Author: Helena Ahlgren

For three years, we have had the privilege of collaborating on a wide range of sustainability issues with some of the large and small industries in Umeå within the framework of the Sustainable Industrial Environments of the Future project. The project has focused on developing an innovation process and within the framework of it working with different cases to reduce CO2 footprint in transport, energy, real estate, production, etc. In parallel, we have also worked on visualizing environmental and energy data and developed tools to create attractive workplaces based on equality and diversity. Two important sub-objectives have been the dissemination of skills and the creation of a platform for further collaboration.

Part of the dissemination of expertise is the reports and analyses produced, which are available atwww.viablebusiness.se/rapporter. We have also held two major conferences during 2022, with the final conference in November being a highlight with around 80 participants from large parts of Umeå municipality and Västerbotten's business community and industries. Several exciting speakers were present, including the acclaimed sustainability entrepreneur and author Rebecka Carlsson.

Although the Sustainable Industrial Environments of the Future project will end as an EU project at the end of the year, there is an ambition and a consensus on the continued need for collaboration between companies and organisations. The Viable Business Hub will continue to provide a platform to take forward lessons, processes and tools to contribute to the development of sustainable industrial environments of the future.

The Sustainable Industrial Environments of the Future project will summarise the results and insights generated during the project at a final conference. An inspiring day of lectures, panel discussions, presentations and networking in the spirit of sustainability for the Umeå region's small, medium and large industrial companies.

The conference will be held Wednesday 23rd Nov 12.00-16:30 at Great Hub City Kungsgatan 63, Umeå. Entrance from the pedestrian street.

We offer lunch 12.00 (please register for special diet)

Welcome with your registration to christian.skanderby@umeaenergi.se (limited number of places)

What is the current situation regarding gender equality and diversity within Västerbotten's industrial companies and what is needed to create attractive workplaces? This was the question in the survey of the equality situation that has now been carried out within Västerbotten's industrial and forestry companies. The goal was to identify important efforts regarding gender equality and diversity in the industrial sector in Västerbotten going forward. The results were completed in autumn 2021 in the report "Attractive workplaces in Västerbotten – gender equality and diversity".

The survey was carried out in three parts:
1) Mapping the current situation and needs of industrial companies in Västerbotten
2) Inventory of studies, research situation, experience and good examples around Sweden
3) Proposals for activities that can be carried out with the industrial companies in Västerbotten going forward

The assignment is a collaboration between the Sustainable Industrial Environments of the Future and the Forest Technology Cluster's project Company-driven forest innovation and the mapping has been carried out by the company Vkna. A reference group with representatives from Region Västerbotten, Umeå Municipality, RISE, the County Administrative Board and IF Metall has also contributed to the work.

Welcome to webinar about The Attractive Workplaces of the Future 13/1 at 13.00-15.00

To spread the knowledge from the work and invite to dialogue, the project Future Sustainable Industrial Environments now invites you to a digital webinar /workshop together with Vkna. The webinar is completely free of charge. The focus of the meeting is learning and inspiration through discussion and knowledge exchange, based on the report "Attractive workplaces in Västerbotten".

Agenda:

-Vkna presents results from the work with mapping and report.

- Calls in small groups. Through discussions and conversations, we connect relevant issues, based on the content of the report, with the current situation at the participants' workplaces. The goal is to provide new or in-depth insights, knowledge and inspiration through reflections and discussions about how we can continue to drive the work to create more attractive workplaces in Västerbotten.

You are welcome to register for the webinar here: lars.mikaelsson@umeaenergi.se

The sustainability issue is extremely topical for most companies. From being partly outside the boardroom and looking at business plans and governance, sustainability today is an important sub-area in connection with profitability, quality, efficiency and work environment.

In a recent report published in November 2021, the project Future Sustainable Industrial Environments together with North Sweden Cleantech has interviewed 20 companies about today's sustainability work and needs going forward.

The strategic and operational sustainability work is mentioned as easy to implement and implement in the business, which ensures a good focus in sustainability on several levels. Here's how one of the companies interviewed describes their views on sustainability:

"Sustainability is not a single issue but integrated based on competitiveness, efficiency, attractive employer. Has not focused on sustainability for sustainability but that business development is sustainability. I've got the insight along the way."

The conclusion is that several of the sustainability challenges are shared by the companies interviewed and many see collaboration as a way forward as it is difficult to be an expert in all areas. The value is both environmental but also businesslike and in the long term to be competitive in the market.

Examples of areas that are current:

• Energy consumption
• Carbon footprint
• Gender balance
• Work environment & well-being

Challenges raised are:

• Find enthusiasts to drive the questions
• Resources: time, money and staff
• Old norms and mindsets
• Being the first to make changes
• Stay focused and motivate change, as well as opportunities to visualize changes
• Creating circular business models
• Location and transport
• Willingness and demand for customer conversion

Needs & Opportunities:

• Increase the possibility of collaborations in order to be able to choose sustainable transport
• Move towards more sustainable/renewable energy sources such as solar panels, wind/hydropower as alternatives and circular solutions such as energy recovery
• Skills supply and Diversity

Do you want to know more about the results of the survey or read the report in full?

Contact Christian Skanderby, Project Manager Future Sustainable Industrial Environments, Umeå Energy