SUCCESS GENERATING EXCITEMENT FOR THE FUTURE

Stena’s Sustainability Month featured a rich program of activities. With the lectures, participants could learn more about human rights, strategic decision-making on sustainability issues and how to protect marine wildlife from maritime disturbances, to mention a few examples. Stena Line arranged a study visit on the Stena Germanica, which can run on both methanol and conventional fuel; Stena Fastigheter showed how social sustainability works in one of its residential neighborhoods; and Envac arranged a study visit to one of its facilities with automated waste management. Practical exercises such as in CPR, group urban running, yoga and sustainability bingo were also held. 

The idea of arranging a Sustainability Month came about when four colleagues working with sustainability in different Stena companies met over dinner.

“We realized that we could gain a lot by making a joint effort for increased sustainability and sharing good examples with each other,” says Maria Tornvall, Group Head of Sustainability, Stena Line. “So we went to our CEOs and asked if we could do this. We then presented the idea to a group of fifteen sustainability managers at Stena AB who meet a couple of times each year, and it didn’t take long for several to get on board.”

What she is most pleased with is the positive energy and commitment that has been created, and the fact that it has been possible to achieve such high quality with so little money.

“We’ve had almost no external costs at all,” she says. “Everything is based on the commitment of all involved and our contacts in the field of sustainability. We’ve also had tremendous help from Stena IT, who helped us record everything.”

Frida Torstensson, Sustainability Manager for Stena AB, says this is the first time the group has undertaken such a joint initiative based entirely on collaboration.

“Each company has decided which program points they want to include and this has produced a very good spread,” she points out. “Much of what has come up during the month are things that are already being carried out in the various companies, but by concentrating it like this, it carries a lot more weight and reaches a wider audience.”

Something new that came out of Sustainability Month is that a platform has been launched for environmental issues with a focus on shipping – the Environmental Hub.

“All companies can access and contribute knowledge, share news and write articles,” says Frida Torstensson. “In this way, we can easily access data and scientific studies without having to look up everything ourselves. A concrete example of this is a series of articles from several perspectives by Stena Teknik on the electrification of vehicles, such as how sustainable the production of batteries is and what the use of batteries means for fire safety on board.”

Most of the activities have been concentrated in Gothenburg, but not all.

“One example is the Northern Marine Group, which has had activities in both Glasgow and Singapore,” says Frida Torstensson. “At one of the companies in Singapore, staff went to a local organic farm and learned how to grow vegetables at home in micro format. They then had a lunch box day, where all employees received reusable lunch boxes to reduce waste.”

One of the common program points developed by Stena AB was a general sustainability course in eight parts in the form of a nano training.

“The course takes up what sustainability is and why it’s a universal topic, how we work with it at Stena and why it’s important to do so – not only to be a good citizen in the global community, but also for risk minimization and to maintain relevance in the future,” says Frida Torstensson.

The companies participating in the initiative are Stena AB, Stena Line, Stena Fastigheter, Stena Group IT, Stena Teknik, Stena Rederi HR, Northern Marine Group, Ballingslöv, Envac and Blomsterlandet. In addition, Stena Metall holds its own sustainability week in December.

At most companies, the activities have been voluntary, but Stena Fastigheter chose to make some of the program points mandatory for certain key personnel.

“Work with sustainability is a way of securing the future of our business, and to move forward we need to have a common ground, use the same concepts and reflect on things together,” says Anna Haraldsson Jensen, Sustainability Manager at Stena Fastigheter. “A sustainability month makes this clear and accessible. It kindles curiosity naturally, about the issues and our activities, how to get things done, why and what can be improved. It’s both fun and important, and becomes more a form of everyday togetherness that way. The questions are complicated and we don’t have all the answers, so our own culture relating to how we work is very important.”

She also sees a major advantage in all Stena companies having a common ground and using the same concepts and definitions.

“It’s very good on so many levels to learn about what others are doing and to attend lectures and workshops, to think and reflect together,” she says. “Being able to talk about what is difficult and to join together and celebrate when things go well demonstrates our strong culture at Stena.”

It is hoped that Sustainability Month will become a recurring event and arranged again next year.

“The reception has been extremely positive,” says Maria Tornvall. “We’re now looking at how those who work at sea or who work nights could be given better opportunities to participate so that even more people can take part in all the activities.”

ANDERS WALLIN, GROUP COMPLIANCE MANAGER, STENA AB AND HELENA ÖFVERSTRÖM, LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT LEAD, STENA LINE, PARTICIPATED IN THE ACTIVITES

“I was impressed by the breadth and depth of Sustainability Month’s insight,” says Anders Wallin. “Discussing this topic and putting it high on our meeting agendas is of the utmost importance in constantly expanding our knowledge and together making a difference for our environment. During the month, we saw how crucial it is to be aware of how everything we do affects our environment, either in a positive or negative way, and that what we choose to do really matters.”

“I participated in a lecture conducted by human rights lawyer Parul Sharma. Her lecture made it clear that there is much we can and should do to help improve the working environment and conditions of vulnerable families and children around the world,” says Anders.“It’s a reminder of our ability to influence and contribute to change for the better.”

“The world right now is heavily burdened by problems and it’s easy to be overwhelmed by it in all. So it’s great to see that there are so many opportunities where we can help make both the world and our company better,” says Helena Öfverström, who participated in a lecture on hidden disabilities.