Electrolux in a changing world
Electrolux and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The SDGs provide the global community with a roadmap on how to combat global challenges related to economic, social and environmental sustainability. The initiative has gained broad acceptance and has encouraged initiatives from businesses and other stakeholders.
At Electrolux, our sustainability framework – For the Better – contributes to several of the SDGs. This chapter describes our most relevant SDGs and how we contribute toward them through our Promises.
Our most relevant SDGs
As a sustainability leader in the appliance industry, we believe we can make the greatest contribution in relation to SDGs 8, 12, 13 and 17. These four goals are closely aligned with For the Better as described below. The correlation between the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Electrolux sustainability framework shows that the Group's materiality analysis reflects societal priorities.
SDG 12 – Responsible consumption and production
Promoting responsible consumption and production is the most significant SDG for Electrolux. We strive to bring resource-efficient products, manufactured in a sustainable way, to as many people as possible around the world. We have set ambitious targets to reduce the footprint of our products and production, including our suppliers. Additionally, a key focus of our social investment program is sustainable food consumption.
SDG 13 – Climate action
Our action on climate change is reflected in our climate targets to halve our CO2 footprint, including product usage, production and transportation. We are also committed to achieving science-based emission targets, and have set a new target to increase the proportion of renewable energy used in our operations to 50% by 2025.
SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth
Providing decent work and economic growth is related to our manufacturing operations. Our Workplace Policy sets out decent labor standards as a requirement for our operations and suppliers.
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
Electrolux engages in numerous partnerships to drive the agenda toward the achievement of the SDGs targets. Electrolux is part of the UN Global Compact (www.unglobalcompact.org), United4Efficiency (www.united4efficiency.org) and Cool Coalition (www.coolcoalition.org) programs. Electrolux is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-led SmartWay (www.epa.gov/smartway) and the BSR Clean Cargo initiative (www.bsr.org/en/topics/all-channels/Clean-Cargo-Working-Group) with a commitment to reduce road and ocean transport-related emissions respectively. The Electrolux Food Foundation also partners with Worldchefs and the AIESEC youth-led organization to achieve greater community impact.
Our other relevant SDGs
We additionally strive to contribute to other SDGs through our solutions, operations and societal engagement.
SGD 3 – Good health and wellbeing
We prioritize health and wellbeing in our operations by promoting health and safety among our employees and contractors. We also provide solutions for healthy and sustainable living for more people. Read more in our Promise Ensure the best health and safety.
SDG 4 – Quality education
The Electrolux Food Foundation and our global partnership Feed the Planet offer vocational culinary training to enter the labor market, raise awareness on sustainable food habits and work with schools around the world.
SDG 5 – Gender equality
We have a specific focus on gender diversity and aim to continuously improve the number of female leaders at all levels. Read more in our Promise Always act ethically and respect human rights. Our social investment projects also often empower women in society. Read more in our Promise Be a force for good.
SDG 6 – Clean water and sanitation
We provide a range of water efficient domestic appliances that help to conserve local water resources. Our laundry products promote sanitation in homes, hotels and hospitals. Read more in our Promise Constantly improve product performance and efficiency.
SDG 7 – Affordable and clean energy
We are working to increase our share of energy from renewable sources to 50%. Read more in our Promise Achieve more with less.
Electrolux
Electrolux 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 around the world, always striving to be at the forefront of sustainability in society through our solutions and operations. Under our brands, including Electrolux, AEG and Frigidaire, we sell approximately 60 million household products in approximately 120 markets every year. In 2019 Electrolux had sales of SEK 119 billion and employed 49,000 people around the world.
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