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Glenn Svedberg
Group Sustainability & Technology Director
OUR APPROACH TO PRODUCTION
We create the conditions that help our customers become more sustainable
Our approach to production is based on our critical role in our customers’ value chain and our recognition that the way we operate ultimately has an impact on the sustainability of their business. Consequently, by ensuring that our production is run in an environmentally and socially responsible way, we create the conditions that help our customers become more sustainable.
We present three different focus areas & specific claims;
- Our Environmental responsibility
- Our social responsibility
- Operational Excellence
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
We take responsibility for how our entire business affects our operating environment, both now and in the future
We take responsibility for how our entire business affects our operating environment, both now and in the future, by concrete measures to improve our energy efficiency, reduce our global carbon footprint, and set clear and validated emissions targets.
Group-wide forum for energy-saving initiatives
We have created a forum, where local initiatives by our subsidiaries may be shared across the entire group, working to inspire and spread experiences in energy-saving measures.
Concrete measures for energy efficiency
With our “Save the Planet” booklet, we provide educational material for our employees to learn and foster a mindset keeping energy saving a priority. We use surplus heat from equipment to heat both premises and warehouse buildings and we have guidelines for shutting down manufacturing equipment when not in use. Pressure in compressed air systems has also been reduced and leakages minimized.
Reducing our carbon footprint
Purchased fossil-free electricity makes up 83 % of total energy consumption and comes from hydropower (59 %), biogas and biofuel (13 %), wind power (23 %), and solar energy (6 %).
Cutting carbon footprint in China
In China, we have switched from coal to fossil-free power sources such as wind and hydropower. This has reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 76 % for 2023, compared with base year 2021.
Solar power in Nolato Sweden
15 % of Nolato Sweden’s electricity comes from a dedicated solar power farm, sourced from one of Sweden’s largest solar farms located near Åhus in Skåne, which was established through a joint initiative between Nolato, Bixia, and Alight.
Validated GHG emissions targets by the Science-based Targets initiative (SBTi)
We are committed to reducing our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 70 % by 2030, compared to base year 2021. For the same period, we also commit to reducing our Scope 3 emissions by 25 %.
Mapping our Scope 3 emissions according to the GHG Protocol
Our mapping shows that 95 % of Nolato Group’s total climate emissions pertain to Scope 3. Understanding this is fundamental to identifying concrete reduction measures and the allocation of resources.
Glocal business
Nolato Group’s global presence and decentralized organization allow us to locate production close to our customers. This not only provides the environmental benefit of fewer transports, but allows also faster response time and decision-making, higher accountability and proximity to the customer. To avoid the shipment of materials, we also strive as far as possible to identify corresponding materials produced by local suppliers closer to production.
Mass balancing
By using the mass balancing method, we are gradually replacing fossil raw materials with bio-based circular raw materials in our customers’ products. Examples include a urine catheter made by Nolato for one large healthcare customer, where the plastic’s carbon footprint has been reduced by 55 %.
Phasing out hazardous chemical substances
The use of chemicals in our production is limited. Phasing out these substances is partly about reducing our environmental impact, but also about removing substances that can have a negative or directly harmful effect on the work environment for our employees. During 2023, 20 chemicals were replaced with other alternatives.
Our social responsibility
We have a long-standing tradition of taking responsibility and creating value for society
Our long-standing tradition of taking responsibility and creating value for society is based on our values and commitment to responsible business conduct, which drives us to promote the well-being of our employees and the communities where we operate.
Strong values lay the foundation
Our group-wide publication “Nolato Spirit” brings together our core business principles and values in terms of business mission, vision and how we seek to achieve them in a concise manner available to all Nolato employees.
Code of Conduct
Nolato Code of Conduct provides binding guidelines to all employees within the Group on how our business principles and values should be put into practice. It reflects applicable conventions and regulations, including the principles of the UN Global Compact, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the core conventions outlined in the International Labor Organization, UN Declaration of Human Rights and the ISO 26000 standard.
Molding Excellence Academy
Our Molding Excellence Academy in the US and Europe offers training in injection molding at different levels to both technical and non-technical personnel. In addition, a multi-stage training program is offered based on training material from RJG® with in-house licensed trainers.
Manufacturing Technology Leadership Program
In cooperation with the college Vermont Tech, Nolato offers its local employees the opportunity to take courses in manufacturing processes, mathematics, and engineering. The program runs for four years and at the end of their studies, program participants give a presentation identifying an operational challenge within their department and proposes a solution.
Active corporate citizen
We have a long-standing tradition of actively participating and contributing with a positive influence on the local societies where we operate. As one of many examples, Nolato Beijing in 2023 awarded grants totaling RMB 9,400 to 11 pupils at the local school Zhenningpu Central Primary School in Hebei province in China.
BROCHURE
Nolato's Code of Conduct
BROCHURE
The Nolato Spirit
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Our framework for developing consistent competitiveness
Operational Excellence is our framework for developing consistent competitiveness. By following the principles of LEAN and the 5S methodology, our framework pushes us to run our operations in a resource efficient manner, which provides benefits for our organization, for our customers, as well as for the environment as a whole.
Just-in-Time
We regulate production by limiting unnecessary inventory, including materials and finished products. The purpose is to standardize operations to create work processes that are repeatable, reliable, and less individual dependent, which enhances stability and reduces fluctuations.
Sustainable development
When designing processes, we observe an environmentally sound approach by limiting CO2-footprint and minimizing waste, including energy, water and non-renewable resources. Our production facilities shall be certified according to the environmental management system ISO 14001.
Safe working environment
Through daily management via the Green Cross and safety inspection we continuously improve safety in the workplace. We observe, draw conclusions and continuously take measures to reduce risk factors to prevent accidents. Our production units are encouraged to be certified according to a relevant international occupational health and safety management system.
Quality
By adopting the principles within Lean and good manufacturing practice (GMP), we may deliver the highest possible value and quality to our clients. We identify problems, develop solutions, and continuously improve by documenting and analyzing relevant data that help us ensure operational efficiency.
Our Lean Culture
By using the 5S methodology, we work to continuously raise our standards and increase efficiency. The methodology makes problems visible, helping us understand the reasons for waste and provides a solid foundation for making improvements.
Continuous improvement
We minimize the “Eight Wastes” that reduce value, including overproduction, waiting time, inappropriate processing, defects, unnecessary inventory, unnecessary or excess motion, unnecessary transports and unused employee creativity.
EcoVadis Gold Medal
We have steadily improved our rating within EcoVadis and placed in the 96th percentile in 2024. Our high rating stems from our advancements within four areas: (1) Complete reporting on the Group’s climate impact, including Scope 3, (2) Approved and validated climate targets by the Science-Based Targets initiative, (3) Improved and more transparent sustainability reporting in our most recent annual report 2023, (4) Establishment of a Supplier Code of Conduct and introduction of our new Sustainable Procurement Initiative, which demonstrates our active engagement in our value chain and strong commitment to promoting climate measures among our supplier base.
STORIES
Sustainability an integral part
For Nolato, sustainability centers around social and environmental work which we see as an integral part of our financial value creation.
STORIES
Nolato’s new Head of Sustainability
Sustainable development is one of the most important aspects of running a business today. It’s about continually reducing the company’s negative impact on people and the environment, or simply taking on our share of responsibility.
STORIES
Nolato’s emissions targets gain SBTi approval
Nolato has taken a significant step in its climate journey by setting ambitious science-based emissions targets, now validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), aligning the company’s efforts with the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming.