Electrolux CEO Jonas Samuelson and Vanessa Butani, VP Group Sustainability, discuss the company’s climate achievements and goals for 2030.
How the appliance giant balances business challenges with climate policy
By Electrolux Group
(The following interview is reposted from the Electrolux Group Sustainability Report.)
Last year was challenging for many businesses around the world. How was Electrolux Group and its sustainability agenda affected?
Jonas Samuelson, CEO, Electrolux Group: Following weakening demand for our products, we have had to prioritize our investments with a faster financial and sustainability payback and delay some investments with longer-term benefit. Despite this, it has also been an opportunity for us to focus on what truly matters — to pursue our sustainable company strategy.
What key progress was made in 2022?
Samuelson: It’s fantastic that we have achieved our 2025 science-based climate target three years early by reducing our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 82% and our Scope 3 emissions by more than 25% compared with 2015.
Vanessa Butani, VP Group Sustainability, Electrolux Group: We are very proud to have achieved our target, and the next step is to define the details of our new science-based target moving forward.
How far has Electrolux Group come on its sustainability journey?
Samuelson: We have made a lot of progress in recent years. We’ve really evolved how we look at sustainability in everything we do and how we enable consumers to live more sustainably. Sustainability has gone from focusing on meeting government regulations and product energy efficiency to being about who we are and how we win as a company — to become more relevant to our consumers and do the right thing. Sustainability, including both environmental and social aspects, is truly a core part of our strategy, out performance follow-up, and our transformation.
Butani: I’d like to add that sustainability helps drive good business results, with the Group’s most energy- and water-efficient products accounting for 24% of total units sold and 39% of gross profit in 2022.
What new solutions were launched last year to help consumers live more sustainably?
Butani: Our built-in refrigerator range includes a new Ecometer that helps the consumer to make more energy-efficient choices, and inner liners that are made from 70% recycled plastic. We introduced refrigerator solutions such as Cooling 360 and ColdSense that make ingredients last longer and help reduce food waste. In laundry products, our new front-load washers save an average of over 450 liters of water per year compared with a top-load washer. We also launched a vacuum cleaner without paint to reduce chemical use and energy and material impact, an industry first.
Samuelson: Those products are great. In addition, we continue to nudge consumers to more sustainable behavior through various innovative product solutions. I’d like to mention our global campaign, “Break the Pattern,” which raised awareness among millions of consumers on the environmental impacts of “throw-away fashion” and how to make our clothes last longer.
What are the company’s sustainability challenges in 2023?
Samuelson: We will continue to follow our “For the Better 2030” roadmaps, which ensure we have a holistic approach to sustainability throughout our value chain. We know how we’re performing in all the areas and where we need to raise our game. Our status as a long-term signatory of the UN Global Compact remains important.
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Butani: I believe that many of the themes we are working on will continue to be developed in 2023, from our approach toward a more circular economy and supply chain sustainability, to developing more resource-efficient products and empowering consumers to live more sustainable lives. We are also planning to step up our work with climate action next year with a new science-based target.
How important are Electrolux’s purpose, strategy and objectives to its sustainability work going forward?
Samuelson: Sustainability is fundamental to our purpose to shape living for the better by promoting more sustainable living for millions of people around the world. By focusing on our purpose and sustainable strategy at this challenging time, I believe we contribute towards the long-term success of our business.
