MAteriality
Stakeholders inform our approach
Ongoing dialogue with stakeholders helps us define and deliver on our promises, and keep ahead of global developments.
Our Promises require improvements throughout our value chain, from sourcing to end-of-life. Consequently, we cannot deliver on our ambitions alone – and engagement with customers, consumers, employees, shareholders suppliers, industry peers and NGOs is crucial for us to deliver our sustainability framework For the Better.
Sustainability Affairs oversees dialogue on sustainability-related issues with a wide range of internal and external groups. Feedback from this dialogue is reported to Group management and feeds into our decision-making to strengthen our strategy and response. An ongoing challenge is to systemize local stakeholder dialogue to ensure that local voices are heard.
Stakeholder priorities and our response
Consumers
Consumer choices drive our business, and consumer behavior shapes our sustainability performance
How Electrolux engages with consumers
- Bi-annual customer brand scorecard survey on sustainability in various markets.
- Electrolux Food Foundation projects around the world.
- Customer surveys in key markets to understand perceptions on sustainability in 2018.
Consumers impact our sustainability approach
We have developed a For the Better communications platform to engage consumers (and employees) in sustainability.
Customers
Our sustainability work must align with customer values to optimize business benefit for Electrolux
How Electrolux engages with customers
- Partnerships with specific customers. Sustainability engagement is becoming more long-term and strategic.
Customers impact our sustainability approach
Collaborated in areas such as chemicals handling and recycled materials. We discuss criteria and evaluate our process for supply chain monitoring.
- Ongoing engagement with customers and key stakeholders to share learnings and discuss sustainability and our products.
- Feed the Planet partnership with Worldchefs.
Impact: Customer insights contribute to raising market awareness on the importance of an efficient Professional product offering.
Investors
ESG investors drive our sustainability agenda forward
How Electrolux engages with investors
- In response to significant growth in ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) investment, Electrolux engages with investors and shareholders on sustainability topics.
- Eight of our ten largest shareholders are signatories to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.
Investors impact our sustainability approach
Investor feedback helped shape For the Better.
We have enhanced our reporting and activities on CO2 reduction in response to our disclosure to CDP.
Employees
Our sustainability work helps to motivate, retain and attract our employees
How Electrolux engages with employees
- Ongoing dialogue between management and employee representatives and unions. Topics include updates on restructuring plans, feedback on business development, audit outcomes, human rights assessments, the Ethics Helpline, and Health and Safety performance.
Read more in our Promise Always act ethically and respect human rights.
Employees impact our sustainability approach
We integrate employee perceptions into strategic and operational activities on local, market and Group levels.
- The Employee Engagement Survey gathers employee perceptions and feedback on our sustainability agenda.
Read more in our Promise Always act ethically and respect human rights.
Impact: Via our global intranet, 20,000 employees per month access the global intranet featuring global articles, local news, presentations and films on sustainability related issues published systematically during the year.
- Key supporter of AIESEC, the world’s largest student organization and an international platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential.
Impact: We continue to develop our strategic partnership with AIESEC through our Feed the Planet activities, with a particular focus on promoting sustainable food habits as part of local and global projects.
We also have a focus on finding talented women within the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) together with AIESEC, as part of our Global Engineer Program.
Suppliers
Working with suppliers is crucial to implement our sustainability framework – For the Better
How Electrolux engages with suppliers
- 2018 was the eighth year of dialogue and cooperation with key Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) on energy management.
Supplier capacity building on Code of Conduct continued through e-learning.
Suppliers impact our sustainability approach
We calculate energy and water data for most of our supplier spend and work closely with suppliers on sustainability topics. Read more in our Promise Improve sustainability in the supply chain.
- The 2018 Supplier Award Day celebrated the most innovative and efficient key suppliers and had sustainability as a main theme. Sustainability was also featured in two regional Supplier Day events.
Impact: The promotion of more sustainable operations throughout our supply chain.
- Continued dialogue with the logistics industry in 2018 to share best practice in transport management. Member of US Environmental Protection Agency-led SmartWay, with a commitment to reduce road transport-related emissions.
Impact: As part of the BSR Clean Cargo initiative, Electrolux logistics suppliers must be BSR members.
We continued to evaluate the environmental performance of logistics suppliers.
Industry peers
Benchmarking and sharing best practice ensure we continue to be an industry leader.
How Electrolux engages with industry peers
- Shared best practice on setting stretch targets for renewable energy.
- Shared best practice on human rights, including at the Nordic Purchasing Strategy Forum and the Swedish Network on Business & Human Rights.
Industry peers impact our sustainability approach
Many of our Promises illustrate that we are an industry leader in terms of sustainability.
NGOs, academia and governmental initiatives
Cooperation with NGOs, academia and governmental initiatives ensures we remain up to date with key issues
How Electrolux engages with NGOs, academia and governmental initiatives
- We engage with experts on human rights and labor rights – including advocacy groups, local representatives of international organizations, academia and embassies.
NGOs, academia and governmental initiatives impact our sustainability approach
Relevant issues are part of our materiality analysis.
- Exchanged ideas with the European Environmental Bureau on energy efficiency and labeling.
Impact: Input to our public policy initiatives in Europe on labeling.
- Presented our strategy to increase the use of recycled plastic in our products in several different contexts, from multi-stakeholder conferences, to meetings at Chatham House and with the Environmental Ministers of the OECD countries.
Impact: Input on our material efficiency strategy, exchange of best practice with leaders in this field.
Electrolux
Electrolux shapes living for the better by reinventing taste, care and wellbeing experiences that make life more enjoyable and sustainable for millions of people. Through our brands, including Electrolux, AEG and Frigidaire, we sell more than 60 million household and professional products in more than 150 markets every year.
S:t Göransgatan 143
SE-105 45 Stockholm, Sweden