Climate neutral by 2040 – at the latest
Sweco’s group-wide goal is to be climate neutral no later than 2040. We strive to be forerunners in all markets where we operate.
Sweco’s base year for climate reporting is 2020, with all emissions reductions being measured against 2020 levels. Sweco is following the Carbon Law, developed by the Stockholm Resilience Centre, which involves halving our emissions by 2030, after which we will advance more rapidly.
The target uses 2020 as the base year, and all reduction will be measured against this year. 2020 was a year where large parts of our workforce worked from home and business travel was heavily reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The emissions during 2020 were lower than an average year, making our target very ambitious.
2021 in numbers
- 29,972 tCO2e emissions (scopes 1, 2 and 3 in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol)
- We reduced our total CO2e emissions by 10 per cent in 2021 compared with 2020
- Emission intensity per full time equivalent decreased 21 per cent in 2021 compared with 2020
- We increased the use of renewable energy sources in Sweco’s operations from 21 to 29 per cent during 2021
Climate targets in line with SBTi
In 2020, Sweco developed climate targets for validation and approval of the Science Based Targets initiative, SBTi, in order to ensure our climate targets are in line with the Paris Agreement and the ambition to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C. Sweco’s climate neutrality is to be achieved primarily through emissions reductions in our own operations, with no more than 15 per cent to be achieved through carbon sinks, emissions offsets, or climate compensation through established and third-party verified mechanisms.
Reduced GHG emissions across Sweco’s operations
The Sweco climate footprint in 2021 is estimated to be 29,927 tonnes CO2e, a decrease of 10 per cent in absolute terms compared to the base year 2020. Sweco’s climate neutrality goal by 2040 includes emissions reductions in all GHG Protocol Scopes (1,2 and 3). During 2021, we saw a significant progress in the areas impacting the emissions in Scope 1 and 2. Increased percentage of renewable energy in Sweco’s offices and measures to decarbonise mobility are the main drivers for reduced GHG emissions.
Group greenhouse gas emissions, tonnes CO2e
| Scope | 2021 | Base year 2020 | Share of total emissions 2021, % | Progress, 2021 vs. 2020, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 5,472 | 8,016 | 18 | -32 |
| Scope 2 | 9,149 | 10,340 | 31 | -12 |
| Scope 3 (mandatory) | 4,325 | 4,776 | 14 | -9 |
| Scope 3 (additional) | 10,981 | 10,316 | 37 | 6 |
| Total | 29,927 | 33,448 | 100 | -10 |
About the GHG Protocol
The GHG Protocol has defined a global standardised framework to measure and manage greenhouse gas (GHG) emisssions within three scopes. Scope 1 and 2 emissions are mandatory part of reporting and relate to direct emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by Sweco, such as company cars, and indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, heating and cooling consumed by Sweco. Scope 3 covers other indirect emissions, mandatory and voluntary, that are not included in Scope 2 and occur in the value chain of Sweco, e.g. employees commuting, purchased goods and services, upstream transportation and distribution or waste generated in the operations.
We strive to be the forerunner in our markets
In accordance with our decentralised model, each individual Sweco market has set its own targets, with the requirement to serve as a forerunner in that country. This involves each market formulating a roadmap to achieve climate neutrality ahead of the specific country’s official target, for example Sweco’s business areas Sweden, UK and Belgium all have set targets to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. In this way, we ensure that we act ambitiously based on the countries’ individual circumstances. In several markets, the journey to climate neutrality has been proceeding for quite a while. Sweco’s operations in the Czech Republic, for example, have been measuring their climate impact since 2007 and halved their emissions between 2008 and 2019.
Read more about the local climate neutrality goals below.
Sweco’s journey toward climate neutrality 2040
Sweco’s has already taken many initiatives towards climate neutrality in 2040. Here is a selection of local targets.
2030
Belgium, Finland, Sweden, UK
Belgium
- Green electricity contracts in all offices by 2022
- External contracts adhere to sustainability goals by 2025
- Electrified car fleet by 2026
- No fossil fuel heating systems by 2030
- Rewrite procurement procedures with sustainability criteria
Finland
- Electrified car fleet by 2030
- Energy-neutral offices by 2030
Sweden
- Fossil-free car fleet by 2023
- Fossil-free office operations by 2030
UK
- No domestic flights by 2022
- Renewable electricity in all offices by 2023
- Electrified car fleet by 2025 (50 per cent by 2022 and 30 per cent by 2021)
Belgium, Finland, Sweden, UK
2035
The Netherlands
- Electrified car fleet by 2030 with the interim target of over 50 per cent electric vehicles by 2025
- All buildings to be at least energy-neutral by 2030
- No waste by 2035 with interim target of 50 per cent reduction by 2025
The Netherlands
2036
Norway
- A minimum of 55 per cent emissions reduction by 2030
Norway
2040
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Poland
Bulgaria
- Standard purchasing and procurement updated with sustainability criteria by 2022
- Green electricity contracts in all offices by 2025
- Electric car fleet by 2030
- No offices heated using fossil fuels from 2037
- Fully electrified car fleet or alternative available in the future by 2040 with an interim target of 50 per cent by 2030
Czech Republic
- Standard purchasing and procurement updated with sustainability criteria by 2022
- Green electricity contracts in all offices by 2025
- No offices heated using fossil fuels from 2037
- Fully electrified car fleet or alternative available in the future by 2040 with an interim target of 50 per cent by 2030
Denmark
- Fossil-free car fleet by 2028 (EV, hydrogen or similar)
- Emissions from commuting to be reduced 60 per cent between 2020–2030
- Office’s indirect emissions climate-neutral by 2030
Germany
- 100 per cent green electricity by 2022
- 50 per cent emissions reduction from traveling by 2030
- Fossil-free energy consumption by 2040
Lithuania
- All consumed electricity from renewables by 2035 with interim targets such as 80 per cent by 2030
- Fully electrified car fleet by 2040 with interim targets of 80 per cent electric cars in 2035, 30 per cent in 2030 and 8 per cent in 2025
Poland
- Single-use plastic ban from 2021
- Offices than can have green energy contracts should have them by 2022
- 50 per cent of car fleet electrified by 2030
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Poland
Sustainability report
Sustainability forms an integral part of Sweco’s business and strategy.
Transforming society together with our employees
We attach great importance to being an attractive employer for both current and future talent and leaders.
Business Ethics
Sweco takes responsibility for our projects and the way we conduct our business.
