The Group aims to shape better and more sustainable living around the world by promoting better eating, better garment care and better home environments together with consumers and partners.
Make healthy and sustainable eating the preferred choice
By influencing how its products are used, Electrolux Group can reduce food waste, promote resource efficient food choices and nutrition, as well as enhance sustainable eating experiences.
The Goal
The Group will promote healthy and sustainable eating by helping consumers reduce food waste, adopt more plant-based eating, minimize nutrition loss in cooking, and enhance healthy and sustainable eating experiences.
2023 highlights
- Up to 28% food waste reduction can be achieved with new built-in refrigerator.1)
- New user interface for induction cooktops can help consumers to cook more sustainably.
- AirFry functionality for ovens requires little or no oil for healthier cooking with up to 70% less fat.2)
Roadmap to 2030
- Launch enhanced food preservation solutions that help reduce food waste and ensure food quality.
- Provide consumers with functionalities that can help them make more efficient use of food resources during cooking.
- Launch product solutions that help to enhance the experience of eating more sustainably and inspire better eating habits through providing practical support and advice.
- Partnerships with food experts on food and food waste to advance knowledge and inspire people around the world.
- Inspire people to eat healthier and more sustainably through the Electrolux Food Foundation — including educating 300,000 people on sustainable eating by 2030.
The case for action
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), more than one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to the way food is produced, processed and packaged.3) At the same time, almost a third of all food produced is wasted4) and hunger remains a challenge, with more than one in nine people in the world not having access to enough food.5)
According to Electrolux Group’s consumer research summarized in the 2021 Change Makers Report, 50% of young people actively minimize their food waste and 30% actively reduce their meat consumption. The 2019 Better Living Report highlighted that many people are not living as sustainably as they want with a third of consumers stating they throw away food because it goes bad too quickly or passes its best before date. This highlights the growing consumer demand for help with changing behavior toward more sustainable eating, cooking and storing food.
Healthier and more sustainable food habits often go hand in hand. Electrolux Group products can help consumers to eat healthier and more sustainably. This includes nudging consumers to try healthier and more sustainable diets and cooking techniques that help preserve nutrients, while reducing food waste. By adopting more plant-based diets and avoiding overeating, for example, consumers can improve their health while reducing the burden on the global food system.
Read more about our progress on this Goal
Sources:
1) Compared to the 500 ColdSense refrigerator and based on external tests on duration of the edibility of soft cheese and cooked ham stored on shelves. Results may vary depending on type of foods. Estimated potential food waste reduction based on appliance performance only and not considering user behavior.
2) Tests carried out by a nutritionist with 800g of frozen french fries, comparing conventional frying (using 1800ml of soybean oil) and preparation using the airfry function of the OE9XB builtin oven (without adding oil). The result demonstrated a reduction of 33.9% in calories and 68.7% in fat when prepared in the airfry function of the OE9XB model.
3) United Nations. www.news.un.org/en/story/2021/03/1086822
4) World Food Programme (2020). www.wfp.org/stories/5-facts-about-food-waste-and-hunger
5) World Food Programme. www.wfp.org/overview
Make clothes last twice as long with half the environmental impact
By promoting modern laundry habits, Electrolux Group can contribute to more sustainable laundry practices through innovative solutions that increase laundry efficiency and improve garment care.
The Goal
The Group has the objective to make clothes last longer and reduce the environmental impact of garment care while caring for all fabrics.
2023 highlights
- ColourCare washing machines use up to 30% less energy1) and improve the use of detergent even in cold water.
- Electrolux and AEG EcoLine washing machines are better than the best energy class in Europe.
- The laundry tower was energy star certified in North America.
Roadmap to 2030
- Help consumers extend the life of their clothes and help them better care for their clothes in general.
- Reduce environmental impact during garment care.
The case for action
The fashion industry, including the production of the clothes that people wear, contributes to around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.2) At the same time, the number of garments people purchase has increased by 400% in the past 20 years.3) According to the Electrolux Group’s 2023 Truth About Laundry Report, items of clothing are thrown away after being worn just ten times on average.
