Sustainability
Thinking outside the box
Mats Lundberg , Head of Sustainability at Sandvik Group , explains how sustainability is reshaping the manufacturing and engineering sectors
Sustainability , according to Mats Lundberg , Head of Sustainability at Sandvik Group , is big . So big , in fact , that for many companies looking to incorporate sustainability into their business model , it can be difficult to know where to begin .
“ It ’ s important to focus on critical areas ,” Mats comments . “ Within manufacturing , we traditionally talk about productivity . Translate that into the language of sustainability , and at its core , it ’ s about consuming less energy , using materials more wisely , and reducing waste . These are things that many companies have been doing for some time , but perhaps haven ’ t discussed in a sustainability context .”
Mats ’ own journey into sustainability isn ’ t exactly conventional . A chemical engineer by trade , he initially specialized in materials , and worked as a postdoc , and then a scientist , at the Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy in Roskilde , where he played a key role in the development of materials for fuel cells and hydrogen applications . It ’ s through this role that Mats was connected with Sandvik , where he continued in research roles for seven years , and was responsible for leading the company ’ s installation of a hydrogen filling station in the Swedish town of Sandviken , 200 km north of Stockholm . Off the back of this success , Mats took the decision to focus his career within sustainability .
“ The sustainability work at Sandvik has evolved tremendously over the last five years alone ,” Mats reflects . “ Today , we have a clear connectivity between sustainability and business , which coexist as two sides of the same coin . As part of our strategy , we ’ ve identified four key areas : circularity , climate , people , and fair play .
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