Net-zero by 2040 – at the latest

Towards net-zero by 2040

Sweco’s goal is to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in its upstream value chain and own operations by 2040 and halve the company’s emissions by 2030. The path to achieving this is based on country-specific targets, with each business area formulating a roadmap and climate transition plan.

Sweco’s operations are comprised of consultancy services enabling clients with the climate transition in areas including energy, industry, resource use and transportations infrastructure. Sweco’s targets and emissions reporting are limited to the environmental and climate impact that occurs upstream in the value chain (suppliers), as well as in our own operations. Impact from advisory and consulting services in projects is part of Sweco’s downstream chain (clients) and is not included in current climate targets and emissions reductions.

Climate targets based on the latest science

Sweco adheres to the “Business Ambition for 1.5°C” and has set climate targets aligned with what is required to limit global warming to 1.5°C. In 2024, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validated and approved Sweco’s near-term targets for 2030. Targets cover Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and are well in line with the latest science and the Carbon Law.

Sweco follows the Carbon Law, developed by the Stockholm Resilience Centre, which involves halving the company’s emissions every decade. The near-term targets are consistent with the Carbon Law and halving total emissions by 2030.

Sweco’s SBTi-approved targets

Emissions reductions in Scope 1 and 2 by 2030:

90 %

Sweco commits to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emisisons by 90 per cent by 2030 from a 2020 base year.

Emissions reductions in Scope 3 by 2030:

30 %

Sweco also commits to reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services, capital goods, fuel- and energy-related activities, waste management, business travel and employee commuting by 30 per cent by within the same timeframe.

Our base year:

2020

Sweco’s emissions reductions are measured against 2020 levels

“We are pleased to have our near-term climate targets validated by SBTi. This is a testimony to Sweco’s climate action ambitions.” – Åsa Bergman, President and CEO, Sweco

Net-zero by 2040

Sweco’s long-term climate neutrality target has been reformulated as a net-zero emissions target to better reflect the company’s operations, current requirements and established standards for emissions reporting. By 2040 Sweco will have no net greenhouse gas emissions. The target will be achieved by reducing absolute emissions from Sweco’s own operations by at least 90 per cent by 2040, as compared with 2020 levels. The remaining emissions reductions, down to zero, will be achieved through supplemental permanent measures such as carbon sinks or fossil-origin carbon capture and storage.

Key actions for emissions reductions

Decrease energy consumption at the offices and improve energy-efficiency.
Transition to renewable energy contracts at Sweco’s offices.
Electrification of the vehicle fleet across Group
Supplier engagement and requirements to lower emissions from purchased goods and services
Motivate and incentivise employees to contribute to low-carbon business travel and commuting

Illustration of trajectory for emissions reductions - Scope 3

Outcomes in brief

In 2023, an inventory of Scope 3 emissions was conducted to identify material scope 3 categories across the Group. As a consequence, additional emission categories were added during 2023. All entities within Sweco are now required to report on all material emission categories decided by Group. Due to the expanded Scope 3 coverage and growth due to aquisitions since 2020, a recalculation of prior years 2020-2023 was conducted. This means that the total emissions are higher compared to previously reported emissions.
66,449 tonnes CO2e in Scopes 1, 2 and 3 in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (64,692)
Sweco’s operations have grown both organically and through acquisitions since base year 2020, which has also led to increased emission levels. However, Sweco’s emission intensity of 3.3 tonnes CO2e per FTE decreased by 4 per cent in 2023 compared to 2020. The reduction is mainly due to measures taken in Scope 1 and 2.
Scope 1 and 2 emissions decreased with 3 per cent compared to previous year.
The share of electric and hybrid vehicles increased to 59 per cent in 2023 compared to 42 per cent in 2022.

Sweco and the EU taxonomy

Group greenhouse gas emissions, tonnes CO2e

Scope	2023	2022	Base year 2020	Share of total emissions 2023, %	Change, 2023 vs. 2022, %	Change, 2023 vs. 2020, %
Scope 1	8,707	9,143	11,615	13	-5	-25
Scope 2	6,426	6,437	10,109	10	0	-36
Scope 3	51,317	49,112	43,661	77	+4	+18
Total	66,449	64,692	65,386	100	+3	+2

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.

Pathway to climate neutrality

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. 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

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)

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

2036

Norway

A minimum of 55 per cent emissions reduction by 2030

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

Sustainability forms an integral part of Sweco’s business and strategy.

We attach great importance to being an attractive employer for both current and future talent and leaders.

engineers and consultants at construction sight holding blue print

Sweco takes responsibility for our projects and the way we conduct our business.