Sustainability in Control

The Control division consists of niche companies primarily within measurement and control systems technology that contribute to more efficient processes and better resource utilisation – important elements in the development of more sustainable societies. The solutions include sensor technology for industrial processes, environmental and quality monitoring, vehicle control systems and equipment for communication, signal transmission and energy-efficient lighting.

Material sustainability issues:

Most of Control’s carbon footprint arises in the supply chain through the materials purchased by the companies, mainly steel and aluminium, plastics and electronics. Orax has switched to recycled aluminium in selected in-house manufactured products – something that will be evaluated for several Control companies where it is commercially feasible. The use of sold products results in CO2 emissions, particularly in Direktronik where the company sells a wide range of electronic equipment. The product range is continually reviewed with a focus on even more energy-efficient solutions. The climate impact from energy use is concentrated in a few production units that use natural gas. Otherwise, green electricity and district heating are mostly used.

 The work environment and safety are key areas for the division’s companies. The injury rate in the production units has been low over time, and the incidents that occur are mainly linked to assembly steps and are followed up locally. For value-adding distributors, control of the value chain is particularly important, as several companies import from China.

Comments on the year performance

During the year, energy use has decreased and several companies, such as CP Cases, have reduced their climate impact through an increased proportion of fossil-free energy. This is an important development, particularly in light of strong growth in certain units, which has led to increased emissions from purchased materials in Scope 3 during the year. The number of accidents remains low and is decreasing. However, there are cases of long-term sick leave in some companies, where targeted work environment initiatives are underway.

Future activities

Priority measures to reduce the division’s carbon footprint include increasing the proportion of recycled materials in production and reducing waste, as well as finding cost-effective alternatives to natural gas in combustion processes. For the division’s value-added distributors, the focus remains on sustainability in the supply chain, primarily through supplier audits and efforts to shift away from air transport.