SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2019 · APak works actively on work environment issues in different forums, such as safety committee and departmental meetings, and at performance reviews. APak

SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

2019

OUR FUTUREThe future of the planet rests in our hands, as we are all responsible to ensure that future generations get the opportunity to enjoy our beautiful planet. At aPak, we have recognised the importance of managing a sustainable business and sustainability is thus an important part of our agenda. Our sustainability report is a way of monitoring and measuring our success and our development. This is aPak’s statutory sustainability report for the financial year 2019.

APak has a strong vision about being a profitable company that can maintain long-term, sustainable development in symbiosis with the environment, society and mankind. We are convinced that a balanced way forward is the only right way, and we are going to do everything we can in 2020 to maintain and develop our sustainable working practices. At aPak, we are working for a better future for us, for you and for our planet!

”OUR VISION IS TO RUN A PROFITABLE,

SUSTAINABLE AND LONG-TERM

BUSINESS”

EVELINA LINDGRENCEO, APAK AB

SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2

ABOUT APAK SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRYSUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTIONHEALTH & WELL-BEINGNO POVERTYSUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALLRISK MANAGEMENTFEET FIRMLY ON THE GROUNDOUT FUTUREOUR POLICIES

”THE PERSONNEL ARE OUR PRIMARY RESOURCE AND IF THE PERSONNEL ARE DOING WELL,

SO IS THE COMPANY”

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We are aPak – The Packaging Company. One of Sweden’s oldest and most comprehensive packaging companies.

APak is a family-run packaging company with just over 70 employees and roots that go back more than 100 years. Our head offices and main warehouse are situated in Mölndal, just outside Gothenburg.

We supply all types of packaging to our customers in Sweden, Europe, North America and Asia. Everything from the most advanced customised solutions to a wide range of high-quality standard products. We work with all available products and materials, such as corrugated board, cardboard, VCI, plastic, shock-absorbing materials and combinations of these.

Our objective is simple - to ensure that each customer gets the best and most sustainable packaging solution.

WE ARE APAK


”OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO ENSURE THAT EACH CUSTOMER

GETS THE BEST AND MOST

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

SOLUTION AT THE BEST POSSIBLE

PRICE”


”APAK IS ISO 9001:2015 AND ISO 14001:2015 CERTIFIED, WHICH ENSURES THAT OUR BUSINESS

MAINTAINS CONSISTENTLY HIGH QUALITY”

CLEAR OBJECTIVES


In the past year, aPak’s sustainability committee has worked on substantialising sustainability objectives with the purpose of achieving better and clearer results. With clear objectives, it is easier to allocate resources and guide the business in the right direction.

In our sustainability work, we adopt the five global objectives in the UNDP’s global programme (United Nations Development Programme) as our starting point. We have chosen to focus on five areas within which we believe we can make a big difference.

”WITH CLEAR OBJECTIVES, IT IS EASIER

TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES

AND GUIDE THE BUSINESS IN THE

RIGHT DIRECTION”

SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

HEALTH & WELL-BEING

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL

SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION

NO POVERTY

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HÅLLBARHETSRAPPORT 5HÅLLBARHETSRAPPORT 7

SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY, INNOVA-TION AND INFRASTRUCTURE1

As we have great influence over how our products are produced, both as purchaser and producer, we can make a big difference for the environment in this area. We can look at our customers’ packaging solutions from all angles, work with the right materials and right suppliers, and ensure that the products are delivered in the best possible way.

”BY INFLUENCING PRODUCTION, DESIGN AND TRANSPORT, WE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR THE

ENVIRONMENT”


SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 9HÅLLBARHETSRAPPORT 7

We will reduce material usage, minimise the proportion of fossil-based materials and increase the proportion of recycled materials in our customers’ products. In 2020, the objective is to produce a new environmentally-friendly and sustainable range that will be available as an alternative to our standard range, and which will make it easier for our customers to make more environmentally-friendly choices.

