Since its founding, the company has already incorporated the concept of sustainability in developing its first product. Robert described:
“From history, we have always had this kind of product. Our most common selling product is from 1937, and the product is made of recycled aluminum and wood. It is very easy to take apart and change spare parts. It is in our DNA.”
The family continues this sustainability tradition by taking more initiatives that customers demand. In addition, governments such as the European Union (EU) have provided additional financial support to companies following the European Green Deal. Importantly, family members have a concerted dedication to developing new sustainability practices. Specifically, Frida, Robert, and Magdalena, the nonfamily production manager, make the annual plan together and propose it to the board. Once the board approves, their father fully supports the implementation, focusing on the products, local communities, and energy.
Product sustainability and transparency
The family has been careful in selecting the right materials since the start of their production process. In addition, certification requires them to track the materials each product contains and keep such information transparent. They have obtained not only ISO certification but also national certification, such as Byggvarubedömningen, Environmental Product Declarations, and RISE tests for non-toxic and sustainable building materials in Sweden. These certifications enable them to better show their sustainable products to their customers.
Moreover, the family has innovated product design so that they can pack products compactly without leaving much empty space. In addition, they have tried to reduce their environmental footprint by creating new products from waste and selling spare parts. By doing so, the family can improve the effectiveness of transportation and waste management.
The family has faced some challenges while making their products and production more sustainable. One main challenge lies in the variance of certifications. Specifically, different industries and customers have their preferred certification systems that may not follow the same tracking procedures. For instance, Byggvarubedömningen is mainly for the construction industry, while the furniture industry prefers another certification system, Möbelfakta. The family currently prioritizes construction certification since their largest customers are in that industry.
Another main challenge is the heavy administrative workload, such as collecting relevant data to accurately calculate Scope 1–3 emission and material contents of each product. As the family firm has limited resources available, collecting various types of data from different suppliers tends to be both costly and time-consuming.
Close collaboration with the local community
The family has emphasized collaboration with the local community where the firm is located. Such collaboration entails having local designers design their products, working with local suppliers using local resources, and relying on local transportation to deliver the products. Such collaboration enables the family to reduce the carbon footprint of their production by relying less on imported materials, to better develop the local community by using local resources, and to build a strong Swedish brand that can benefit their image on the market.
Increasingly reliance on renewable energy
Another main sustainability practice focuses on transforming the family firm’s energy portfolio. Since 2013, the family has updated the heating system at the site by replacing oil pan with geothermal heating and buying only green electricity. In addition, in 2018, one-third of their electricity already came from solar energy. In 2024, after building a larger factory with additional solar panels, all their electricity now comes from solar energy.
