Rethinking the Way We Operate

We address energy consumption, carbon emissions, and water consumption issues directly with the help of our five-year sustainability program.

ASSA ABLOY remains committed to meeting the challenges of operational sustainability. From phasing out the use of ozone-depleting substances and using more intelligent energy consumption methods to redesigning packaging and adopting reusable and recyclable materials, we are dedicated to minimizing our environmental impact every step of the way.

The Sustainability Compass

Ensuring our initiatives and outcomes are transparent through the publication of Sustainability Reports each year since 2005, ASSA ABLOY has since earned recognition in the FTSE4Good Index, OMX GES Sustainability Sweden PI Index, and Kempen SNS Socially Responsible Universe.

 

When ASSA ABLOY develops new products, we use a Sustainability Compass to abridge the sustainability vision for each individual product. This compass focuses on eight areas: raw materials, water, virgin material, end-of-life reusability, recyclability, in-life energy consumption, carbon footprint, and financial cost. With the use of this tool, we are able to track product performance and emphasize the importance of sustainability to all stakeholders involved.

Sustainability from start to finish

Within the manufacturing process, sustainable solutions to the usage of raw materials, water, virgin materials, and packaging have been implemented to achieve our 2020 goals. In Finland’s Abloy Oy Joensuu factory, we set strict limits on the amount of water available from all taps, resulting in an 8% reduction of overall water consumption.

Replacing brass with stainless steel for lock and door components minimizes energy consumption and the use of hazardous substances involved in the electroplating process. Without a need for electroplating, switching to stainless steel has significantly reduced electricity consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Stainless steel products even shorten the delivery process and are overall more sustainable and durable, directly benefiting customers.

Switching to Renewable Energy

Throughout ASSA ABLOY EMEA, more than half of our electricity consumption now comes from renewable energy, and on the rise. Some centers, including Abloy in Finland, Spain, and some facilities in the UK even procure their energy strictly from renewable resources. This has had a major positive effect on lowering ASSA ABLOY’s carbon footprint. 

Not only have we replaced our packaging materials with recyclable, unbleached, corrugated cardboard, but we have also redesigned our boxes into smaller sizes that can still protect the product without the need for styrofoam padding. Using less material also means using less space for inventory and transport, resulting in a more efficient, economical, and environmentally-friendly product.