Egholm and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals has set the course for a sustainable development and, at Egholm, we have elected to focus on four goals to which we can contribute and make a difference.
Many are familiar with the UN Sustainable Development Goals which were adopted by the heads of state and governments of the world at the UN summit in September 2015. The total of 17 goals came into force in 2016 and, in the period leading up to 2030, they will serve as a compass for our common journey towards sustainable development for both people and the environment.
Circular thinking is both an option and a necessity. The pressure on the resources of the planet means that the world faces a change in the way we think about resources and production. There is a need to reduce, reuse and recycle the materials that form part of products to ensure that the volume of primary - virgin - raw materials is replaced by secondary - recycled - raw materials. A circular economy, where the linear flow from raw material to waste is substituted by a cycle in which resources are constantly recycled.
The Sustainable Development Goals apply to all countries, both rich and poor, but in order for the goals to become more than merely words, it is important to give concrete expression to sustainable efforts. At Egholm, we have worked determinedly with the sustainable development goals to identify where we, as a company, can make the greatest possible difference. We have chosen to use goals 8, 9, 12 and 13 as our starting point.
Sustainable Development Goal 8
Decent jobs and economic growth
At Egholm, we place great emphasis on social responsibility. We feel that we are committed to taking responsibility for creating decent jobs, among other things, by focusing on measures that can increase well-being in the workplace and ensure that the personal and professional skills of employees are shown to their full advantage.
Furthermore, we have an intense focus on innovation and technological upgrading to increase both productivity and resource efficiency in the working day. Here too, our employees play a key role in implementing new tools and technologies.
Sustainable Development Goal 9
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
We want to be at the forefront of technological developments and to find sustainable solutions to both economic and environmental challenges. We know that our utility machines have a service life of about 20 years. Therefore, we are committed to mapping the infrastructure so that we can constantly find new and better solutions to dispose of and recycle components in the products that have served their time.
Sustainable Development Goal 12
Responsible consumption and production
At Egholm, we are constantly working to optimise our production methods in a more sustainable direction. Around 97% of the total CO2 emissions are from the use of machinery during its service life, which is why it is the primary focus area in our ambition to reduce our carbon footprint, both in the short and longer-term.
Sustainable Development Goal 13
Climate action
But what can we do as a company to contribute to the green transition once our machines are produced? We prepare them to use environmentally friendly diesel (HVO100) and environmentally friendly petrol (E85), which reduces CO2 emissions by 90% and 65%. However, we also focus on training the people who service and use machines daily to ensure the most optimal operation and use, including the machine operator’s ability to use the machine more efficiently.
Our ambition is to develop the most environmentally friendly utility machines on the market. Electricity is the obvious choice for propulsion today, but we do not want to follow the flow if, in 5 years, gas, hydrogen or artificial diesel turns out to be the most sensible choice. We want to do what makes the most sense for everyone, for people and for the environment.
Sustainability in motion
Work on sustainability is not a static process. We are getting smarter all the time, and our new knowledge will form the basis for smarter and greener ways of doing things and hopefully inspire others. However, we also know that we cannot do it all ourselves. Therefore, we are very open to developing collaborations with suppliers, customers or other companies to create a synergy effect where the total sum is much higher than the individual parts. Because that is the essence of the UN SDGs: That we tackle it together.