By developing our product range, optimising our customers’ packaging solutions, rewarding environmentally-friendly alternatives and arguing for environmentally-friendly choices by our customers, we will reduce material usage, minimise the proportion of fossil-based materials and increase the proportion of recycled materials in our customers’ products. The first step is an environmentally-friendly and sustainable range, after which we will focus on increasing sales of these products.

OBJECTIVES

THE ROUTE

MATERIAL SAVINGS


At least 50% of our standard range in corrugated board will be produced in accordance with FSC or similar certification.

By actively prioritising the purchasing of FSC certified corrugated board and raw materials in 2020.

OBJECTIVES

THE ROUTE

FSC CERTIFICATION


We will reduce our environmental impact from transportation by our suppliers, between our own storage depots and to our customers. We will increase load factor per transport by 5% in 2020. We measure this based on statistics from the transport booking system/freight forwarders.

APak works actively to optimise load factors in all transportation that we are responsible for. APak uses freight forwarders who comply with the regulations and recommendations in effect concerning vehicle emission standards. In 2020, we are going to work towards increasing the load factor of transportation that aPak is responsible for from our suppliers, between our storage depots and to our customers.

We will also seek knowledge on new technology and research in this area so that we can set out even clearer requirements for our freight forwarders concerning alternative and environmentally-friendly transportation.

OBJECTIVES

THE ROUTE

GREEN LOGISTICS


SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION 2

”VÅR VERKSAMHET SKA BEDRIVAS

HÅLLBART MEN VI HAR OCKSÅ GODA

MÖJLIGHETER ATT PÅVERKA

VÅRA KUNDER & LEVERANTÖRER I RÄTT RIKTNING”

It has always been important for those of us at aPak to run a sustainable business. This approach shall permeate our entire company, including everything from transportation and recycling to construction and operations. But in our position, we are also well placed to guide our customers and suppliers in the right direction. We will therefore work both internally and externally to contribute to more sustainable production and consumption.

”OUR BUSINESS WILL BE RUN SUSTAINABLY, BUT WE ARE ALSO WELL

PLACED TO GUIDE OUR CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION”


GREENER OPERATIONS

To participate as a company in contributing to the transition towards a sustainable production and consumption of goods in order to reduce our negative impact on the climate, environment and human health.

As a company, aPak wants to participate in and be a driving force for development towards sustainable production and consumption of goods. In order to achieve this, the following actions are being implemented in 2020:

APak has invested in and introduced a total concept for waste management.APak has switched to Convini lunch options in order to reduce food waste.Several charging stations for electric cars are being installed in Mölndal.

OBJECTIVES

THE ROUTE


GREENER PROPOSALS

To increase the proportion of sustainable proposals that aPak presents to our customers.

We will identify, adapt and present a 100% sustainable proposal to 5 prospective customers. Each customer is identified by means of its environmental objectives, perhaps via its website, and the proposal is customised to an existing sustainable range or by adding new products/services to it.

OBJECTIVES

THE ROUTE


MORE RECYCLING

To increase the proportion of items in aPak’s standard range that only contains recycled plastic.

AaaaaaaPak will have an environmental alternative for at least ten of our high-runner plastic items (one pallet hood and one pallet top sheet) in 2020.

OBJECTIVES

THE ROUTE


WASTE MANAGEMENT

To minimise environmental impact by means of waste management.

APak does this by increasing our knowledge in this area. We are going to implement the following measures in 2020:

We are going to sort PET plastic strapping from combustible waste so that it can be recycled.We are going to repair broken wooden pallets instead of scrapping them.We are going to train our personnel in this area and discuss together what else we can do to minimise our environmental impact by means of waste management.

OBJECTIVES

THE ROUTE


HEALTH & WELL-BEING3

Health and well-being constitute a global objective that aPak cares very much about. The personnel’s health and well-being are of the highest priority at aPak. We consider this to be reasonable, as the personnel, or the “aPak family” as we call ourselves, is our most important resource. When the personnel are doing well, so is the company.

