Sustainability governance at SSAB is based on our vision, values and Code of Conduct complemented by our governing documents. Sustainability, including issues relating to climate change, is an integral part of SSAB’s strategy.
The Board of Directors has the highest decisionmaking authority in sustainability and issues related to climate change. SSAB’s Board of Directors is collectively responsible for strategically managing risks and opportunities related to climate change, including SSAB’s transition to fossil-free operations.
SSAB’s Board of Directors approves the Code of Conduct, as well as the sustainability strategy and sustainability and climate-related targets. The Board of Directors regularly monitors the development of SSAB’s performance in relation to the sustainability strategy and targets, including climate-related issues.
SSAB’s Group Executive Committee (GEC) is responsible for outlining the company’s strategic approach to sustainability and climate change, including adopting material topics, and regularly monitors the development and implementation of sustainability. Sustainability and climate issues are frequently on the agenda of SSAB’s GEC to ensure the close involvement of top management.
The Head of Sustainability is a member of the Group Executive Committee and is responsible for strategy development and coordination of sustainability at Group level as well as health and safety and ethics and compliance for the Group. The Head of Sustainability leads a Sustainability management team, which is a network of people with expertise in different sustainability areas, including representation from the divisions and subsidiaries, with the responsibility to coordinate and drive SSAB’s sustainability initiatives.
In the Group Executive Committee, there are several executives responsible for implementing different parts of SSAB’s fossil-free transition. For example, the Chief Technology Officer is responsible for environmental issues and manages the HYBRIT implementation. The Head of Sustainability manages operational initiatives towards SSAB becoming fossil free; the CFO manages SSAB’s Risk Enterprise Management process, which includes assessment of climate risks, and investments and financial matters related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The heads of divisions are responsible for driving sustainability and climate work in line with the overall business and sustainability strategy.
The SSAB Way and our values define who we are and how we act. The Code of Conduct, the sustainability strategy and the governing documents at Group level regarding sustainability (e.g. environment and safety) are our most important documents. Our sustainability governing documents are available here
Management systems and action plans ensure that SSAB systematically works on critical aspects of sustainability. Several different management systems and tools, both developed in-house and third-party certified, are used to effectively control operations in accordance with SSAB’s Code of Conduct and governing documents. Management systems for systematic health and safety work, according to ISO 45001, have been implemented at all production sites. Environmental and climate work takes place primarily within the scope of ISO 14001, and all production sites are certified according to the standard.
SSAB is a signatory to the UN Global Compact, and we continually work to protect and respect its 10 principles within the areas of human rights, labor standards, the environment and anticorruption. We are also committed to conducting our business in line with the development laid out by the Sustainability Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. SSAB also supports the International Bill of Human Rights, ILO Core Conventions, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
