Jakob: We have implemented a number of important sustainability activities in 2022, and we are continuing to work towards our sustainability goals. All the companies we have acquired contribute to several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We have reduced our CO2e emissions through turnover in comparable units* by 6.9 per cent. The proportion of companies with an equal distribution of women and men in senior positions in the Group has increased from 32 per cent in 2021 to 38 per cent in 2022, and the total proportion of women in senior positions in the Group has increased to 30 per cent, compared with 25 per cent last year. Last but not least, we have set up an incentive structure for Sdiptech’s executive team and our business units. All this is helping us to prepare for the future by creating value for our business units and enhancing our activities as a group.

My: The IPCC and IPBES reports paint a bleak picture of the future. Several tipping points have already been crossed, and we are confronted every day with statistics showing a worsening climate crisis and increasing social inequalities. The geopolitical situation, led by the tragic war in Ukraine, has shifted the markers for what is considered socially and climatically sustainable. This has created additional challenges for those of us working on sustainability issues, not least when it comes to responsible investments and acquisitions. But sustainability is not something we can take a break from. Failing to reduce our emissions now will make the situation even worse and simply postpone the problem until later. However, there are several glimmers of light: we are in daily contact with new companies that are contributing to safer, more sustainable, more efficient societies. At the same time, there is strong demand for our products that help to achieve a reduced carbon footprint and more social sustainability in society. We are also seeing how major customers are increasingly making more stringent demands in terms of sustainability. All this, together with the demands made, both in legal terms and by other stakeholders, is driving the agenda forward.

Jakob: We are seeing several new directives and guidelines that require companies to adapt. During the year, we have placed major emphasis on integrating sustainability into our corporate strategies when developing both products and processes in our around 40 business units. By helping our companies to develop, remain at the cutting edge of development and create competitive advantages, as a group we can also increase our value creation in respect of both existing and new companies.

My: We are in the midst of a major regulatory shift, and legislation in respect of sustainability is being stepped up in order to support the transition to more sustainable businesses. All of these initiatives and directives, such as the EU taxonomy, CSRD, HRDD, CSDD, TCFD and TNFD, impose stricter legal requirements. Every day we work to prepare for new rules and expectations. At the same time, we are absolutely certain that these initiatives, regulations and directives will both indirectly and directly enhance our operations through both resource efficiency and increased innovation, as well as reducing risks and increasing engagement. Besides further integrating sustainability into our business units’ strategies, we will focus in 2023 on developing our double materiality analysis, which will form the basis of our strategy and focus going forward. We will also develop our reporting and mapping of our suppliers still further so as to ensure social and climate aspects in our supply chains. We will go on training our employees in selected areas relating to sustainability and upcoming legislation. We are also looking into the possibility of setting an internal carbon price in order to simplify decisions on green investments.