Höganäs Holding AB
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2017, 2019, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2017
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate change
- Responsible sourcing and use of materials
- Workplace safety and employee well-being
- Community engagement
- Ethical business practices
Environmental Achievements
- 7.1% reduction in energy use per produced tonne of metal powder within direct operations since 2010
- 77% of all process-related residual materials were reused or found new use
- Ground broken for a plant for production of renewable energy gas and green coke (Probiostål project), with the potential to decrease carbon dioxide emissions by around 10,000 tonnes per year
Social Achievements
- Implemented a global incident reporting system and new targets for occupational health and safety work
- 1,435 development talks between co-workers and managers (76% of all employees)
- Launched a people satisfaction survey
- Initiated a partnership with Plan International concerning water purification technology
Governance Achievements
- Joined the UN Global Compact
- Initiated a global climate roadmap
- Implemented a tool for reporting group-wide sustainability data and key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Conducted a pilot project for a supplier evaluation tool
Climate Goals & Targets
- Zero Accidents
- Zero Waste (by 2026: >95% of side-stream materials reused)
- Climate neutral operations
- By 2020: Cobalt at max 0.02 mg/m3, nickel (metallic) at max 0.005 mg/m3; >85% of side-stream materials reused; replace >50% of process water requirement in India with rainwater
- By 2021: all major production sites to certify energy management according to ISO 50001
- By 2019: all employees to have development talks; LTI frequency <3; average risk reduction of at least 1.5 points per employee and year
Environmental Challenges
- Decreasing, but still unsatisfactory, number of safety incidents
- Need to improve stakeholder dialogue in local communities
- Need to strengthen supply chain management
- Need for more thorough quantification of the environmental and social footprints of products
Mitigation Strategies
- Implemented a global incident and risk reporting system (MIA)
- Developed new targets for occupational health and safety work
- Updated Code of Conduct for Suppliers and developed a supplier evaluation tool
- Started systematic work with life cycle assessments (LCA)
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 25 on-site audits in 2017
Responsible Procurement
- Code of Conduct for Suppliers
- Supplier evaluation tool
- Conflict Minerals Compliance Policy
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Development of renewable energy technologies (Probiostål project)
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards Core option
Certifications: Null
Third-party Assurance: Internal audit
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- High-precision toolbox for iron-copper-carbon mixes
- Powder metallurgy gears
- SMC-based motors
- Iron-based surface coating powders
- Cleanit® water treatment media
- Iron-based filler metals for stainless steel joints
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed
Reporting Period: 2019
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Workplace
- Society
- Climate
- Environment
- Products
Environmental Achievements
- Decreased direct emissions by almost 14,600 tonnes due to lower production volumes, investments, and energy efficiency improvements.
- Avoided emitting 35,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide by actively choosing electricity from renewable sources.
- Reduced waste sent to landfill by 93% at Abril Industrial Waxes.
- Reached 80% of the target to turn 85% of process residual materials into useful products by 2020.
Social Achievements
- Received the Industry Gender Equality Prize 2019.
- Two production sites received ISO 45001 certification.
- Implemented a new Code of Conduct with an extensive launch pack.
- Five years without injuries in Busan, South Korea.
Governance Achievements
- Board of Directors approved the Climate Roadmap 2045.
- Formed a Sustainability Council to link sustainability targets with business development.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Become climate neutral by 2045.
- Increase the percentage of secondary materials.
- Achieve ISO 50001 certification for most energy-intensive units by the end of 2021.
- Evaluate the upgraded system tool for calculating transport emissions in 2020.
- Not disclosed
Environmental Challenges
- Fluctuating demand for metal powder due to economic uncertainties.
- Slow progress towards zero accidents.
- Need to increase the number of female co-workers.
- Challenges in replacing fossil fuels with renewable alternatives.
- Mapping upstream scope 3 emissions to identify areas for improvement.
Mitigation Strategies
- Maintaining close customer relations.
- Appointing a Global Safety Manager.
