Join us on our journey to become Scandinavia's most sustainable distributor of polymers.
Sustainability Journey
The road to greater social responsibility
Sustainability Journey
Click on each topic to read more about how we work and plan to work.
Environment
Used correctly, plastic is an important and valuable material. It is how we produce, consume and handle plastic that can contribute to environmental problems. For obvious reasons, it is in this area that we have the most items on the to-do list in our sustainability work. But it is also in the environmental field that we have already achieved the most.
What we can and should do: Prevent pollution / Protect the climate / Promote circular solutions and sustainable use of resources
Preventing pollution / Working for the climate
What we do
We are members of the Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) program, which works to help companies manage pellet leakage through key recommendations. We have also encouraged our partners to become members, if they are not already.
From 2022, we will measure the emissions of our transport. Then we can monitor over time whether we are improving. Customers can also get data on "their" transport.
We already drive almost exclusively with full cars when we pick up material from the continent, in order to transport as much weight as possible per transport/truck.
We work with local warehouses for smaller deliveries/orders.
All our company cars are electric.
We have access to electric car charging for all employees.
What little waste we produce, we make sure it is recycled properly.
Carriers choose boat/train over road when this option is available.
We have developed policies on how we deal with business travel, the means of transport we use, the restaurants we eat in, the hotels we stay in and where we book conferences, etc.
Encouraging our property owners to buy green electricity.
Offers our customers different transport solutions depending on what is most important to them (price, low emissions, fast delivery). You can read more about it here.
What we should/can do
The total amount of emissions generated by our activities must be measured. This means emissions from:
- The materials we sell
- The transport we buy
- The office
- Travel and overnight stays on duty
Promoting circular solutions and sustainable use of resources
What we do
We have developed a deposit system - RETURN, where we undertake to buy back all the materials we sell to our customers.
Focus on increasing volumes of recycled materials sold.
We are developing the portfolio of recycled materials and producers we work with.
We inform customers about the benefits of recycled materials.
We buy back packaging (pallets, material bags, etc.) left over from our materials, to ensure they are recycled and used in new products. We take responsibility from start to finish - not only for the product, but also the packaging.
We offer to help customers with their production waste if needed/requested. We grind it down, granulate (if needed) and put it back on the market so the material can go into new products.
We discuss a lot internally about the importance of circularity and sustainability.
To clarify our focus on sustainability, we have created Esvama Circular Solutions.
We support Svensk Plast financially. They work to increase knowledge about plastic as a material.
The breakdown in kg sold between recycled, NTP/OG and virgin material shall be quantified.
Measures the total amount of material we help to recycle.
Recycled materials are always a focus for us.
Spreading knowledge in society, for example by visiting schools and participating in public debate.
What we should/can do
Develop a calculator for the environmental impact of the different materials.
Continue to build on our knowledge base of recycled materials and the processes behind them.
Click on each topic to read more about how we work and plan to work.
Human rights
Human rights are the starting point for everything we do and the cornerstone of our actions and operations. For us in the West, human rights can be seen as something that only concerns developing countries. But there is much to be done here, for all countries and companies. Throughout the value chain - from the first subcontractor to the final customer, we can and should have an impact.
In our document The Esvama Commitment, we have developed internal guidance on how to act in several of these areas. We use the document as a basis for ensuring that our suppliers comply with applicable requirements and laws. We do this by obtaining their CSR policies or other governance documents. Suppliers with CSR policies and similar documents are given priority over those without.
What we can and should do: Safeguard human rights / Promote equality, equity and diversity / Avoid complicity / Address grievances / Identify risk situations / Safeguard fundamental principles and rights at work
Protecting human rights
What we do
We adhere to internationally recognised human and labour rights and standards, and these must be applied to all our employees.
We do not tolerate discrimination against anyone on the basis of their ethnicity, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, political opinions, family status, social origin or any other such characteristic.
We do not accept any form of harassment including violence, sexual harassment, punishment or abuse of any kind.
We do not allow forced or child labour.
We respect the right of our employees to organise, to join or not join associations and unions, and to bargain collectively with the company. Where necessary, we seek to facilitate other forms of employee representation.
Promoting healthy working conditions
What we do
Freedom under responsibility and flexibility, both in terms of time and place of work. This enables a better life balance for employees.
Trust in employees, greater commitment in return. Our employee survey shows that this is appreciated.