”THE PERSONNEL ARE OUR PRIMARY RESOURCE AND IF THE PERSONNEL

ARE DOING WELL, SO IS THE COMPANY”



We want to ensure a healthy lifestyle for and promote the well-being of all of our employees.

All employees have access to a Calibreath, a therapeutic air purifier.All employees have access to one wellness care hour per week.APak offers all employees a wellness care allowance.APak offers access to a gym at the workplace.APak offers the opportunity to do yoga at the workplace.APak offers subsidised massage.APak works actively on work environment issues in different forums, such as safety committee and departmental meetings, and at performance reviews.APak organises four major annual activities for all employees to increase company well-being and team spirit.APak has a regular slot at the gym for a group workout every week.APak hires a coach on an ongoing basis to work on both the individual and group level.APak has switched to Convini lunch options in order to make it easier for employees to improve their eating habits.APak offers a weekly fruit basket to all employees.

OBJECTIVES

THE ROUTE

IMPORTANT RESOURCE


Our objective is to minimise the unnecessary use of transport, including such use by the personnel.

This year, aPak is going to launch its own bicycle fleet that the personnel can use freely. The bicycles will be situated at the office entrance and the personnel can then borrow them to run errands or visit nearby customers. On a fine, dry day, there is no reason to take the car for distances under 3 kilometres. Fresh air is good for both people and the environment.

OBJECTIVES

THE ROUTE

LEAVE THE CAR


4. NO POVERTY 4

”VÅR VERKSAMHET SKA BEDRIVAS

HÅLLBART MEN VI HAR OCKSÅ GODA

MÖJLIGHETER ATT PÅVERKA

VÅRA KUNDER & LEVERANTÖRER I RÄTT RIKTNING”

Our focus, when it comes to fighting poverty and exclusion, is locally orientated as we know that local needs are great. It is easy to see beyond the country’s borders when dealing with poverty, but the truth is that many local people are living in hardship.

”IT IS IMPORTANT TO SATISFY DAILY NEEDS, BUT IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT

TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE”


REDUCE POVERTY

By means of initiatives and financial support, contribute to reducing both local and global poverty.

APak is a ”Göteborgsvän” to Göteborgs Stadsmission and supports them financially. aPak also organises activities with Stadsmissionen, which gives the personnel the opportunity to make a contribution towards reducing poverty. In 2020, we are going to organise a secondhand clothes collection, as well as take part in different activities on Stadsmissionen premises in Johanneskyrkan.

OBJECTIVES

THE ROUTE

WE ARE VOLUNTEERS


By involving the personnel, we will increase their awareness and contribute to a better society, not just by means of financial contributions, but also with our bare hands.

At aPak we are all volunteers. From 2020 onwards, our new joint project with Stadsmissionen will get under way. This will give our employees the opportunity to do meaningful volunteer work with full pay. The project gives anyone who wants the tools to work towards a better world. It will thus give our staff the green light to get involved in community-enhancing projects four times in 2020. The project focus will vary based on Stadsmissionen’s needs at the time of year in question.

OBJECTIVES

THE ROUTE


SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL5

APak has been interested for a long time in alternative energy sources and finding sustainable, modern solutions for operations and production. At aPak, we want to be at the forefront of sustainable energy, and we are going to invest heavily in 2020 to achieve this.

”WE NOW HAVE OUR SIGHTS ON A SELF-SUFFICIENT FUTURE WHERE THE

SUN POWERS OUR ACTIVITIES”



Our main storage depot will be completely self-sufficient in electricity in 2020.

In connection with the new construction in Mölndal, solar roof panels are being installed that will make the main storage depot self-sufficient. Several charging stations for electric cars are being installed in Mölndal. aPak is replacing all traditional lighting with LED lighting to reduce energy consumption in 2020. Electricity that aPak buys is 100% green.

OBJECTIVES

THE ROUTE

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY


Our pro-active risk management process is designed to identify, prioritise and manage any potential risks in their respective areas.

