Carbon neutrality by working together

Alfa Laval has long had a clear focus on reducing our carbon footprint, and it is now a cornerstone of our sustainability strategy. We work actively to reduce our own carbon footprint across the value chain and at the same time introduce technologies that ensure customers’ processes become as energy efficient as possible and enable the transition to clean energy sources.

Alfa Laval has committed to be carbon neutral by 2030. In our carbon reduction program, we use the strict definition by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Our targets, based on this definition, are net-zero for our scope 1 & 2 by 2030 together with a 50% reduction of scope 3. All scopes should be net-zero by 2050.

Carbon neutral through the whole value chain

Our emissions - baseline in CO2 equivalents

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  • Scope 1 covers direct emissions from energy used in our premises or company vehicles.
  • Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating and cooling consumed by Alfa Laval.
  • Scope 3 includes all other indirect emissions in Alfa Laval’s value chain, both upstream and downstream, including goods transportation.

The reduction of scope 3 emissions will depend on the rate of transition to renewable energy sources. The short-term target is to reduce scope 1 & 2 emissions with 50 percent by 2023 (baseline 2020).

Scope 3 accounts for about 98 percent of our total impact. It is essential to distinguish between Scope 3 upstream and downstream as the impact from our different products varies significantly; a heat exchanger has its largest footprint upstream in terms of configuration (choosing the right material and size of the product) whilst rotating equipment (separators, decanters, pumps and valves) has the most significant impact downstream in terms of energy efficiency and the choice of energy source.

How to minimize the environmental footprint and reduce emissions when buying equipment from Alfa Laval

The manufacturing industry contributes to a significant part of global carbon emissions. When selecting a product or solution from Alfa Laval - the choice of configuration, level of energy efficiency as well as energy source can make a big difference in the carbon footprint.

Configuration

Choosing the right type of material can reduce the carbon footprint significantly. And choosing the right size means using only the amount of material needed. Efficient dimensions means avoiding over-production.

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Concept Zero is a crucial step on the journey towards carbon neutrality, pushing the boundaries to develop a truly carbon-neutral plate heat exchanger with no misleading schemes.

Concept Zero - the invisible revolution

 

Energy efficiency

One of the most important aspects of reducing the environmental impact of industrial processes is energy efficiency during the lifetime of the products. 54% of the world’s energy sources are consumed by production sectors.

Energy efficiency will be paramount for companies in the industrial sector to reach their carbon emission targets, and for the achievement of the Paris agreement. By way of example, in 2020 our heat exchangers reduced energy use in industrial processes by around 50 GW and at the same time reducing 25 million tonnes of CO2 .

By optimizing the energy consumption together, and being able to produce more from less, we can meet our increased energy demand and reduce CO2 emissions at the same time.

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At Alfa Laval, we have the experience and knowledge to support your transition, with solutions to enable energy efficiency.

Start your transition here

 

Energy source

The type of energy source used in industrial processes is vital in the commitment to reduce carbon emissions. Alfa Laval supports our customers in many ways to reduce or even move away from fossil fuels.

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By converting waste heat directly into electrical power, the Alfa Laval E-PowerPack reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions – creating a simple, cost-saving tool for complying with new sustainability requirements.

The Alfa Laval E-PowerPack for the marine industry

 

 

Our roadmap

Scope 1

 

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  • Replacing natural gas as heating source in applicable production facilities
  • Improving energy efficiency in our different sites including buildings and equipment
  • Further reducing emissions from company cars by shifting to hybrid and electric cars
Scope 2

 

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  • Shifting to renewable sources of electricity in all facilities
  • Investing in waste heat recovery, which is used for heating at our facilities
  • Installation of solar panels at production facilities and distribution centres
Scope 3
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  • Source from suppliers that offer materials and other inputs with a lower carbon footprint
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  • Improve material efficiency in manufacturing, including reduction of waste
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  • Continuous optimization of Alfa Laval products, which reduces energy consumption while products are in use
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  • Promote transition to renewable sources of energy upstream and downstram
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  • Reduce the proportion of freight transport by air
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  • Partnerships to ensure reuse and recycling of materials at the end of life of products

 

Annual Report 2022

Read more about how we put this roadmap into action in:

Want to know more?

Contact your local Alfa Laval office.