Our impact throughout the value chain

Our impact

Our approach

How we make a difference

Product development – Degree of influence: HIGH

Energy efficiency, carbon-efficient solutions, focus on safety and quality and on smart use of materials are central priorities. In 2021, we invested SEK 474m (4.6 percent of our revenue) in sustainable product development. 

•   Design products based on a lifecycle perspective
  – carbon-efficient from the cradle to the grave.
• Improve material use and the opportunity to recycle components.
• Develop functions that are safe and functional
• Ensure that products are of high quality and can be used for a long time

By driving the development of products with lower carbon emissions and through innovations in safety and material use, we strengthen our competitive ability and reduce both waste and energy use. 

Sourcing – Degree of influence: MEDIUM

Thule Group purchases raw materials and components from 650 suppliers in 32 countries. We work continuously to choose the best
suppliers to support our strategy of driving change and reducing risks in the supply chain.

•  Run our operations according to best business practices and a high ethical standard, and
  ensuring compliance with our Code of Conduct.
• Conduct regular audits and focus on sustainability.
• Encourage our suppliers to be innovative and
  share their good examples.

Partnership with our suppliers helps us achieve our sustainability goals and in parallel allows us to develop better products and drive cost savings. We encourage our suppliers to work with the same sustainability goals that we have, which helps us
reduce negative effects and increase transparency in the supply chain.

Own manufacturing – Degree of influence: HIGH

Thule Group has nine own assembly plants and 3,375 employees in 14 countries. Our sustainability agenda includes social, economic and environmental impact and our actions affect all parts of the value chain. Our direct greenhouse gas emissions account for a relatively small portion of our total climate impact and come primarily from energy use in our assembly plants.

• Strive to always conduct business according to ethical business methods and follow our Code of Conduct.
• Ensure health, safety and well-being.
• Attract, develop and retain the best talent in all portions of operations.
• Focus on always conducting operations sustainably and efficiently

As an international market-leading lifestyle brand with an excellent reputation, we can attract the right skills. Our employees receive competitive remuneration, skills training and are offered career opportunities at the same time as society benefits from jobs and tax income. Efficient production close to our main markets means both reduced costs and lower climate impact.

Transportation – Degree of influence: MEDIUM

Approximately 82 percent of our carbon emissions come from transportation, both upstream from our suppliers and downstream to our customers and consumers. Choice of packaging, co-loading and the length and method of transportation affect our carbon emissions positively or negatively.

• Reduce the share of air freight.
• Improve efficiency in the logistics chain.
• Optimize product packaging.
• Increase share of product assembly close to the market.
• Use more sustainable transportation methods for the last mile to the customer

The ambition to increase the share of sustainable transportation and reduce the share of air freight is an important part of our effort to contribute to society’s shared ambition to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Optimizing logistics also effects our long-term financial sustainability.

Customer experience – Degree of influence: MEDIUM

We sell our products in more than 30,000 retailers in 140 countries, in physical stores and online. We strive to promote and increase the sales of the most sustainable product alternatives when it applies to safety as well as climate and environmental impact.

• Emphasize advantages of our most sustainable products.
• Provide tools and marketing technology that can be adapted for local use all over the world.
• Provide spare parts and instructions about how consumers can extend the lifetime of the product.

Through our transparency about the climate, environmental and social impact of our products, we help our customers meet consumer expectations.

Use – Degree of influence: LOW

Since 80 percent of our sales come from products that are used on  ehicles, a significant portion of our  limate impact arises during use. Our  ability to reduce this impact is entirely dependent on our knowledge of product design and ability to ensure the right material is chosen.
Both aspects are central for being able to meet our stringent requirements and standards for safety in the most sustainable manner. It is also important for the product to be easy to mount on and off.

• Ensure lifecycle analyses based on actual
  use for all products.
• Develop products with low climate impact
  that meet the quality requirements for tough
  environments.
• Provide spare parts and instructions about
  how consumers can extend the lifetime of the
  product.

Ensure product solutions that increase personal safety, while product guarantees, spare parts and
instructions extend the lifetime of the product.

Recycling – Degree of influence: LOW

When our products reach the end of their lifecycle, material and components need to be recycling so
they can begin a new cycle. 

•  Recycle as an integrated component of product
  specifications and design work.
• Ensure lifecycle analyses based on actual use for all products.
• Follow changes in laws and regulations as well as trends in material development.
• Use more recyclable material in products.
• Promote circular approaches in partnerships
  with other companies.

Our products are largely manufactured out of aluminum, steel and plastic, which are all recyclable. We are investigating how we can use
more recycled material while we meet our stringent safety requirements and standards. The goal is to reduce waste from our products and come closer to creating a circular value chain. We collaborate with industry organizations when it comes to using sustainable fabrics.