Home
Menu Download Search
Annual Report 2016 Executive statements Key priorities Progress 2016 Key processes Case studies Reporting framework

Materiality analysis

Through our materiality process and stakeholder engagement, we have pinpointed the most relevant topics to Electrolux.

Our sustainability approach is designed to address the topics of greatest importance to Electrolux and our stakeholders. The most important topics have been expressed as nine promises, supported by 2020 goals and key performance indicators (KPIs).

The relevance of an issue is determined by three criteria:

  • The degree of impact caused by our activities along the value chain.
  • How much the issue impacts our business strategy.
  • How the issue might affect stakeholder relationships with Electrolux.

For Electrolux, the most important stakeholders are customers, consumers, shareholders and employees. Their priorities and how they reflect our sustainability approach are outlined in Stakeholders inform our approach section of the report.

2017 and beyond

New and updated legislation is due to be introduced in several key areas over the next few years.

  • Human trafficking, addressed by the UK Modern Slavery Act, will come into effect in 2017.
  • The new EU energy label directive is expected to be adopted in 2017/2018. Future energy classes will be from A to G, with no products initially in the A class. All products should be relabeled within 5 years after adaptation of the directive.
  • EU legislation towards a circular economy is under development.
  • China, Japan, Australia and New Zeeland will apply new performance standards for refrigerators that will change their national energy efficiency ratings (2017/2018).
  • New regulation on high-impact greenhouse gases will be introduced in Europe, the US and in Asia/Pacific. 
  • Legislation on sustainability reporting will come into effect in Sweden in 2017.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have an impact on the response to global challenges, broadening the discussion among and between businesses, governments and civil society. They help us align our work in accordance with the priorities of society at large.

An evolving agenda

Although many of the sustainability issues facing Electrolux remain the same over a long period, their importance changes over time. Below are the areas where our internal analysis points to an emerging area, or shows increased importance for business and our stakeholders. These topics appear in no particular order and their importance is not inter-related.