Society is increasingly aware of the resource and climate impacts of the textile industry and its throw-away fashion culture. Research shows that extending the lifespan of clothing by an extra nine months can reduce carbon, waste and water footprints by between 20% and 30%.4)
Water scarcity around the world is an increasing issue with 14 out of 20 of the world’s largest cities already experiencing inadequate supplies and two thirds of the world’s population expected to live in water-stressed areas by 2025.5) In the home, the average daily water consumption per person is up to 500 liters in some cities.6)
More than 80% of the lifecycle laundry carbon footprint comes from the appliance use phase.7) This means that Electrolux Group can have a positive environmental impact by developing more resource-efficient appliances.
According to Electrolux Group’s consumer research summarized in the 2019 Better Living Report, 69% of consumers agree that increasing the lifespan of garments by taking better care of them is the most sustainable approach. However, people often practice outdated laundry care due to a lack of knowledge, time or access to laundry appliances with the most optimal functions. Despite this, most consumers want more help to adopt more sustainable laundry habits. On the other hand, some are unwilling to change their behavior for fear of ruining clothes or not getting them properly clean. For instance, despite being encouraged to wash clothes at 30°C or lower for better results and longer garment durability, almost two thirds of Europeans (63%), wash at 40°C or higher, according to the Electrolux Group’s The Truth About Laundry study, which surveyed 12,000 adults in 2021.
Read more about our progress on this Goal
Sources:
1) Internal calculation of energy use compared to the minimum threshold to achieve the highest energy rating.
2) UN Climate Change. www.unfccc.int/news/un-helps-fashion-industry-shift-to-low-carbon
3) The True Cost Movie. www.youtu.be/rwp0Bx0awoE?si=1hDQPGylHvVovvyc
4) WRAP. www.wrap.org.uk/resources/guide/extending-clothing-life-protocol
5) WWF. www.worldwildlife.org/threats/water-scarcity
6) WBCSD. www.wbcsd.org/Programs/Cities-and-Mobility/Sustainable-Cities/Blueprint-for-a-sustainable-built-environment/
7) Based on Electrolux Group’s internal LCAs on an EU average.
Make the home a healthier place to thrive in, with half the carbon footprint
Electrolux Group offers consumers air, water and floor products and solutions that help enable healthier homes with reduced environmental impact.
The Goal
By leveraging adaptive technologies, new business models and inspiration for smarter consumer habits, Electrolux Group aims to spearhead solutions by 2030 that contribute to healthier homes with half the carbon footprint. By fast-tracking the rollout of these solutions in all markets, the Group will enable more people to benefit from more comfortable indoor environments with cleaner air, water and surfaces.
2023 highlights
- Six products for wellbeing at home won Red Dot and iF Design awards.
- New dehumidifiers in North America received “ENERGY STAR Most Efficient” mark.
- More sustainable packaging introduced for all new floor and air care products in the EU and APAC.
Roadmap to 2030
- Inspire better home care habits by providing solutions that actively guide consumers toward more sustainable habits in caring for their home.
- Work to increase awareness of issues around air and water hygiene, to ensure that solutions are effective and broadly accessible.
- Continue to provide innovation that makes it possible for consumers to reduce environmental impact during usage — to bridge the gap between the need for comfort and care for the planet.
The case for action
According to the World Health Organization, almost the entire global population breathes air that exceeds air quality limits.1) Therefore, optimizing the indoor environment where people spend most of their time is becoming increasingly important for many.
According to Electrolux Group consumer research summarized in the 2019 Better Living Report, four out of five consumers mention air quality and cleanliness as two of the most important factors for wellbeing at home. However, only 39% of people feel empowered to improve their indoor air quality.
As global temperatures are increasing, there is a growing need for temperature control appliances — particularly in emerging markets — increasing global energy use and carbon emissions. The number of air conditioners in use is expected to grow from 1.2 billion today to 4.5 billion by 2050,1) which would increase emissions from such appliances by 90% by 2050 compared with 2017 levels.
Electrolux Group is in a position to drive societal change that can improve the home environment for people around the world.
Read more about our progress on this Goal
Sources:
1) WHO. Billions of people still breathe unhealthy air: new WHO data. www.who.int/news/item/04-04-2022-billions-of-people-still-breathe-unhealthy-air-new-who-data
2) Sustainable Energy for All. www.seforall.org/data-stories/the-cooling-dilemma