- Initiatives to attract more women to the industry.
- Collaboration with Cortus Energy to utilize the Woodroll® process.
- Developing an upgraded system tool for calculating transport emissions.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 34 audits including social criteria; 8 audits including environmental criteria in 2019
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Anti-corruption policies
- Responsible Sourcing programme
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
- Use of renewable energy and fuels
- Increased use of recycled materials
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core option, UN Global Compact
Certifications: ISO 14001 (most production units), ISO 45001 (two sites in 2019)
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 5
- SDG 6
- SDG 7
- SDG 8
- SDG 9
- SDG 10
- SDG 12
- SDG 13
- SDG 16
See Sustainable Development Goals Reference in Appendix.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Petrit® E and Petrit® T (made from slag)
- BrazeLet® 9007/9017 (water-based pastes for brazing)
Awards & Recognition
- Industry Gender Equality Prize 2019
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate
- Environment
- Products
- Workplace
- Society
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced Scope 1-2 emissions by 46% since 2018
- Reached 100% fossil-free electricity in 2023
- Increased share of biogas in processes
- Successfully tested biochar as a reducing agent, reducing process carbon emissions by 17% in a one-month trial
Social Achievements
- Launched 'Grow with Höganäs' career development framework
- Launched 'Sustainable workplace for everyone' e-learning course on diversity and inclusion
- Organized fourth consecutive Global Safety Week
- Introduced Safety walks by leadership
Governance Achievements
- Performed a double materiality assessment in preparation for CSRD
- Took first steps towards implementing the EU’s new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
- Conducted integrity audits prior to signing new contracts with agents
Climate Goals & Targets
- Net-zero emissions across value chain (Scope 3) by 2037
- 90% reduction in absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions by 2040 (SBTi)
- Net-zero emissions across operations (Scope 1 and 2) by 2030
- 90% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions (local action plans)
- Increase share of female co-workers to 20% by 2026
- Increase share of female executive managers to 35% by 2026
- 100% of key suppliers rated as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ by 2026
- 95% of process residuals put to use by 2026
- Improve health and safety performance
- Continue executing on climate roadmap
- Implement new organization
- Develop new products for battery electric drivetrains
Environmental Challenges
- Unsatisfactory workplace health & safety performance
- Lower demand and production volumes due to economic uncertainty (war in Ukraine, inflation, high interest rates)
- Transition to electric vehicles disrupting the automotive industry (main customer segment)
- Customers setting ambitious Scope 3 emissions reduction targets
- Sourcing high-quality biochar in sufficient quantities
Mitigation Strategies
- Restructuring the company into five global divisions
- Implementing initiatives to improve workplace health and safety (addressing identified behavioral issues)
- Developing new products for battery electric drivetrains (reduction gears and electric traction motors)
- Advancing position in the automotive value chain to develop relationships with OEM designers
- Working with Life Cycle Assessments to provide sustainability performance data for products
- Testing replacements for conventional reducing agents with alternatives like biochar
- Inviting prospective suppliers and peers to biochar trials to raise awareness and encourage supply
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 78% of key suppliers rated as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier questionnaires
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Assessment of human rights risks, conflict minerals risks, and corruption risks
- Prioritization of local suppliers
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Floods and droughts
Transition Risks
- Investing in the wrong technology
- Higher costs
- Not achieving goals on time
- Lack of industrialised methods for fossil-free sponge iron production
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
- Growth in electric vehicle sector
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards 2021, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001 (six out of ten energy intensive sites)
Third-party Assurance: PwC (limited assurance on consolidated carbon footprint)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 7
- SDG 13
- SDG 5
- SDG 8
- SDG 10
- SDG 6
- SDG 9
- SDG 12
- SDG 16
Initiatives contributing to various SDGs are described throughout the report.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Soft magnetic composite powders
- Products for electric vehicle applications
- Metal powders for additive manufacturing
Awards & Recognition
- Gold Sustainability Award from the European Powder Metallurgy Association