Skip to content
Open navigation
_DMS2536.jpg _DMS2536.jpg

Becoming carbon neutral

2030 goal: Achieve a minimum 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 across: facilities, transport, travel and supply chain. Offset any residual emissions.Reductions based on 2019 levels

Current Focus Area/Theme

  • Renewable energy in all offices and factories.
  • Lasting change in travelling habits.
  • Optimize logistics network

2021 ambition to action

Reduce absolute emissions by 10% from 2019 level by:

  • reducing air freight by 25% from 2.1 to 1.6 million ton-kilometres;
  • reducing business travel cost by 20% through travelling less and smarter;
  • while still growing the business, reducing total weight shipped to customers from xx to yy;
  • only working with freight forwarders who have a focus on emissions reduction.

Based on the methodology described in the previous section, we have estimated our total emissions and have identified four main levers that drive our emissions:

  • Products & Components - covering the emissions embedded in the materials, components and products that we offer.
  • Travel - the emissions generated by our business travels.
  • Logistics - covering inbound logistics for our raw materials, components and finished products plus the distribution of our products to our customers.
  • Own sites & Operations - made up of a range of contributions such as onsite energy consumption, consultancy services, facility maintenance, tools, hardware, and office equipment.

Our total carbon footprint in 2019 was estimated to be 69 kilotonnes CO2e. Our efforts to reduce our emissions will be shaped around these levers and are detailed on the following pages.

Total emissions 2019.JPG

Absolute reductions needed

According to the UN Emission Gap Report (2019), global emissions need to be 55% lower in 2030 compared to 2018 to put the world on the least-cost pathway to limiting global warming to below 1.5 ̊C compared to pre-industrial temperatures.

We recognize this and accept our share of account-ability. We are charting out a pathway based on a minimum 70% reduction of our CO2e emissions.

We have a shared dedication and commitment with our shareholders, the Laerdal Board, senior man-agement and employees to follow through on the reduction initiatives that will stem from the ambitions set out in this document.

“The greatest danger to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”

- Robert Swan, OBE, FRGS
Polar Explorer

 

Cooperation for change

Laerdal is joining forces with several prominent companies across sectors to reduce CO2e emissions and to increase use of circular materials in the value chain. In doing so, we accept the challenge to:

  • adopt targets to reduce CO2e emissions in a “science-based” manner so that they can be assessed by others and are in line with the level of decarbonization required to keep global temperature increase below 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial temperatures;
  • set interim targets to be reached in the coming 1 to 5 years, not only a long-term target; and
  • cover Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

Skiftnorge

Laerdal has joined Skiftnorge which is an initiative to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and support the Norwegian Government in delivering on its national climate commitments by 2030.

Targeted reductions by 2030.JPG

Targeted reductions by 2030

Achieving our ambitions will take time and require systematic and long-term efforts. We will initiate and fund projects within four levers -Products and components, Logistics, Travel and Own sites and operations - every year during the next ten years to enable us to reach our targets. The results will be achieved based on our ability to mobilize all employees to work throughout the entire value chain to identify opportunities for improvements so that we can accelerate the impact we have for a more sustainable future.

Product and components

We will reduce emissions from our products and components from thirty-three to eleven thousand tons of CO2e per year by 2030.

These reductions will be achieved by initiatives undertaken at our manufacturing sites as well as in cooperation with suppliers in our value chain.

By introducing more recycled and bio-based mate-rial into our products we will achieve a reduction in both CO2e emissions and usage of raw materials. As we transition to using more circular and shared user models, complemented by digital solutions, we will see a decrease in resources and energy needed and, at the same time, an increase in usage of our solutions. Ultimately, we will be helping save more lives using less resources.

Starting now, we will plan for solutions internally with total emissions in mind and will work with partners that share our commitment to achieve an overall reduction in emissions.

Logistics

We will reduce the emissions from our inbound logistics and distribution from eleven to five thou-sand tons of CO2e per year by 2030.

This will be achieved in part by optimizing our logistics network and in part by actively selecting freight forwarding options with proven low CO2eemissions.

To help us, we have built a reporting solution that enables us to assess the emissions from our global flow of goods. This tool helps us to identify the emissions from our different trade lanes. We do this by analyzing our transactional data to model what we have shipped from A to B. This is combined with emission factors to provide a detailed overview of the emissions from our logistics activities.

 

Ton.png

Travel

We will reduce our emission from travel from eight to five thousand tons of CO2e per year by 2030.

We believe in being close to our customers and some travelling is necessary. However, we need to be smarter in how we optimize these contacts.

With the increased digital communication necessary during the time affected by COVID-19, we have developed our digital software and skills. With customers and partners, we see this as an opportunity to continue a transition to a more digi-tal-based sales and communication system on an ongoing basis.

Own sites and operations

We will reduce emissions from our own sites and operation from seventeen thousand to zero tons of CO2e by 2030.

This is a very ambitious target bearing in mind the complexity and diversity of emissions sources in-cluded in this category. As can be seen in the graph to the right, this category includes diverse levers such as outsourced services, IT, and depreciation of machinery. In setting such an ambitious target, there is a recognition that to reduce our emissions we must start early. We will take initiatives in many areas in parallel to achieve our goal.

Reducing the emissions for this category will be a truly global effort with activities undertaken across all disciplines and all locations. We have already in-troduced usage of renewable energy at most manu-facturing sites and more actions will be taken within 2021 for further improvements.

 

 

 

 

Ivar.png

Estimated residual emissions to be offset

Our current estimates show that in 2030 we will be generating 21 kilotonnes of CO2e emissions that will need to be offset.

Currently, the most promising carbon capture tech-nology is the approach of planting trees. Research shows that ten years after planting, an average tree will absorb about 21kg of CO2e per year from the atmosphere.

This means that one million trees planted within 2021 will offset the potential residual emissions of 21 kilotonnes CO2e per year from 2031 onwards.

We will by mid-2021 investigate if further emission reductions can be achieved and other solutions for removing our emissions from the atmosphere, but we are now planning for offsetting the current esti-mated residual emissions by planting one million trees.

One million trees planted to help save one million lives.

Carbon reduction initiatives in different functions

The carbon reduction program goes across all units in Laerdal, and many initiatives are underway or will be started shortly. Some are based on specific plans others based on developments in the market. In dialogue with 3 corporate leaders we learnt their perspective on the situation:

More from the sustainability report:

 Helping save lives

We are committed to achieving our goal of helping save one million more lives and doing so in a sustainable manner.

 A vision with action 

Based on the company mission and vision we have set bold sustainability goals for 2030 with clear actions year by year to assure delivery. 

 Measure to improve

All direct and indirect emissions generated as a result of our economic activity across the three emission scopes are measured in a proven, methodical manner. 

 

 

 Circular solutions

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. 
Design sustainability into new products, solutions, and sales models. We aim to use circular materials throughout the value chain. 

 Social responsibility

Implement UNGP and OECD guidelines throughout our supply chain and cascade to the next level from the largest suppliers.