• TOWARDS A GREEN TRANSPORT CORRIDOR OVER THE BALTIC SEA
• A LOGISTICS HUB IS TAKING SHAPE
IN THIS ISSUE:
COVER LETTER
SCANDIC TRANS IS EXPANDING
BREWING COLLABORATION FOR EFFICIENT LOGISTICS
EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION PROVIDES GROWTH
SUSTAINABILITY WORK AT ALL LEVELS
TOWARDS A GREEN TRANSPORT CORRIDOR OVER THE BALTIC SEA
CSRD – A CATALYST FOR CHANGE
HR INVESTMENT WITH A NEW SERVICE AND A NEW SYSTEM
CLOETTA – CONFECTIONERY IN ALL CATEGORIES
VIRTUAL JOHNNY TAKES CARE OF THE INFORMATION
DIGITALISATION MAKES IT EASIER TO ISSUE QUOTES A FLOW OF SPECIALITY PAPER
Scandic Trans Lagervägen 14 65610 Korsholm
Production: bySand and Kustmedia
Editorial: Mikael Löfqvist, Johan Lövdahl, Helena Perätalo, Anna Sand, Lisbeth Bäck
Text & Photo: Anna Sand/bySand
Translation: PNP Crossing Borders Oy
Layout: Kustmedia
Printing: KTMP Group 2024
Coverphoto: Linda Svarfvar
Welcome to Delivered 2024, the sixth edition of our customer magazine. Perhaps you’re reading it for the first time, in which case I’d like to extend a specially warm welcome to our world. For those of you who’ve read our magazine before, I hope you’ll take a moment to give us some feedback. See the competition box and the QR code below.
Each year, the magazine has a theme or an angle that reflects the times we’re living in and our future prospects. In this edition, we focus particularly on the company’s headquarters in Korsholm/Vasa. Since the company began, the head office has functioned as a air traffic control tower with the sales team close at hand and a finance department that plays a central role for the entire organisation. Follow the head office’s progress as we build a logistics hub for the future!
The company’s sustainability work has been developed to the point where it has become part of our continuous development work. Every step we take forms a natural part of the company’s development as we seek, result by result, to achieve new goals. On pages 12-13, you can read about a specific, innovative example of how we’re working to combi ne more environmentally-friendly transport options throughout the chain, from loading to unloading.
We also want to highlight our fantastic employees and have therefore chosen to introduce the people who are key to the company’s success. You can follow them both in the magazine and in our social media channels.
Thank you for taking a moment to read this editorial and we hope you enjoy going on to read all the interesting content in the magazine. Happy reading!
Mikael Löfqvist, CEO Scandic Trans
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK AND WIN AN IPAD!
You are holding the sixth edition of our Delivered magazine in your hand. The first edition came out in 2019 and every year we strive to make the magazine one step better than previous years. We’d love to hear your opinion on whether we have succeeded. Which article did you appreciate most in this issue of Delivered and what would you like to read more or less about?
Leave your feedback in the questionnaire that you can find with the QR-code or at www.scandictrans.com, and you have the chance to win a new iPad. The winner will be drawn from among all those who have answered by November 30, 2024 and notified personally by Scandic Trans. Thanks for your contribution and good luck!
Scandic Trans is expanding
The head office is being enlarged and is growing with the addition of a company hub, a terminal and a high-bay storage facility
In the latest issues of Delivered, we have talked about the growth of the subsidiary Scandic Logistics on the west coast of Sweden, the establishment of a new terminal in the capital city region and the terminal operations in Åbo. Now the focus is on the head office in Korsholm/Mustasaari outside Vasa, which is undergoing expansion on three fronts and at the same time investing in new operations in the region.
Text & photo: Anna Sand
There are many reasons for the expansion – as well as many synergies. The three-part project began as early as in 2023, with the renovation of an existing, but somewhat unused warehouse adjacent to the head office. After the renovation, this now serves as a terminal and a warehouse for Finland’s largest brewery, Hartwall.
“Phase one included ground works, installation of geothermal heating and construction of three loading
ramps beside the warehouse, which was adapted according to the customer’s needs and wishes,” says CEO Mikael Löfqvist
At the same time, planning for the next two phases began. Those phases consisted of an expansion of the office space and the construction of a new high-bay storage facility on the site.
“We’ve outgrown our current office space – the limit has quite simply been reached. We need more
As early as in the autumn of 2023, the existing warehouse was rebuilt and equipped with three loading ramps. The second phase of the expansion of the head office at Fågelberget/ Lintuvuori in Korsholm/Mustasaari began in May, when the civil construction work for the new office section began. The new office space consists of 250 m2 on each floor. All staff spaces are being moved to the upper floor and a completely new logistics hub – a business centre for small
workspace and more conference space – quite simply, more space and greater flexibility,” continues Löfqvist.
The expansion of the offices involves a total area of 500 m² spread over two floors.
“We’ll have modern offices, more communal open spaces for spontaneous discussions, more meeting rooms and we’ll also have quiet spaces.
After the expansion has been completed, all staff will work on the upper floor, while the lower floor will be rented out to partners and other companies in the industry according to a new concept.
“We’re now creating a completely new environment in which both logistics companies and companies with a need for logistics will be able to network, exchange experiences and grow together. From February 2025, Scandic Trans will be able to offer office space for companies with a workforce of between 1 and 10 people. We’re simply creating a logistics hub, where everyone who wants to now has the opportunity to take advantage of the synergies that arise in a business centre of this kind,” explains Löfqvist.
According to the plan, the new logistics hub in the newly built premises on the lower floor will accommodate two to four tenants, who will be able to store their goods – from 1-100 pallets – beside the office space.
“At the same time, we’re able to offer terminal services and distribution services in the same place, particularly to small customers,” adds Löfqvist.
Many small and medium-sized companies see logistics as a major challenge and, after the expansion, Scandic Trans will be able to help them by handling transshipments for onward transport both nationally and to the rest of Europe.
and medium-sized companies in the region – will be created on the lower floor.
“This is an excellent opportunity for other companies in the industry or companies with different logistics needs to establish themselves in our logistics hub,” says CEO Mikael Löfqvist.