We care about building the team and giving employees that "little bit extra". It makes work more fun, which in turn makes it sustainable. We have team building days, Christmas and summer parties and similar activities.
We have policies in place and an employee survey that manages working conditions and measures our employees' well-being.
We offer other benefits, such as a wellness allowance and massage, and regularly provide lunch.
We have regular staff meetings to ensure that employees' wishes, requirements and expectations are known - and vice versa.
Promoting equality, equity and diversity
What we do
We strive to reflect the communities in which we operate. Our differences allow us to explore different perspectives and challenge our thinking, contributing to better decision-making.
Diversity for us means different aspects of diversity including gender, age, skills, experience, culture and personality.
Avoiding complicity
What we do
We ensure that we are not directly, indirectly or passively complicit in human rights abuses.
We refrain from taking advantage of someone else violating our rights and dare to speak out and influence if they do.
Handling grievances
What we do
We have mechanisms in place to quickly detect and address any misconduct, and ensure it doesn't happen again.
Identifying risk situations
What we do
We keep an extra eye on human rights in situations where the risk of violating them increases. For example, when we trade with companies in countries that do not share our view of human rights, or when our operations use resources that may compete with people's need for clean water or other means of a decent life.
We want to be a positive force for the protection of human rights by offering solutions in these situations.
Safeguarding fundamental principles and rights at work
What we do
We ensure that our employees and the employees of our suppliers have humane working conditions.
We do not tolerate forced or child labour.
Click on each topic to read more about how we work and plan to work.
Business ethics
Business ethics are about how we conduct our business, our responsibilities as entrepreneurs, our impact, ethical conduct and respect for the law.
In our document The Esvama Commitment, we have developed internal guidance on how to act in several of these areas. We use the document as a basis for ensuring that our suppliers comply with applicable requirements and laws. We do this by obtaining their CSR policies or other governance documents. Suppliers with CSR policies and similar documents are given priority over those without.
What we can and should do: Fight corruption / Participate responsibly in politics / Compete on a level playing field / Promote a sustainable value chain
Compete on a level playing field
What we do
We support free and fair competition in the market. It is in our interest and benefits society as a whole.
We believe that all companies should be able to trade and compete with us as they wish, as long as they follow local laws and regulations just as we do.
We are never involved in setting prices artificially high or low, or participating in other practices or agreements that restrict competition.
We do not exchange confidential information with competitors.
Working towards a sustainable value chain
What we do
As far as possible, we try to ensure that what is purchased for the company comes from businesses that are also sustainable and respectful of human rights, the environment and society at large.
We ensure that products can be traced if problems arise and that everyone involved can act responsibly.
Responsibility for our suppliers
What we do
We encourage our suppliers to act according to the same ethical and social guidelines as we do, and to maintain the same high quality standards.
We expect our suppliers not to accept corruption, and to comply with relevant environmental, human rights and labour legislation.
We encourage our suppliers to implement measures to ensure that their products and services have as little negative impact on the environment as possible, and do not adversely affect human health and society.
We encourage suppliers to implement certifiable quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems.
We regularly monitor suppliers' sustainability performance. Failure to meet our requirements may result in requests for improvement or termination of the collaboration.
Quality and product responsibility
What we do
We will always meet our customers' requirements, needs and expectations by delivering services and products of the right quality.
Our products must meet agreed, legal and health standards in terms of use.
The information on how to use the products must be correct and clear.
We work systematically. Certified quality management systems according to ISO 9001, and/or industry-specific certification systems, should be in place at suppliers where relevant.
Click on each topic to read more about how we work and plan to work.
Working environment
Our work environment management is about working together to create a safe and secure workplace for everyone, with an approach that is proactive and long-term.
In our document The Esvama Commitment, we have developed internal guidance on how to act in several of these areas. We use the document as a basis for ensuring that our suppliers comply with applicable requirements and laws. We do this by obtaining their CSR policies or other governance documents. Suppliers with CSR policies and similar documents are given priority over those without.
We work in the following areas: promoting secure employment and employment conditions / promoting healthy working conditions / promoting dialogue and openness at work / promoting good health at work / promoting personal development at work
Promoting secure employment and employment conditions
What we do
We offer terms and conditions for our employees that go far beyond what is required by law.
We act transparently towards our employees and inform them about the activities and situation of the company. This provides greater security.
