Sustainability at Svenska Aerogel
At Svenska Aerogel, we believe credible sustainability work starts with understanding our environmental impact and continuously improving where it is possible.
We develop and produce Naerogel, a high-performance aerogel material used as a functional additive in a wide range of applications. Our sustainability strategy considers both the impact of our direct operations and the potential value of our materials in downstream applications. Data and insights from our customers indicate that our materials can contribute to improved energy and resource efficiency, as well as increased safety, across applications ranging from buildings and industrial processes to advanced technologies such as EV batteries and textiles.
Customer data provides valuable insight into the potential contribution of our materials beyond our own operations.
Our production and materials
Our production process is waterborne and based on silica and water. We use renewable electricity and continuously work to improve production efficiency. We monitor key environmental aspects, including energy and water consumption, to better understand our impact and identify opportunities for improvement.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the tools we utilize to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with our materials and to identify improvement areas.
Naerogel is designed to enhance properties such as thermal insulation and low weight. In selected applications, these properties can contribute to reduced energy or material usage. In specific applications, improved thermal insulation can reduce energy demand.
The actual environmental benefit of Naerogel depends heavily final product formulation and end-use conditions.
Our contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Our sustainability work is aligned with selected UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where we believe our business can make a meaningful contribution.
SDG 9
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Developing innovative aerogel materials that can enhance the performance and efficiency of technical products.
SDG 12
Responsible consumption and production: Improving resource efficiency in our production and increasing our understanding of the environmental impact of our materials.
SDG 13
Climate Action: Developing materials that, in selected applications, can contribute to improved thermal insulation and potentially reduced energy demand.
Independent assessment
Svenska Aerogel’s sustainability work has previously been independently verified in relation to ISO 26000, the international guidance standard for social responsibility. The verification included an independent third-party assessment of our sustainability work and self-declaration, providing an external review of our approach and a foundation for its continued development.
Going forward, we will continue to refine our approach, evaluating relevant frameworks and methods to support transparent and consistent reporting on our environmental and social performance.
What we are working to improve
Our sustainability work is focused on continuous improvement.
Key areas include:
- Optimizing energy efficiency in our production
- Minimizing process water consumption
- Optimizing raw material utilization with maximum yield
- Investigating alternative raw materials and assessing their environmental impact
- Increasing LCA coverage across our product portfolio
- Collaborating with suppliers and partners to improve sustainability throughout the value chain
The work that led to the ISO 26000 verification of our sustainability processes complements our already certified and standardized way of working. This external recognition is important for us because it shows that our long-term, systematic work with sustainability is bearing fruit and that our employees, customers, investors, and authorities can have trust in our sustainability focus.”
Goal 9
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
In order to meet future climate challenges, we as an organization and a producer want to be involved and contribute to inclusive and sustainable industries. For us, innovation is one of the most important elements and the key to finding sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.
Research and innovation at Svenska Aerogel
At Svenska Aerogel, we run different research and development projects together with Universitys and partners. We strive to constantly develop our products and processes to create new material solutions with a special focus on reduce the water- and energy consumpton in the production. We continuously build our competence and seek ideas from external research, patent protection and technical literature.
To encourage the staff’s creativity and willingness to try new things, we have introduced a 5% innovation culture. This means that each person in the R&D team gets to choose an area in which they develop a product and find new applications and properties that benefit our customers.
We believe that team spirit and diversity contribute to a more innovative and creative culture that enables our vision.
Product innovation
In our business strategy, we focus on four main customer segments: Building & Construction, Process Industry, Transport and Advanced. In these segments, our R&D team develops and tailors our products based on sustainable solutions, applications, and products. In order to be in the forefront and to fulfil the market’s needs, we have well established creative and innovative processes within our company. One of these processes resulted in the introduction of an innovative technology called SeaQare, which can be used in antifouling paints for leisure boats to reduce copper release into our seas. Our customers are also developing patented products, enhanced with Naerogel with a high competetive edge.
Production process
To improve the efficiency of our production processes and reduce their environmental impact, we continuously run internal and external development projects. The aim is to identify solutions that lower energy and resource consumption in production. We see the greatest potential in reducing water consumption and energy use in our production processes.
Patents
As part of the development of our products and processes, patent applications are filed to strengthen our business. We currently hold five granted patents, with two additional patent applications pending.
Our goals
Within Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- Any innovation, development and research should have a starting point with sustainability in mind and the three aspects of it.
Goal 12
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Reducing environmental impact requires changes in how goods are produced and resources are used. Improving production efficiency and reducing energy, water and material consumption are important measures to limit negative impacts on the climate.
Our work focuses on improving production processes and resource use efficiency. This includes measures to reduce energy consumption, emissions and waste, as well as the use of water and raw materials in production.
Naerogel and the environment
We manufacture Naerogel, an aerogel-like material used as an additive in various applications. It can modify material properties such as density, insulation performance and material consumption, depending on the product design and intended use.
In some applications, Naerogel can contribute to reduced weight, changes in material use or improved thermal performance. The specific effects vary depending on how the material is integrated into the end product.
Energy and water consumption
The production of Naerogel requires the use of water and energy, which have been identified as the main environmental aspects of our production process.
Water is used as part of the process and is monitored to quantify consumption and provide a basis for estimating potential reductions. This information supports the evaluation of process changes and project initiatives that may enable water recirculation.
Energy is also used in production and is monitored to quantify consumption and identify opportunities to improve efficiency where technically and economically feasible.
Our goals
Within Sustainable production and consumption
- Reduce drinking water spillage
- Reduce energy consumption
Goal 13
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Climate change is a growing problem, and greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase and can have serious consequences for the environment, our health, and our safety. We have set ambitious goals until 2030. The goals are primarily about reducing emissions in our own production as well as from indirect emissions from purchased energy, goods, and services. To achieve our goals, we will actively work for climate-smart production and set clearer requirements for subcontractors, distributors, customers, and partners. We will also carry out life cycle analyses on our products. Lastly, we will increase the efficiency of our production and recycle more materials, as mentioned in goal 12.
Located in Sweden, we are privileged to have access to renewable energy and to be working innovatively to reduce our climate impact, both in the short and long term. We strive to be a role model in the work of finding innovative solutions both for our own production but also in the customers’ various applications.
Our goals
Within Climate Action
- Reduce CO2 impact