Environmental thinking and recyclable materials, as well as lighting and sound insulation, are important aspects of the project, in which Göran Doktar is the main designer and Byggservice Kronqvist Ab is the main contractor.
The third and final phase of the expansion project involves the construction of a new warehouse on the southern side of the property, connected at a right angle to it.
“That means that we’ll soon be able to make full use of the site, while at the same time being able to offer expanded logistics services to companies in need of storage. Construction will begin if and when we sign a long-term lease with a customer,” explains Löfqvist.
The planned warehouse includes a transshipment terminal with a loading dock and loading ramps with space for 35-metre truck combinations, temperaturecontrolled storage space for up to 3,000 pallets and a direct connection to the office building.
Sustainability and environmental thinking form a permanent part of the project, throughout the chain.
“We’ve already switched to geothermal heating and the roof of the building is also being prepared for solar panels. As far as possible, we use recyclable and environmentally friendly materials, as well as quiet materials. Both lighting and sound insulation are prioritised in the new spaces and the entire ventilation system is also being renewed at the same time,” adds Löfqvist.
Byggservice Kronqvist Ab is acting as the main contractor for the construction, while Göran Doktar at GD Byggnadsplanering is the main designer. The start-up meeting for the expansion of the office was held at the beginning of May and the mechanical shovels went into the ground the following week.
You can read more about the first part of the project and the new tenant in the warehouse at Fågelberget/Lintuvuori on the next double page!
Hartwall and Scandic Trans Brewing collaboration for efficient logistics
As Finland’s largest brewery, Hartwall has an enormously welldeveloped logistics network and, in addition to the central warehouse and logistics centre in Lahti, this includes over a dozen smaller terminals around the country. One of them is now located in the Scandic Trans premises in Korsholm.
Text: Anna Sand • Photo: Hartwall & Anna Sand
Hartwall was welcomed as a new tenant in the converted warehouse space last year after it had been adapted to their needs and wishes.
“We also previously had a terminal in the Vaasa area but had been looking for a more suitable space for a good number of years,” begins Tomi Heinäaho, Logistics Manager at Hartwall. “We needed more space for increasingly large vehicle combinations and deliveries, and thanks to our excellent collaboration with Scandic Trans, we now have a very well-functioning terminal right next to national highway 8.”
Large consignments arrive at the terminal on a daily basis from the central warehouse in Lahti where one of Hartwall’s two large production facilities is also located.
“In Lahti we have everything from our own well to a state-of-the-artmanufacturing unit. Our second factory is located in Karijoki where our own water source forms the basis of our production,” Heinäaho continues.
its turnover.
“Hartwall has a comprehensive network of restaurant customers and strong logistics while Solar Group has a wide range of products in Alko stores. This includes Henkell Freixenet, Hardy’s, Landon and Barone Montalto.”
Hartwall’s own, most legendary products are the Orange Jaffa, Novelle and Original Long Drink, which was created before the Olympics in Helsinki 1952 and now has its own day in the Finnish calendar – November 12th is celebrated as “The Greyest Day of the Year”. Through previous acquisitions during the 20th century, Karjala, Lapin Kulta and Lahden Erikois are also included in Hartwall’s product range and the company is also Pepsi’s and Heineken’s partner in Finland.
In addition to its own production, which includes everything from mineral water to soft drinks, various specialty drinks as well as cider and beer, Hartwall is also a significant beverage importer. The brewery has been part of the Royal Unibrew Group since 2013 and when they acquired the entire Solera Group in 2021, Hartwall also became a strong player in the domestic wine market.
Hartwall’s logistics manager Tomi Heinäaho is very satisfied with the facilities at Scandic Trans in Korsholm.
Solera Group is an importer and distributor of hundreds of well-known wines, and through the acquisition Hartwall’s product portfolio grew markedly, as did
As the final destinations for our daily beverage deliveries around the country, there is therefore everything from cafes to restaurants, kiosks to shops as well as various sites where there are beverage vending machines.
“In our terminal outside of Vaasa there is also a separate warehouse for just this purpose, the so-called vending distribution,” Heinäaho says. “At the terminal, we also offer service and spare parts for the customer’s postmix-units, with which soft drinks are produced from concentrates.”
He is very satisfied with the collaboration that has been built together with Scandic Trans and with the way the former warehouse space was renovated and rebuilt based on Hartwall’s specific needs.
“We have received a fantastic reception here,” he concludes.
Hartwall’s central warehouse and logistics centre are located in Lahti and from there shipments arrive at the terminal in Korsholm five days a week.
Peter “Dalle” Dahlgren was able to expand his fleet of vehicles from four to twelve when he started working with Scandic Trans a number of years ago. Three vehicles operate in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, while the rest distribute goods in the capital city region.
Effective collaboration provides growth
The morning ferries have arrived in Helsinki and with them today’s goods from Sweden. The trucks unload the shipments using a shuttle system inside the terminal in Vanda. This is where Peter “Dalle” Dahlgren and his company, Transport P. Dahlgren Ab, have their offices and where Scandic Trans also rents a terminal and around 1,000 m2 of warehouse space.
Text & photo: Anna Sand
Peter Dahlgren grew up in the transport industry since both his grandfather and his father were truck drivers. His brother Bengt Dahlgren also chose the same path, and his own career choice was therefore quite obvious.
“As a child, I spent a lot of time with them, both in the vehicles and in the warehouse, and I started my own business in 1997 after having been employed as a driver for a number of years,” begins the entrepreneur, who is a native of Kirkkonummi.
Until a few years ago, Dahlgren was operating four vehicles. Today that number has increased to twelve. Four of them are long-distance trucks and three of those are engaged in international transport services within the Nordic region for Scandic Trans. Dahlgren explains that the number of vehicles tripled due to the simple fact that he began to work with Scandic Trans.
“The trucks that handle distribution here in the capital city region transport 70% of their goods for Scandic Trans and I currently have a total of 14 employees. Just last year, I acquired three new vehicles and so far this
Fredrik Lindgren unloads the second shipment of the day to JYSK in Varastorna in Vanda.