RISK MANAGEMENT

”THERE WILL ALWAYS BE RISKS, AND THE BEST PROTECTION POLICY IS TO BE AWARE OF THEM. THIS WAY, YOU CAN WORK ON PREVENTATIVE

MEASURES AND RESPOND PRO-ACTIVELY INSTEAD OF REACTIVELY”


APak’s impact on the environment is often influenced by our customers’ choice of products and logistical considerations, where a more sustainable solution may be costly and therefore not as attractive.

APak, in its role as a value-adding wholesaler, does not take enough responsibility to promote sustainability issues when the customer fails to do so.

Choice of company cars.

Our import and export transportation is, at present, one of our biggest environmental stressors that we ourselves control.

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ENVIRONMENTDESCRIPTION COUNTER MEASURESS K R

Present environmentally-friendly alternatives to our customers.

Invest more in sustainable products and their development.

Make sustainable products and solutions more cost-effective in order to be able to compete with existing products.

Always include a sustainability perspective when we present a solution to our customers, in order to try to influence their deci-sion-making process.

APak works intensively and continually to develop its sustainability work, and has allocated a number of resources, appointed a sustainability committee, linked our work to the UN’s global objectives - everything to make the work as practical and effective as possible.

Policy where we have emission requirements on cars that we purchase.Continually (at least once a year) review the policy in order to permit and promote purchasing of more environmentally-friendly cars.

In order to ensure that we do everything we can, we are, among other things, ISO 14001:2015 certified.

Develop a groupage freight system.

Plan production in good time in order to avoid air transport and to favour sea and train transport to countries outside Europe.

Explore local sourcing opportunities where it is possible to reduce the number of shipments.

Purchasing Mgr

CEO

CFO

CFO

Quality Manager

SCM

Purchasing Mgr

Purchasing Mgr

Purchasing Mgr

Purchasing Mgr

Sales Manager

RESPONSIBLE

S SANNOLIKHETKONSEKVENSRISK VÄRDE

KR

Appropriate recycling of our products.


Energy consumption on our sites and storage depots.

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We collaborate with FTI (Förpacknings & Tidningsinsamlingen), which means that we fulfil their recycling requirements. We also help our customers to do this in the right way.

We ensure recycling and sorting on all of our sites

We buy 100% green electricity, and in connection with the new construction in Mölndal, solar roof panels are being installed, which will make the main storage depot and head offices self-sufficient.

Quality Manager

SCM

Facility Manager

DESCRIPTION COUNTER MEASURESS K R RESPONSIBLE


Personnel and social conditionsPERSONNEL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

We do not invest our resources in the right areas and our eNPS (Employee Net Promoter Score) is falling.

12 2 We have implemented a digital system for performance reviews

with the purpose of ensuring that these are held on a regular basis.

By means of the above-mentioned tool, regularly check to increa-se eNPS and ensure that checks are made more often than the minimum level.

Increase the number of risk assessments performed to ensure that we are doing things right and that what we do is well thought-out.

HR Manager

HR Manager

HR Manager

APak or our partners do not comply with Swedish standards/collective agreements on social conditions.

12 2 Update and implement our new Code of Conduct as well as regu-

larly perform audits to ensure compliance with it. We do not work with anyone who cannot comply with our CoC.

aPak is bound by collective agreements and complies with legisla-tion and regulations in effect.

Purchasing Mgr

CEO



APak or our partners do not respect human rights in accordan-ce with the UN’s global objectives.

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RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

APak works intensively and continually to develop its sustainability initiatives and works towards the UN’s global objectives, for which it has allocated dedicated resources.

Clear equality plan where we work actively for an even distribution between men and women with regard to position, salary and say.Explicit decision that the next person in an executive position is going to be a woman.

CSR/Purchasing Mgr

Purchasing Mgr

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Our somewhat conservative industry makes it difficult to have an even gender distribution for different positions due to a lack of women in the recruitment process.

2 3 6 Clear equality plan where we work actively for an even distribution between men and women with regard to position, salary and say.

Explicit decision that the next person in an executive position is going to be a woman.

CEO/HR Mgr



Although aPak is managed from Sweden and the business operates in countries where corruption and bribery are strictly controlled and not common, the risk still remains.

