For a sustainable society

No one can ignore the challenges facing humanity when to comes toglobal warming and climate change. The cuts in emissions that are necessary to counteract longterm disruption to global ecosystems affect all parts of society, and the business community has a major responsibility to contribute to a positive development.

“At the same time, we must remember that Nynas as a company manufactures products that are necessary for us to retain and continue to develop the prosperity that has been built up over a long time. The challenge is to make the transition and find new solutions, as we and the rest of the business community are part of the problem with a major climate footprint, but we’ll also be involved in the changes that are required,” says Johan Andersson, who took up the post of Nynas Vice President Group Strategy & Sustainability at the turn of the year.

“Nynas business operations will be an even greater part of the solution to climate change.” Johan Andersson, Vice President Group Strategy & Sustainability

Johan brings with him extensive experience from senior positions in the chemical and oil industry, including from BP’s special oils segment. In recent years he has been CEO of the industry organisation for fuel, bitumen and lubricant companies in Sweden.

“An important aspect of my new job will be to work with Nynas business operations to be an even greater part of the solution to climate change. Unless we and others continue to drive developments to manufacture bitumen sustainably, society will grind to a halt.”

Johan is clear that it is possible to contribute to the climate transition, even though production is based on fossil feedstock.

“Our bitumen products are not incinerated, but have built-in properties that enable them to be used for a long time and are also 100% reusable. But we must of course consider the whole value chain, both production at our refineries and transportation to customers, and make sure that we reduce the climate impact that our activities as a whole are causing.”

Focus on the four areasNynas sustainability work is carried out on a broad front within the framework of four focus areas.

1. Sustainable products is about manufacturing products that both have a long useful life and are reusable. Work is also continuing to investigate how renewable components can affect performance and reduce climate impact.

2. Environment and climate looks at the transition that is needed to create a carbon-neutral society by 2050 by means of reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

3. In the area of health and safety, the focus is on continuing to improve reporting of and follow-up on incidents, as well as initiatives to create a good safety culture throughout the value chain.

4. The focus area that deals with people and society aims to ensure that Nynas will be an attractive employer and a responsible business partner at all levels.

How is this ambition being realised in practice?

“There are a number of initiatives under way, big and small. Above all, we’ve become better at measuring what we do in the area of sustainability in a broad sense and at setting goals so that we actually make the necessary changes.

“But we must also have a long-term strategy to show where we’re heading, and that will be presented later this year. Such a plan will enable us to answer the question of what kind of company Nynas will be in 2030 and 2050, and what is required of us to contribute to the world developing in a more sustainable direction.” Johan also mentions the unique research and development work that Nynas is undertaking on the product side.

“It involves, for example, our new biogenic binder and the ReSolution concept, which encompasses a number of products that support our customers’ work on sustainability. Another area we’re keeping a close eye on is how an increased proportion of electric vehicles and new electric roads will affect the pavements of the future.”

The changes needed for the oil and the construction industry to move in a more sustainable direction require close collaboration with actors both within and beyond the industry.

“I believe in openness and transparency, in linking arms and entering into coalitions with others. This enables us to increase the pressure and do more together, act smarter and make sure that the issue of sustainability is always on the agenda.”

But it’s also about making demands.

“If we’re to be able to help our customers achieve their sustainability solutions, they must make demands of us, just as we make demands of our subcontractors. Making demands is an important element of the process of change.”

For Johan, sustainability is something that also affects his existence outside office hours.

“I’ve just moved into a new house and received quotes for solar panels for the whole roof, and in the family we recycle and try to be energy-efficient as best we can. It’s not like I just work with sustainability in the office and then go home and behave differently. It’s all part of the big picture!”