By evaluating our suppliers annually, we ensure that:
- Investigate/clarify whether our suppliers offer secure employment and employment relationships, according to applicable requirements/laws. This is done by obtaining their CSR policy, or other documents dealing with the working environment. Suppliers who do not have a CSR policy or similar governance document should be given lower priority than those who do.
Promoting healthy working conditions
What we do
Freedom under responsibility and flexibility, both in terms of time and place of work. This enables a better life balance for employees.
Trust in employees, greater commitment in return. Our employee survey shows that this is appreciated.
We care about building the team and giving employees that "little bit extra". It makes work more fun, which in turn makes it sustainable. We have team building days, Christmas and summer parties and similar activities.
We have policies in place and an employee survey that manages working conditions and measures our employees' well-being.
We offer other benefits, such as a wellness allowance and massage, and regularly provide lunch.
We have regular staff meetings to ensure that employees' wishes, requirements and expectations are known - and vice versa.
By evaluating our suppliers annually, we ensure that:
- Investigate/clarify whether our suppliers offer secure employment and employment relationships, according to applicable requirements/laws. This is done by obtaining their CSR policy, or other documents dealing with the working environment. Suppliers who do not have a CSR policy or similar governance document should be given lower priority than those who do.
Promote dialogue and openness at work
What we do
We are open and transparent and provide continuous information about our activities, vision and goals.
We are responsive to each other and to ideas that come in.
We have an open and permissive climate, with employees who are coached and supported.
We have Monday meetings, with the opportunity for both management and staff to raise issues.
We have open doors.
We listen to employees, see what their needs are and address them. One of the ways we do this is through employee reviews.
We are proactive and dare to hire before capacity reaches its peak.
The ISO 9001 quality system helps us to work in a structured way and according to given processes - also with regard to our employees and their needs.
We dare to question routines and create best practice.
Our employees are given space to "do their thing" within a given framework. This promotes personal development, contributes to a deeper dialog and requires openness.
Promoting good health in the workplace
What we do
We have a wellness allowance, massages, and the opportunity to train for an extra week's holiday.
We have safety rounds to ensure a good physical working environment.
We have new, fresh premises.
In the case of teleworking, we support the costs of ergonomic adjustments etc.
To promote our corporate culture, we have developed values that we can implement in our operations: Humble, Dedicated, Meticulous.
In order to keep sick leave low and to prevent, avoid or shorten sick leave, we collect information on health risks, causes of sick leave, and the frequency and extent of sick leave.
Promoting personal development in the workplace
What we do
We offer and encourage all employees to attend courses/trainings. As long as it adds expertise to their areas of work, we are always supportive.
We capture what employees want and need, both through structured appraisal interviews and in more informal settings.
We have annual employee reviews (according to ISO 9001).
Monitoring of training and competences. Everything is recorded in our quality system.
We involve our employees in sustainability work and make them aware of the importance of a sustainable society and the circular use of resources.
Measures how many trainings/courses are conducted annually, as part of our sustainability report.
Click on each topic to read more about how we work and plan to work.
Customers
Customers need factual, unbiased information to make informed, sustainable choices. It is therefore important for us to work with clarity and transparency in all communication.
We focus on these areas: promoting good marketing, information and contractual practices / promoting safe products and services / promoting sustainable consumption / protecting customers' personal data and privacy
Promote good marketing, information and contractual practices
What we do
Contracts: we always send sales and purchase orders for all materials we buy and sell. For all major expenditures we have written contracts.
Information: we contribute primarily to the public debate through organisations such as SPIF and Svensk Plast. They try to convey the positive properties of plastics and to nuance the general debate on plastics, based on the available research (LCA analyses, etc.).
Marketing: we work with a marketing agency and we never promise more than we can deliver. When we market our products, we stick to the facts.
What we should/can do
We will inform our customers about the environmental impact of their purchases from us (emissions from transport and materials).
We will develop a calculator to show the totalCO2 impact of different materials.
Promoting safe products and services
What we do
Traceability: all materials in new products that we sell are 100% traceable. There is always a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) and the materials are REACH registered. There are no exceptions.
As for Near to Prime (NTP), off grade (OG) and recycled materials, there is no CoA and therefore not the same traceability. Therefore, we are always clear that it is NTP/OG or recycled material that the customer buys so they use the material in applications that are suitable for that particular purpose.