“The work involves a lot of meetings with customers and you have to remember that you’re acting as a business card for your client,” he says.
as his father.
year I’ve acquired two new ones. The volume of goods has continually increased,” he says.
His brother Bengt is now employed by Scandic Trans and also works at the Vanda terminal.
A lot of the goods transshipped in the terminal consist of furniture and interior design products from the Danish group JYSK, which has a central warehouse in Nässjö in Sweden.
“When JYSK chose Scandic Trans as a logistics partner a few years ago, it also meant a big increase in my transport volumes. Here in the capital city region, there are 25-30 JYSK stores and every day we distribute goods to over 20 of them – all in locations where it’s impossible to load directly from a trailer. Also, some of the stores occasionally receive two vehicles a day,” adds Dahlgren.
vehicles. Specifically, the work takes place in the same system as Scandic Trans, LogiControl.
“But I also keep a lot of the information stored in my head,” smiles Dahlgren. The collaboration with Scandic Trans works very well and I enjoy my job and I also enjoy working in this industry, even though hardly a day goes by without some problem that needs to be solved,” says Dahlgren, answering yet another phone call.
The other deliveries for the day are being loaded in the terminal and one of the trucks is being driven by his son Niklas Dahlgren, who has chosen to follow in his father’s footsteps. The truck being loaded is driven by Fredrik “Fredo” Lindgren and the unloading takes place at JYSK Varastorna in Vantaa.
" When JYSK chose Scandic Trans as a logistics partner a few years ago, it also meant a big increase in my transport volumes
Spring and summer are the peak seasons for garden furniture, and the volumes are noticeably higher. But the volumes of goods in the terminal include a lot of other things – everything from electronics to stoves and other pallet goods. Dahlgren coordinates all transports himself and therefore acts as a traffic planner for all his
“I’m basically a vehicle mechanic, but I ended up at the transport company when I was doing my military service in Dragsvik and I got my E-driving licence that way. I worked as a mechanic for five years and since then I’ve driven both lorries and long-distance trucks. I used to spend a lot of time driving in Europe.
Nowadays, Lindgren mainly drives in the capital city region, but also does the occasional shift on Dahlgren’s international services.
“The best thing about the job is the freedom. Every day is different and after many years on the roads in southern Europe, this feels comfortable now.”
Dahlgren’s son Niklas has chosen the same industry
Military service at the transport company turned Fredrik Lindgren into a driver. After many years on the roads in Europe, he is now happy to stay around Ring III and do the occasional shift on the Swedish service.
Sustainability work at all levels
Anyone who has followed the contents of Delivered since the magazine was started in 2019 is by now well aware of the fact that Scandic Trans has been focusing on its sustainability work for a long time. Today, this is observable at all levels of the company and it is now time for the next step in that work – full implementation of CSRD and the ability for customers to also choose more environmentally friendly maritime transport.
Text: Anna Sand • Photo: Pressphoto
Alot has happened in the past five years.
“Customers’ demands have increased significantly and nowadays the information they ask for is completely different – not whether we sort our waste or not,” says Linda Bengs, Sustainability Manager at Scandic Trans.
The environmental management system introduced in the group a number of years ago laid the foundation for the extensive sustainability work that is now carried out at several levels. Scandic Trans established its own environmental goals in 2022 and has been focusing on CO emissions for a long time. A proprietary reporting system has been developed to enable the company to respond to customer requirements. The system makes it possible to issue detailed reports on emissions per delivery down to pallet level.
development. One aspect of this work is the study carried out at the end of 2023 with the help of KjellOwe Ahlskog at Alcea on the possibilities of alternative energy sources for the heavy transports that make up Scandic Trans’ main business activity.
" Today, around 20 per cent of all Scandic Trans’ vehicles are refuelled just with HVO
“Scandic Trans’ goal is a circular economy. We take all interested parties into consideration – from financiers to road users and even fuel companies. The transition is farreaching, takes time and should be thoroughly studied. This is the first study we’ve carried out at our own expense, though it probably won’t be the last. Knowledge is the key to success,” says CEO Mikael Löfqvist
“HVO was introduced a few years ago and we got many customers on board with us at an early stage. Today, around 20 per cent of all Scandic Trans’ vehicles are refuelled just with HVO, says Bengs.
In parallel with the question of fuel, there is also expressed focus on the fleet of vehicles and its
The study contained a comparison of HVO, natural gas, biogas, E-methane, electricity and hydrogen as alternatives and future alternative fuels for the company and its transports. Scandic Trans’ main routes in the Nordic countries coincide closely with the EU TEN-T Core Network and Comprehensive Network and for these networks, the EU AFIR Regulation stipulates how all countries must develop the infrastructure of charging points, including for trucks. Requirements for the expansion of hydrogen and vehicle gas refuelling stations are also defined in the AFIR.
SUSTAINABILITY WORK AT SCANDIC TRANS
2000
• Environmental work begins with documentation in an environmental handbook
2001
• First environmental report
• An Environmental Policy and the first environmental targets are established
2003
• Certification according to ISO-14001
2005
• Software for emissions reporting is acquired
2010
• The first Euro5 vehicle
2015
• The first Euro6 vehicle
the
The report states that if and when the charging and hydrogen refuelling stations are installed along the countries’ core networks in accordance with the AFIR, most of Scandic Trans’ main routes should also have a sufficiently dense network of charging and refuelling stations to meet the basic demand.
At present, there are really no alternatives to traditional diesel and HVO that can do this without reducing the distance covered and/or the load weight. Hydrogen appears to be the most suitable alternative for heavy long-haul transport in the long term but there are not many hydrogen trucks in production at present. However, a number of manufacturers state that they will launch hydrogen trucks adapted for heavy transport in the near future and sales of hydrogen trucks for heavy long-haul transport in Finland are expected to take off towards the end of the 2020s.
The choice of fuel will depend to a great extent on
the use of the vehicle. The need for a refrigeration/ freezer unit and its energy supply should also be taken into consideration in the choice of fuel and the costs (TCO – Total Cost of Ownership) are, of course, ultimately one of the most important factors in hauliers’ decisions to invest in new vehicles.
