its suppliers, and today, 98% of its key suppliers report sustainability data through the CDP Supply Chain program.
The Dutch office of Electrolux is located in Alphen aan den Rijn, which is also home to the BeNeLux warehouse. Electrolux aims to transport goods from its factories to the warehouses using cleaner modes of transportation wherever possible. For example, containers are transferred from Rotterdam using inland barges, and entire trailers are transported by rail instead of by road. Regarding product distribution, various initiatives are being developed to continually improve sustainability. For instance, Electrolux is working with customers to explore the use of alternative fuels. Additionally, efforts are being made to increase truck load efficiency, ultimately reducing the number of trucks needed on the road.
“Sustainability for Electrolux, however, does not just mean reducing energy consumption and using recycled materials — we also look at other aspects that impact people’s lives,” says Jeroen van der Laan Head Product Line Taste CA West and Sustainability Manager Netherlands. For instance, we aim to shape better and more sustainable living around the world by promoting better eating, better garment care and better home environments together with our consumers and partners.
A good example of better eating is the new AEG Kitchen Range. The appliances are not just appliances, they’re partners in sustainable cooking, designed with advanced energy-saving technologies and innovative assisted cooking features. The Electrolux innovation teams have revolutionised cooking by maximising energy efficiency and enhancing user functionalities to deliver unmatched experiences in the kitchen. The products showcase exciting innovations and smart connectivity that empower consumers to cook and eat more sustainably. The cutting-edge AI TasteAssist in-app feature in the new ovens elevates cooking by allowing the consumer to import recipes from the Internet straight to the oven. It intelligently recommends optimal settings, ensuring not just delicious results, but healthier meals that use less energy. Thanks to advanced sensors and precise temperature control, the hobs guarantee flawless cooking results — with no more overcooking or wasted energy. The innovative SenseBoil® function detects when the water is boiling and automatically reduces the heat to a perfect simmer, ensuring delicious outcomes while saving energy. Putting a lid on the pot and using SenseBoil® can together save up to 33% energy compared to boiling without SenseBoil® and a lid. Plus, some of the AEG induction hobs boil water in half the time and consume up to 18% less energy than electric models. Another example of making it easier for consumers to choose the most energy-efficient option is the QuickSelect dishwasher with ECOmeter. With a single swipe, the cycle time is set, and additional options such as ExtraSilent or GlassCare can be added if desired. The ECOmeter provides instant feedback on energy consumption, allowing the user to make the best choice easily. The new AEG Kitchen Range was presented to Kitchen Retailers at the annual Dealerfair in the showroom of the Dutch Electrolux office in Alphen aan den Rijn last January.
Electrolux Food Foundation: taking action on food poverty and food waste
Since 2016, the Electrolux Food Foundation has supported initiatives to educate and inspire more sustainable food choices among consumers and professionals, and to support people in need in the communities around us. It is an independent, non‑profit organisation founded and funded by Electrolux, and operates with global partners including the Red Cross, AIESEC and Worldchefs. Through the Electrolux Food Foundation, 81.000 children were inspired over the past year to learn about healthy and sustainable eating.
For more information on Electrolux Group’s sustainability work and results, read the For the Better magazine here: ELECTROLUX-For-the-Better-2024
Electrolux Group
Electrolux Group is a leading global appliance company that has shaped living for the better for more than 100 years. We reinvent taste, care and wellbeing experiences for millions of people, always striving to be at the forefront of sustainability in society through our solutions and operations. Under our group of leading appliance brands, including Electrolux, AEG and Frigidaire, we sell household products in around 120 markets every year. In 2024 Electrolux Group had sales of SEK 136 billion and employed approximately 41,000 people around the world. For more information go to electroluxgroup.com
In the Netherlands Electrolux Group sells AEG freestanding and built-in major domestic appliances and vacuum cleaners and Electrolux built-in major domestic appliances.
Electrolux Home Products (Nederland) B.V.
Vennootsweg 1, 2404 CG Alphen aan den Rijn
aeg.nl
electrolux.nl
EcoVadis a globally recognized assessment platform that rates businesses’ sustainability based on four key categories: environmental impact, labor, and human rights standards, ethics, and procurement practices.
CDP – Carbon Disclosure Project – an international non-profit organization based in the United Kingdom, Japan, India, China, Germany, Brazil and the United States that helps companies, cities, states, regions, and governments disclose their environmental impact.
Awards/ranking
The Financial Times has named Electrolux Group a European Climate Leader for the third year in a row! Ranked 32 out of 500 European companies, we’re proud to be the highest-ranked appliance manufacturer on the list.
EcoVadis has awarded Electrolux with the prestigious Gold recognition, which places the company in the top 5% of 70,000+ companies globally in terms of sustainability.
Photo Credits: All photos are property of Electrolux.
If you want to learn more about Electrolux – connect on LinkedIn or visit their website.