Regardless of whether it is new or not, the customer always receives information about the properties of the material that are known (e.g. mfi, density, etc.).
MSDS/SDS (Safety Data Sheets) are available for all materials.
Measures complaints from customers.
Promoting sustainable consumption
What we do
We believe that, more often than not, plastic is the best material choice for a sustainable future. This is based on all the LCA analyses that have been carried out and where the facts show just that.
One of the main characteristics of plastic is that it can be easily recycled, and this is where society needs to take big steps. We need to be better at collecting plastic (instead of littering) and the plastic we do collect needs to be managed so that as much of it as possible can be reused and not just incinerated. To help achieve this, we have developed the RETURN deposit scheme - where we put a value on the plastic we sell to increase the incentive to collect and recycle.
We help/encourage customers to recycle material they cannot/won't dispose of themselves, by milling and regranulating it.
Creating activities to raise awareness of plastic as a material and how to reuse it instead of littering.
With the 'Sustainability Journey' we are acting transparently with our stakeholders - where everyone can follow our progress and hopefully see the benefits of plastics when we can show good examples.
We continue to contribute to the public debate on plastics.
What we should/can do
Build our brand Esvama Circular Solutions and use it in the debate/promotion.
Protecting customers' personal data and privacy
What we do
GDPR. We have a policy that clearly governs this.
Server/IT. We work with a cloud-based server where the service provider ensures adequate protection. This is also reviewed on an ongoing basis by our IT provider. VPN is used for remote connections.
Microsoft 365. We have two-factor authentication.
Click on each topic to read more about how we work and plan to work.
Society
Contrary to popular belief, many analyses show that plastic is often the best material choice for a sustainable future. One of the main characteristics of plastic is that it can be easily recycled, and this is where society needs to take big steps. Here we have an important mission to engage, inform and contribute to the social debate.
We focus on: engaging with the local community / promoting jobs and skills development in the community / encouraging local entrepreneurship
Engaging in the local community
What we do
We sponsor local sports clubs
We sponsor international associations
Create littering/collection activities together with the school.
What we should/can do
Lecture/tell about plastics as a construction material.
Promoting jobs and skills development in the community
What we do
We give our employees the opportunity to attend courses/trainings that are in line with their profession. This enhances their skills and thus the benefit to society.
Measures the number of courses/trainings
What we should/can do
We aim to grow and hope to employ people both locally and in other countries in the markets in which we operate.
Encouraging local entrepreneurship
What we do
We sponsor the local business association (HPCS).
We buy Christmas and summer gifts for our customers and suppliers from local businesses.
When we can, we choose to work with local companies (e.g. IT, Vianor).
Supporting JA activities in secondary schools
Supporting new entrepreneurs through the Compass mentoring program
We will minimize transport emissions
Esvama purchases a lot of transportation every year - it's one of the parts of our business with the biggest negative environmental impact. It is therefore important to us that we work closely with our transport partners to offer the most sustainable solutions possible.
When we discuss transport, we divide it into three categories that we have to consider and evaluate: environmental impact (CO2 emissions), lead time and cost. For us, being sustainable is a matter of course and this means that we have to weigh these categories against each other for an optimal combination.
Too little focus on costs results in customer offers that no one wants to pay for - and that's not sustainable. If we lose focus on lead time, our customers risk having to wait too long, which can lead to them losing interest. And if we have too little focus on the environment, the whole chain becomes unsustainable from an environmental perspective.
We have chosen to prioritize the environment and how we can limit our CO2 emissions. Our partners plan each individual delivery based on this, and when we develop our transports, it can be a matter of minimizing road transports in favor of boat and train transports.
Many people call this "green transport", but for us it's ordinary standard transport. (According to us, green transport is basically 100 percent fossil-free) This is a choice we have made and when you buy materials from us, you should know that we work hard every day to minimize our negative environmental impact.
We also offer our customers an opportunity to influence their transport, based on their priorities. For example, if lower emissions are the most important factor - we will look at how we can tailor the transports accordingly. As a customer, you can already get information about the amount of carbon dioxide your transports emit. If you are interested, please contact us.
But - we will never accept reduced low-emission requirements to drive down costs as much as possible. We do not believe this is a sustainable approach.
In our sustainability report, we report annually on total emissions from transportation. We believe in transparency and cooperation at all levels to reduce average emissions year after year.