“This is an issue we will have reason to return to many times yet,” says Löfqvist.
While development is ongoing as far as fuel and vehicles are concerned, major changes will take place in 2024 at the Scandic Trans head office in Korsholm, which is being extended in three stages, the first of which has already been completed.
On the inside of the walls work is in progress to adapt to the new reporting requirements, CSRD. Scandic Trans will now also start offering customers more environmentally friendly maritime transport. You can read more about this on the following double page
2019
• Waybills and transport orders handled digitally
• More than 90% of the vehicles are Euro 5 and Euro 6
2020
• The first HVO transports
• Possible to obtain emission and sustainability reports directly from LogiControl
2021
• The EU’s climate goals 2030 are adopted as Scandic Trans’ overall environmental goals 2023
• Alternative forms of energy project
• Geothermal ground heating installed at the head office
• Preparations for CSRD
2024
• Offering green sea transport in collaboration with Viking Line
Progress in the number of customers choosing HVO for their transports.
The development of
proportion of HVO in Scandic Trans’ vehicles and the reduction in emissions since then.
Towards a green transport corridor over the Baltic Sea
With over 300 crossings a week, Scandic Trans is a significant freight customer for the shipping companies on the Baltic Sea. For many of Scandic Trans’ customers, maritime transport also makes up a large proportion of the entire transport distance, and Scandic Trans, in collaboration with Viking Line, is therefore offering a completely new green sea freight option from this year onwards.
Since 2023, Viking Line has been offering its passengers on the Åbo–Stockholm route the option of purchasing renewable biofuel in proportion to the amount consumed on their crossing, thereby reducing the emissions for their crossing by up to 90%. The same option has also been introduced for the shipping company’s freight customers and Scandic Trans, as usual, is taking the lead in the industry by taking advantage of this opportunity.
“Our customers now have the option of choosing biofuel for their entire transport chain,” says Linda Bengs, a Sustainability Manager at Scandic Trans.
“From the emissions reports we offer our customers, many of them have noted that in cases where
road distances are relatively short or where they have already switched to HVO for those distances, maritime transport is responsible for a large proportion of their transport emissions,” continues Bengs.
“Many of them have therefore asked for an opportunity to do something about this and now we’re able to offer one.” The option of also being able to choose biofuel for maritime transport is an excellent complement to the option of choosing biofuel for road transport – which Scandic Trans has been offering for several years.
In 2013, Viking Line was the first shipping company in the world to launch a passenger vessel powered entirely by liquefied natural gas, LNG. Now the shipping company has sailed further in sustainable maritime transport. Thanks to the investment in the climate-smart vessels Viking Grace and Viking Glory – a total investment of EUR 450 million – it is now possible for customers to choose biofuel – more specifically biogas, LBG, for their crossings on these vessels. Freight customers have also been able to purchase a green crossing since the end of 2023.
Text: Anna Sand • Photo: Viking Line & Linda Svarfvar
“There’s a great deal of interest among logistics buyers in climate-efficient transport and we’re now meeting that demand with “Green Shipping on Demand”. So you book a greener journey or freight and we fill our tanks with the equivalent quantity of LBG needed for the crossing,” explains Harri Tamminen, Vice President Freight at Viking Line.
Viking Glory and Viking Grace were equipped with the ability to use biogas and synthetic fuels produced using renewable energy as early as at the construction stage. They normally run on liquefied natural gas, LNG, which is also a low-emission source compared to oil-based fuels.
“LNG has been the cleanest fuel for maritime transport for a long time and nitrogen emissions are 85% lower from LNG than from oil fuels, while carbon dioxide emissions are 20% lower. Using LBG, we can also promise a 90% reduction in emissions of all greenhouse gases – not just CO2 – even though the actual measurements carried out have shown a 95% reduction compared to marine diesel,” explains Tamminen.
LBG (liquefied biogas or Bio-LNG) is a renewable marine fuel that contains 100% renewable energy produced from biodegradable raw materials from household waste or residual products from the agricultural and food industries.
Since LBG has an equivalent composition to LNG, they can be mixed in any quantity and used together on Viking Grace and Viking Glory.
“In practice, we purchase biogas with the surcharge that customers pay when they choose a greener crossing or freight,” continues Tamminen.
THE WAY TO A GREENER TRANSPORT
• Shipping accounts for around 3% of global CO2 emissions and 10–15% of global emissions of sulphur and nitrogen oxides.
• Viking Grace was the first large passenger vessel in the world to run on LNG.
• As a marine fuel, LNG is interchangeable with fossil-free and fully renewable LBG (liquefied biogas). Both LNG and LBG consist of methane and can therefore be mixed.
• The transition to LNG resulted in the complete elimination of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter emissions and a reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions of around 85%.
• LBG also makes it possible to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90%.
“A
The biogas used on Viking Line is of European origin, mainly from Denmark. It is transported by gas pipeline to Norway, where it is liquefied and then transported on to a terminal in Sweden. There, it is taken on board a bunker vessel, which then transfers it to Viking Grace and Viking Glory while they are in port in Stockholm. Each delivery of LBG comes with a certificate of sustainability that enables the origin of the gas to be traced.
The option of choosing biofuel for their crossing has been extremely well received by passengers and now freight customers, and therefore also Scandic Trans customers, have the same option.
“The surcharge per pallet or per tonne is not high,” says Tamminen, “but, despite that, implementing “Green Shipping on Demand” is still a more extensive process since our freight customers have to sell it to their logistics buyers in turn. That’s where the choice
is made – in industry and commerce,” Tamminen points out and goes on:
“Scandic Trans has been at the forefront since day one and effective collaboration has now enabled them to offer their customers all the information they need to allow them choose a greener ticket.”
Mikael Löfqvist, CEO of Scandic Trans, continues:
“We’re now offering our customers a unique opportunity to be pioneers in sustainable development. Anyone who chooses our greener options can always be sure that it’s the most sustainable option, not only in the short term but also in the long term. We’ve already come a long way in our environmental work and we’re always ready to offer sensible economic solutions.”
Two pioneers have come together in their sustainability work and even though completely carbonneutral transport is still in the future, they both aim to be among the first when the time comes.
