SUSTAI NABLE SOC I ET Y
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS THINK
“IVL helped us to develop our climate work.” The real estate company Willhem wants to be at the forefront in its sustainability work. This also includes mapping emissions from tenants and suppliers, an objective for which IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute has developed a concept. “We wanted to do this alongside IVL for a number of reasons. One is that our owners are demanding that we take action. Another reason is that we want to be certified in accordance with Science Based Targets. That would be a stamp of quality for our climate work,” said Sofia Rehn, sustainability strategist at real estate company Willhem. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has emerged from the Paris Agreement and is designed for those in the business sector who want to take responsibility for the climate work. The requirements are relatively stringent and the companies that manage to qualify are more than happy to tell the outside world. One of the requirements to qualify for SBTi involves mapping the company’s indirect emissions, such as those produced by tenants and suppliers, and which come under the designation Scope 3 according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Willhem already has a good grasp of the emissions directly from their own fleet of vehicles as well as from heating and energy. But what if the tenants drive a lot of miles using thirsty SUVs? Willhem doesn’t cause these emissions directly, of course, but it does have the potential to influence them and wants to get a grip of them. To get help with this, Willhem sent an enquiry to three operators, including IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. “There wasn’t much to choose between them.” The decision came down to IVL’s previous experience, for example in public utility projects. Of course, it’s valuable to have someone who has done this before. You gain a lot more out of that experience,” says Sofia Rehn. In particular, experience saves time. Over the years, the work of IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute has given rise to a concept for identifying emission items more rapidly and mapping the role that the company plays in the overall amount of emissions. This would otherwise require time-consuming detective and analysis work, which in the worst case scenario might drag on for several years. Using IVL’s methodology, the task can be completed in a matter of months or even weeks. “We have found a way of doing this more effectively,” says Annamaria Sandgren, who led the work from IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute’s side. The fact that it can take such a long time acts as a brake for many companies. One of the tricks is not to go into the details unnecessarily quickly, but instead to start with a more schematic overview of the sources of
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emissions and perform standard calculations on that basis. In addition, it is important to adopt a very broad approach and include all possible emission items. These calculations don’t need to be precise, and they can be adjusted later, but they kick-start the work, Annamaria Sandgren explains. “We start with a mapping process that is deliberately loose, but that helps us distinguish the large from the small. Because the important thing is to find out where it is possible to make a difference,” says Annamaria Sandgren. This work may involve a large proportion of the staff in the company. Many key individuals may then be included in discussing resources and roles, as well as considering possible actions. In Willhem’s case, a workshop was arranged where employees were had the opportunity to ask questions and give their views.
“I gained a great deal of confidence in IVL’s expertise and experience. This has been a major asset for us.” Sofia Rehn sustainability strategist at the real estate company Willhem
IVL SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
