Environmental value added

Conservation of the environment is an important part of our strategy. The aim is to minimise our environmental impact and we therefore focus actively on cutting our carbon dioxide emissions, raising the proportion of renewable energy consumed in our operations and finding ways of using natural resources more efficiently and carefully.

Addtech’s main business today consists of trading in technology products. Our environmental impact therefore arises in transport and warehousing activities. Our use of raw materials, chemicals and fossil fuels is limited, since the actual production process mostly takes place at our suppliers. However, we have decided to assume a degree of responsibility that stretches beyond our own operations and via our Code of Conduct to require that our suppliers also take the environment into consideration in their production.

The environmental perspective must be part of all important decisions, with a view to creating long-term value for customers, employees, shareholders and society at large. Environmental work shall be conducted within the scope of our business concept and shall be closely integrated into operational activities. With a high level of expertise among our employees, and by constantly developing our knowledge of environmental consequences, we can maintain a holistic approach to environmental issues and contribute to improvements within the organisation and among our customers and suppliers. Because much of our environmental impact is indirect, we aim to develop more sustainable products and solutions that help our customers reduce their environmental impact. That way, we can make a difference on a larger scale. During the year, we incurred no fines or sanctions for environmental contraventions.

Environmental policy

During the end of the financial year 2016/2017, we further developed our environmental policy. The updated policy will be rolled out at all companies during 2017/2018.

Climate impact

Addtech's impact on the climate principally comprises carbon dioxide emissions. Combustion of fossil fuels also produces emissions of other greenhouse gases, but Addtech has concluded that carbon dioxide emissions represent the biggest threat from the Group's operations.

In the calculation of carbon dioxide emissions arising from electricity generation, the calculation was based on Nordic electricity generation, where 1 kWh is estimated to generate 0.1 kg CO2. In addition to emissions arising from the internal use of fossil fuels and electricity, carbon dioxide emissions are also generated by various kinds of transport, including transport of materials and products, as well as employee travel. Addtech reports carbon dioxide emissions for employee travel and for materials and product transport according to the table below, which shows the Group's CO2 emissions. We put total carbon dioxide emissions in relation to sales to give a true and fair view of emissions, a so-called intensity measure for greenhouse gases.

This years total climate impact was 2.04 tonnes CO2/ SEK million. This means that since 2014/2015, we have reduced our CO2 emissions in relation to net sales by almost 5%. Emissions from energy use have also declined, partly because we increased the use of renewable energy in the Group.  

*Based on reported kilometres driven and average emission of CO2/km from the Group's vehicle fleet.
**Based on reports from transport providers, plus own calculations using ecotransit.org.
***Based on Nordic electricity generation, where 1 kWh is estimated to generate 0.1 kg CO2.

Energy consumption

During the financial year, work started on an energy analysis, which will be used to identify areas for improvement. Currently more than half of the electricity that we use comes from renewable sources, and our aim is to continue to increase that share. Total energy consumption decreased to 19.1 GWH (19.5). Energy consumption in relation to net sales amounted to 26.6 MWH/SEK million (31.7), a decrease of 27% compared with 2014/2015 when energy consumption amounted to 36.4 MWH/SEK million.

* Solar energy, wind power and hydropower 
** Biofuel, waste heat, waste (70 percent renewable)

Suppliers

Addtech’s sales of high-technology products and solutions cause limited direct impact on the environment. We focus continually on improvement measures in the areas where we can make a difference, but our indirect environmental impact largely takes place at our suppliers. Our objective with supplier surveys is to obtain an overview of how our suppliers approach taking sustainable development forward. Environmental conservation measures shall be implemented to the extent they are technically feasible, reasonable from a business economic viewpoint and environmentally justified. Suppliers are encouraged to operate in line with our environmental policy. Suppliers are also required to be familiar with and observe requirements laid down by national legislation, statutes and industry standards. Suppliers must as a minimum requirement operate a secure system for management of hazardous materials and waste.