As a pioneer among Scandic Trans customers, Orkla made a decision to choose greener sea transport starting in the summer of 2024. All Orkla’s transports from Fågelmara to Finland are now fuelled with HVO for road transport and LBG for sea transport. The total emissions have been reduced by around 90% compared to earlier with only HVO as an option.
green, carbon-neutral transport corridor over the Baltic Sea is no longer a utopian ideal,” says Harri Tamminen, Vice President Freight at Viking Line.
CSRD – A catalyst for change
In last year’s issue of Delivered, the EU’s new directive on sustainability reporting for companies, CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) was presented, at the same time as we explained Scandic Trans’ own preparations for the reform. A year has passed and now the CSRD is also being gradually implemented from 2024 at Scandic Trans.
Text: Anna Sand • Photo: Anna Sand & Pressphoto
In the transition towards a more sustainable world, CSRD plays an important role. It creates incentives for change and ensures that companies consider environmental, social and economic issues.
The CSRD directive came into force in January 2024 and right now EU member states are working to incorporate CSRD into their respective countries’ legislation.
to steer investments towards sustainable businesses. The directive supports the European Green Deal, the aim of which is net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, decoupling economic growth from resource consumption and leaving no people or places behind.”
In other words, CSRD is a catalyst for change and extensive work awaits many companies if they want to meet the requirements. For small and medium sized companies, the requirements will not come into force until 2026 but there are already smaller companies that have chosen to report according to CSRD. Scandic Trans is one of them.
When the directive is fully implemented, nearly 50,000 companies within the EU will have to report sustainability information compared to just over 11,000 companies who have done it previously.
“In Finland the changes to the law are already in effect due to an amendment which was made to the Accounting Act 2023,” states Timo Kaisanlahti, a leading expert at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland. “CSRD is part of a larger package of measures
GOALS OF THE CSRD
• To direct capital towards sustainable investments.
• To facilitate the management of financial risks resulting from climate change and environmental destruction.
• To create benefits for individual companies and create awareness within the company about risks and opportunities linked to sustainability.
“We don’t know exactly when we will meet the criteria but there are already some customers who ask for this data so the data must be available to them. As a forerunner in sustainability work, we decided to start preparations in good time and this year we have made the report according to the new directives,” says Linda Bengs, sustainability manager at Scandic Trans.
“We already compiled shorter environmental reports in the past but with CSRD the requirements for reporting are higher and of the three focus areas, environment, governance and social factors, we still have work to do regarding the last one. The establishment of a new HR service at Scandic Trans is part of this job,” she continues. Regarding the environment and governance, most of the necessary data was already available thanks to our previous environmental and quality work within the Group but in this year’s report parameters, source references and reliability have been taken to the next level.
Implementing the new way of thinking at all levels of the company takes time and, according to Bengs, this process has only just begun.
“HR is a strategic partner that has an effect on the development of the company, even if much of the work is not specifically visible to anyone outside the department,” says HR specialist Helena Perätalo.
HR investment with a new service and a new system
In recent years, HR has in general gone from being a personnel department that only deals with matters relating to employment law and salaries to being a department that plays a crucial role for the success of the company. The department that was previously associated with administrative work and pastries and which also perhaps served as the company’s party planner, has now become a strategic partner with a major impact on the company and its growth.
Text & photo: Anna Sand
Scandic Trans is one of the companies to realise that HR is an important key player for the group’s success and major investments have been made in the company’s HR in 2023-24.
“Personnel matters were previously dealt with by the CEO and shared resources within the staff, which wasn’t optimal. As the company has grown, we made a strategic decision last year to establish a new HR service. This, combined with the fact that in spring 2024 we also started up a new system for HR and monitoring of working time, means that our HR is now at a much more professional level,” says CEO Mikael Löfqvist.
“It’s been an intense year, but the new HR system makes it easier for both staff and supervisors,” says Helena Perätalo, an HR specialist at Scandic Trans.
“It also makes it easier to prepare the reports that must be issued in accordance with CSRD in future –we’re now able to obtain significantly better statistics and the system also contains many useful features that we haven’t yet had time to start using, including features relating to enhancement of skills. That establishes a solid foundation for our future ability to develop,” adds Perätalo.
During the year, she has also been responsible for updates and adjustments to the company’s staff guide, as well as for changing the company’s occupational healthcare provider.
“Scandic Trans’ occupational healthcare is at an excellent level, and the same goes for staff benefits,” she says. Besides statutory occupational healthcare services and insurance policies, we have more extensive services that also cover specialist medical services and medicines. We have accident and travel insurance that is also valid during non-working time, exercise, cultural and massage benefits and also lunch benefits,” Perätalo continues. Scandic Trans has also been offering cycling benefits since last year.
Keeping up to date with collective agreements and legal texts and ensuring that they are correctly interpreted also forms an important part of her work.
“For me, it’s vital for everyone to be treated equally – the same rules must apply to everyone. The focus must be on the employees – the well-being of the individual is crucial in order for that person to be a resource for the company,” concludes Perätalo.
WHY HR IS BUSINESS-CRITICAL
• To attract and retain talent in the company.
• To develop skills and improve staff performance and loyalty.
• To generate a positive working environment.
• For effective reward systems.
• For expertise in labour law.
Cloetta – confectionery in all categories
It is by far the best-selling car in the world. The design has remained unchanged since its introduction in 1953 – as has its taste. The product was born when they decided at the factory to try and make marshmallows. The results didn’t turn out as expected, but what would become one of the strongest brands of sweets in Sweden – Ahlgren’s cars – had seen the light of day.
The car-shaped marshmallow sweet is just one of many brands that now belong to Cloetta – one of the leading confectionery companies in Northern Europe which dates back to the 1800s.
Other brands associated with Cloetta include Jenkki, Läkerol, Gott & Blandat, Bridge and Kexchoklad.
Cloetta was founded in 1862 when three Swiss brothers founded the “Brødrene Cloëtta” company in order to produce chocolate and confectionery in Copenhagen. Today, Cloetta has seven production units in five countries and the company’s products are sold in over 60 countries.