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COUNTERACTING CORRUPTION

Update and implement our new Code of Conduct as well as regu-larly perform audits to ensure compliance with it. We do not work with anyone who cannot comply with our CoC.

Internal training at aPak on our anti-corruption policy and a brie-fing about it in all onboarding programs for new employees.Measuring and monitoring of the number of reported corrup-tion-related cases.

There are 0 cases to date.

Purchasing Mgr

HR Manager

CEO

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The cases that follow in this section give an insight into the work that we perform together with our customers to improve conditions, both for them and the environment. It is by means of this sort of

development work that we are able to make a big difference. There is always going to be a need to sell and transport products. Our task is to ensure that this happens based on improved terms!

FEET FIRMLY ON THE GROUND

There is great demand in the construction market for packaging that withstands water, humidity and cold temperatures. Most actors in the industry have chosen to meet this demand with plastic packaging, but we wanted to produce a better alternative. Together with our customer, Arvid Nilsson, who sells screws and fixings, we produced Miljöboxen. The first cardboard box in the industry that withstands water.

With The Eco Box, we have eliminated sub-quality materials and design to be left with a feather-light and completely recyclable packaging that can be used in both wet and dry conditions. The Eco Box weighs roughly a third of a corresponding plastic construction, and with its foldable design, only occupies a fraction of the area normally occupied during storage and transport. On a pallet that could previously accommodate hundreds of plastic boxes, there is now space for thousands of The Eco Box. The Eco Box uses a raw material from a natural, local and renewable source in Sweden. And not from just any producer, but from Billerud Korsnäs, a producer who works sustainably.

The Eco Box helps you to make environmental savings at all stages, but the greatest savings are made of course in trucks, or to be more specific, in all those truck deliveries that are no longer needed!

THE ECO BOX


”IT IS NOT ONLY US, OUR

CUSTOMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

THAT ARE HAPPY WITH MILJÖBOXEN;

AS IT HAS NOW BEEN CHOSEN

AS THE WORLD’S BEST PACKAGING

SOLUTION”

WORLDSTAR WINNER 2020

During a visit to one of the Volvo Group’s sub-contractors, we observed that their door brackets were handled and transported inefficiently. We therefore started to map and analyse the process and its different steps, which then resulted in an award-winning packaging solution, Protector Bags.

Due to a major reduction in material, a light-as-a-feather construction, the number of deliveries cut in half, and a now more than ever plastic-free and 100% recyclable product, Protector Bags have done wonders for the environment.

It is almost impossible to calculate the “environmental savings,” but no matter how you work the figures, the outcome is fantastically favourable for the environment. At aPak, we rarely speak of an ideal packaging solution, but when it comes to Protector Bags, we are ready to make an exception. Under similar conditions, we just can’t see how you would go about designing a greener solution in the future.

PROTECTOR BAGS


”DURING A ROUTINE VISIT, WE

SAW THE POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVEMENT

WHICH THEN RESULTED IN AN

AWARD-WINNING PACKAGING SOLUTION;

PROTECTOR BAGS”

WORLDSTAR WINNER 2020

There is always something that can be improved, and at aPak, we are convinced that our most effective tool to achieve a better and more sustainable future is a sound combination of knowledge and curiosity.

By making good use of the organisation’s knowledge and by continuing to encourage curiosity and innovation, we can ensure that processes are more effective and greener for us, our partners and our customers. The award-winning packaging solutions Protector Bags and Miljöboxen are good examples. With these packaging solutions, we have taken a giant step forward together with our customers, and the total environmental savings on major projects like these are enormous.

At aPak, we are working actively for a better future for us, for you and for our planet!

APAK - WE´VE GOT YOU COVERED

OUR FUTURE


In our sustainability report, we make reference to several different policies. These policies can be found in our Code of Conduct, so please refer to this for more information.

OUR POLICIES



Documents

SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2019 · APak works actively on work environment issues in different forums, such as safety committee and departmental meetings, and at performance reviews. APak