“Our factories are located in Sweden, Slovakia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland,” says Miriam Alvarez de Toledo Ekström, Group Logistics Manager for the group of companies, which operates in a market that has proved to be relatively impervious to macroeconomic fluctuations.
The confectionery market is traditionally divided into sweets, chocolate, lozenges and chewing gum. Cloetta operates in all those categories and also in the nuts and natural sweets category. What they all have in common is that they all fall within a category that is one of the most impulse-driven in the retail industry.
“Up to 80% of customers’ purchase decisions are made in the shop,” Ekström continues.
Cloetta’s biggest asset is its range of different brands – many of which were born as early as the first half of the 1900s. The classic Bridge mixture came on to the market in 1966, the year after Polly, and one of the group’s most popular products,
Text: Anna Sand • Photo: Pressphotos Cloetta
Joakim Lassen, Sales Director at Scandic Logistics, and Miriam Ekström, Group Logistics Manager at Cloetta, have found collaborating on Cloetta’s logistics requirements to be a positive experience.
Gott & Blandat, was born in 1979, initially as a mixture of various residual products.
A number of corporate acquisitions have contributed to the Group’s growth in the 2000s. In 2000, Cloetta merged with Fazer to become the largest operator in chocolate and confectionery in the Nordic region. After they divided up the company once again in 2008, Cloetta carried out a merger with LEAF, which at that time owned the brands Läkerol, Malaco, Ahlgrens bilar, Sportlife and Jenkki. The merger meant that Cloetta became the largest chewing gum retailer in Finland – Jenkki has been part of the lives of the Finnish people and has developed with them for over 70 years.
Five years later, Cloetta acquired Karamellkungen, at the same time changing its name to Candy King – which is currently the leading supplier of loose sweets in Europe and which, among other things, has a multi-year exclusive contract to supply loose sweets to the Wimbledon tennis championships.
Cloetta is also the second largest operator in the Finnish market when it comes to prepackaged confectionery and if we add the loose sweet quota to that, it means that Cloetta makes deliveries to Finland on a daily basis. Those deliveries have been transported by Scandic Trans since spring 2020.
"Ahlgren’s cars appeared in 1953.
in the Nordic region to the warehouse in Vanda,” says Ekström and continues:
“Focusing on efficiency, quality and sustainability, Scandic Trans has shown Cloetta that it is an extremely reliable company that is able to support one of our sustainability goals consisting of an absolute 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to the base year of 2019.”
Focusing on efficiency, quality and sustainability, Scandic Trans has shown Cloetta that it is an extremely reliable company
“The most important route is from our factory in Ljungsbro to our 3PL warehouse in Vanda. Scandic Trans also operates a service from our external manufacturers
In 2020, Cloetta launched a new sustainability agenda covering all areas of the entire value chain where it is possible to make an impact. Cloetta then signed up to the Science Based Targets initiative and the targets are thus in line with global efforts to combat climate change.
“It means that our logistics partners will have a modern fleet of vehicles with E6 engines and that they will be driven using Eco-driving methods. Scandic Trans is an extremely environmentally-conscious operator and we’ve chosen to use HVO for our transports to Finland,” adds Ekström.
In addition to the environmental aspect, Cloetta also requires its suppliers to be flexible, fast and very reliable.
“Working with Scandic Trans to find solutions to the challenges that arise has been a positive experience. We find them very accommodating and the collaboration works perfectly.”
Joakim Lassen, Sales Director at Scandic Trans’ subsidiary Scandic Logistics, which is based in Helsingborg, Sweden, has been responsible for contact with Cloetta and notes that they are a good fit for Scandic Trans and Scandic Logistics’ services when it comes to food and temperature-controlled transport.
“We initially took care of the transports to Finland, but now we’re shipping to three more countries for Cloetta. We’ve already had several years of fruitful collaboration and hopefully there will be many more,” concludes Lassen.
Cloetta is behind the Candy King brand, which is the leading supplier of pick and mix candy in Europe today.
We´re sending Johnny Virtual Johnny takes care of the flow of information
AI has already become an essential tool in business and provides endless opportunities for companies of all sizes and in all industries. At Scandic Trans, AI is already making it easier to issue quotes, as well as making transport planning easier and most recently improving the flow of information to vehicles and drivers. Meet our virtual Johnny!
Text & photo: Anna Sand
We’re sending Johnny” has been a Scandic Trans slogan for a number of years now. Johnny can be any of us – everyone at Scandic Trans is Johnny when it comes to serving you. Johnny doesn’t differentiate between customers – he’s Johnny with everyone. Johnny stands for continuity – working with Johnny feels secure. Johnny is a personification of our customer relationship with you – our promises to our customers personified. Whatever you need, it’s no problem. We’re sending Johnny.
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“In the past, the information was published in text format on our intranet, but we’ve found that it’s not always easy to find it, absorb it or have time to read it,” says Reko Märsylä, Quality Manager at Scandic Trans. Many people would rather watch a short video clip and may also find it easier to absorb the information that way. It will all be more relevant and easier to understand,” Märsylä believes.
Many people would rather watch a short video clip and may also find it easier to absorb the information that way
Now we’ve taken Johnny one step further and we’ve also given him the role of internal public relations officer. Scandic Trans has over 100 vehicles on the road at any given time and there’s often a need to send out information in various formats to drivers and hauliers and sometimes also to the rest of the personnel.
Specifically, a new “person” – a Johnny – has been created from a staff photo. We chose a voice to suit him and we’ve dressed him in a Scandic Trans uniform – he’s even got a name badge.
“If you don’t want to create what appears to be a real person speaking in the film, there’s also the option of using cartoon avatars but, after some discussion, we decided to create a more realistic version of Johnny,” Märsylä goes on. “It’s also not set in stone that we always have to use the same virtual person or face, because we’re all Johnny when it comes to serving you,” he adds.
The first version of virtual Johnny that was created at Scandic Trans.
You type in the message you want to get out to everyone, in the languages you want it to be in, and the video is then created in a few seconds.
Compared to creating the equivalent video material from scratch with a script, a real person who has to rehearse the text in every language and at the same time manage to look into the camera and then also edit the film, this is an incredibly quick, simple and efficient way of creating an information video.
“The time saving is enormous,” says Märsylä, who has himself worked on the ground breaking AI tool designed for creation of video and animation.
Reko Märsylä is a Quality Manager at Scandic Trans and has developed the new communication concept using various AI tools available online.
Using advanced deep learning and facial animation technology, the tool makes it possible to produce photo-realistic talking avatars for videos. The tool is a user-friendly self-service studio for all types of content producers and can be used for many different purposes: Everything from marketing campaigns to training. It offers a unique blend of creativity, efficiency and realism.
The videoclips produced are sent directly out to the vehicles via the app in which all assignments are also communicated.
“There’s also the option of sending a direct link to the clips. We need to put out a relatively large amount of information – new drivers arrive regularly, and a lot of “temporary” drivers take on shifts. It can be anything from reminders of customs clearance details to complaints or quality deviations, tips on photography for bills of lading or information about our terminals,” explains Märsylä.
The first information videos were sent out in the spring and the work of developing the company and its operations using AI will of course continue.
Continued digitalisation makes it easier to issue quotes
Scandic Trans’ digitalisation and development work in collaboration with Nextlog continues. At Scandic Trans’ request, LogiControl, the comprehensive business system for transport and logistics companies developed by Nextlog, has this year been expanded with a new module specifically developed for issuing quotes.
“Requests for quotes are usually received by email and previously we issued our quotes, particularly the spot prices, by responding directly to those emails. If the customer’s decision was delayed or if another member of staff responded to the inquiry, it could lead to a great deal of additional work to search for the right emails at a later stage,” Quality Manager Reko Märsylä explains.
The new module means that quotes are now entered directly into the booking system and are saved there
as a quote and not as an order. A response email to the customer based on various templates is then automatically generated by the module, which also saves the sales staff time.
“So the customer receives an answer in the same way as before,” explains Märsylä, “and if the quote is converted to an order, all we have to do is change the status of the information that’s already been entered.”
The module makes it possible to search quotes based on a range of criteria: Customer, town or city, distance, time interval, and so on.
“This not only means that quotes are easier to find – it also gives us a greater ability to monitor them. Now, we can easily find out what percentage of quotes issued result in an order, which can provide an indication of whether there may be a need for price adjustments,” says Märsylä.
A constant flow of speciality paper over the Baltic Sea
They have been manufacturing paper since the late 1800s and their products are to be found almost everywhere in our daily lives. Nordic Paper, with five paper mills, manufactures two main types of high-quality paper: Natural greaseproof paper and kraft paper under the brand name iamKraft® – one of the strongest papers in the world. As a supplier of premium products, Nordic Paper also chooses premium transport.
Text: Anna Sand • Photo: Nordic Paper
We impose high standards on ourselves, on our suppliers and on our carriers,” says Andreas Lalin, Supply Chain Manager at Nordic Paper’s head office in Karlstad.
The company also operates in Säffle, Bäckhammar and Åmotfors in Sweden, Greåker in Norway and Quebec in Canada.
Nordic Paper’s products are a natural, renewable resource with strength, flexibility and specific properties adapted to many different areas of use and end products. Examples of this include sack products, parchment paper and baking cases, transformers, wicker furniture, laminates, shims for stainless steel, climate control systems, matches and diplomas.
“We only use raw materials of the highest quality that we obtain from the northern forests, where the cold winters and cool summers mean that trees grow slowly. That means that the raw material for our kraft paper has particularly strong fibres. The high quality is also a result of continuous investments at our facilities,” adds Lalin.
The kraft paper is used in the food, construction and steel industries, as well as in electrical components and textiles. The greaseproof paper is designed for food packaging and cooking – this includes everything from food trays that are able to withstand oven heat to muffin cases and other paper products where natural
protection against grease, light, air and moisture is required.
“Consumers come into contact with many of our products on a daily basis, for example when baking or when carrying groceries home from the grocery shop. The products are designed and manufactured with sustainability in mind and can often be reused over and over again, which is good for both the economy and the environment,” says Lalin.
Nordic Paper attempts to minimise its environmental impact by controlling the entire production cycle. The company also carries out work on sustainability at many different levels.
“As a company, we have the greatest opportunity to make a difference to the environment in our production facilities and for that reason we are continually making major investments in aspects such as green
Nordic Paper’s products and paper are to be found everywhere in our daily lives. The two main types of high-quality paper are natural greaseproof paper and iamKraft® kraft paper.
energy and new equipment in order to reduce our emissions. When it comes to our carriers, we don’t consider the fuel itself to be of decisive importance at present with all the options that are available. When it comes to transport and the choice of carrier, we focus on another type of sustainability instead – social sustainability. The vehicles must of course be equipped with Euro 6 engines and the drivers must be given ongoing EcoDrive training, but we consider social sustainability and the hauliers’ conditions to be just as important,” continues Lalin.
That means that you impose specific requirements on your logistics partners:
“We want to work with suppliers who are at the forefront as far as development is concerned – who invest in their own fleet, in their personnel and in their own sustainability work. It’s crucial for Nordic Paper to find long-term partnerships with solution-oriented, responsible, reliable carriers,” says Lalin.
All these requirements are met by Scandic Trans, which has been Nordic Paper’s logistics partner for Finnish exports for many years.
“Around 70 per cent of our sales take place in Europe and Finland forms part of that market. Every day, we load a truck with goods for Finland, where our customers mainly consist of companies that convert our rolls of paper into finished products of various kinds,” explains Lalin.
It is a question of a total of 250 – 300 trucks on an annual basis. Their final destinations are scattered throughout much of the country.
“The fact that Scandic Trans is able to deliver all over the country and has the capacity to handle variation in our demand is an important aspect for us in our choice of carrier – added to the fact that they’ve proved to be extremely reliable.” Scandic Trans is highly solutionoriented. They keep their promises – when it comes to both loading and unloading – and it’s very rare for any kind of problem to arise.
“It’s a very simple collaboration that’s always worked well,” concludes Lalin.
New obligations for ADR carriers
It has been a year since the new Transport of Dangerous Goods Act (ADR) entered into force. The purpose of the new legislation is not only to promote safety, but also to make supervision of ADR transports more efficient. It also serves to strengthen collaboration between public authorities with regard to dangerous goods.
“The Act entered into force on 1 September 2023 and means that everyone who handles dangerous goods must not only have their own safety advisor, but must now also report that to Traficom,” says Annamaria Björkqvist, Safety Advisor at Scandic Trans.
Safety advisers must hold a valid certificate for that purpose.
“For Scandic Trans, this means that not only the company itself, but also all our hauliers in their capacity as business owners need to report that they have a safety advisor. We therefore decided to offer this service to them all.
Many of them chose to accept the outsourced service and we’ve entered into agreements with them,” Björkqvist continues.
The new Act also imposes an obligation to draw up an internal emergency plan and designate a person responsible if temporary storage of dangerous goods is arranged. The Act also specifies the consequences of any breach of the rules.
Everyone who handles dangerous goods must now report the fact that they have their own safety adviser to Traficom. At Scandic Trans, that role is occupied by Annamaria “Ami” Björkqvist.
Wilmer Ehrström, Sebastian Malm, Oliver Nygård, Emil Groop and Jonathan Hjorth all say the education has met their expectations.
Tomorrow’s truck drivers are trained here
Where automotive dreams become skills
“Truck driving is an independent profession that requires good planning and organizational skills. It is also a service profession as loading and unloading goods involves a lot of contact with customers. A sense of responsibility is an important quality for a truck driver but awareness and understanding of safety and environmental regulations are equally important.”
Text & photo: Anna Sand
The above text is the introduction to Yrkesakademin’s (YA) logistics training where the majority of Ostrobothnian youth who want to become truck drivers or combination vehicle drivers study. The study programme also has a large number of adult students and a total of approximately 150 people are now striving to get a basic diploma or professional degree in logistics at YA’s Närpes unit.
“We accept about 20 applicants each year for the training of which 15-20% are female students,” says Thomas Wester, a former professional driver but now a trainer in the study programme.
“The percentage of female students applying has increased continuously but it could increase even more,” continues Josefine Antfolk, also a part-time teacher in her main occupation. “It is still a male dominated profession.”
If you study logistics you can choose between three different specialisations: bus driver, truck driver or combination vehicle driver. As many as 80% of the students choose the latter.
“The plan is that we will start marketing the bus driver training more and possibly enable a supplementary semester for that competence after you have received your main basic diploma,” adds Wester.
Emil Groop, Sebastian Malm, Oliver Nygård, Wilmer Ehrström and Jonathan Hjorth have all started their third and final year as students of logistics and confirm that the education has very much met their expectations. They all chose logistics for the same reasons - their interest in vehicles and the opportunity to get the driving licences which the industry requires.
“I hope to start driving general cargo to other countries, and being able to look around a bit at the
same time is also appealing,” says Groop.
Malm agrees, whereas Nygård adds, “Only studying theory for three years wasn’t really attractive. I wanted to choose a more practical education.”
Hjorth already has his sights set on starting a company of his own – maybe in the earthmoving industry.
The opportunity to have a special dispensation to obtain a B-class driving licence at the age of 17 has a decisive importance for the education itself and for the students’ opportunities to do practical training as part of their studies. The first internship period takes place already during the first year and the internship in particular is extremely important because of the possibility of getting a job after graduation according to Wester.
“Everyone who wants to get a job will have one when they graduate thanks to the contacts they make during their internships,” he points out.
“Getting their driving licences at 17 makes it possible for them to practice everything related to the drivers’ profession with a smaller car such as a delivery van. After all, driving is only part of the job; customer meetings are a big part of it and social skills are therefore also extremely important,” Wester adds.
Precisely the customer contacts, planning and coordinating the routes and working hours and learning to get around independently are things that he takes a bit of extra care to teach his students.
“It is a free and independent job where safety is also very important. We always start the studies with the focus on regulations, laws and safety. The working environment and entrepreneurship are also part of the training,” says Antfolk.
The occupational safety certificate and the forklift safety certificate are the first vocational skills
our students take, which are then followed by the electrical safety certificate, ADR, road safety, the hygiene pass, first aid and more depending on the study specialisation they have chosen.
The handling of excavators, tractors and wheel loaders is also included in the studies and is something the students learn before they turn 17 and are able to get a B driving licence. Then obviously service and maintenance of the vehicles is also part of the studies.
“They don’t have to become engineers but we do want them to gain an understanding of how the vehicles work and function and what could be wrong should a problem arise, instead of calling for help straight away,” Wester explains.
They all have the opportunity to study further at university level and, for example, become logistics planners.
“Jobs are available in an incredibly broad area of competence where you can drive everything from general cargo to gravel, logs and so on. The possibilities are enormous,” Antfolk concludes.
Are you studying logistics and in need of an internship? You are welcome to contact us at Scandic Trans!
Loading and unloading, vehicle control, occupational safety and the working environment are all important parts of the education where even social skills are learnt.
Peter Nykänen, Thomas Heikkilä, Josefine Antfolk and Thomas Wester are teachers of logistics in Närpes.
We’re sending Johnny
Our goal is that you as our customer experience the transport of your goods as simply as possible. That’s why we include so much more than just the transport, and you can reach us whenever you need. We are always at hand, around the clock, and with us you get your very own contact person - someone who makes your dealings with us smooth, personal and safe. We have decided to call him Johnny.
But it might just as well be Antti in the quality department or our transport specialist Carola. Their main focus is your unique transport. All of us at Scandic Trans are your Johnnys - every day of the week.
No problem, we’re sending Johnny.
Carina Westergård, administrative assistant at the head office for 26 years:
“The work has changed a lot. Back then it was about waiting for the mail and taking care of all sorts of paper. Today most of it is digitised and takes place in real time”
“When my working day is done, I enjoy spending time with my daughter, with the dog and singing in a choir.”
“The summer cottage has also been important for me. I unexpectedly became a widow last autumn and my work has been important for moving on. It gives me something else to think about and we have a good community at Scandic Trans.”
North European carrier with strong specialist areas
