Better solutions
Eliminate harmful materials
Our consumers can feel reassured that we manage chemicals carefully and replace those that cause concern.
2021 Highlights
- In 2021, we tested 3,800 components for chemical compliance according to legislation and the Electrolux Restricted Materials List.
- We updated our in-house digital system for chemical compliance to deal with new regulations on chemicals.
In North America, we are proud to have converted all our hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in refrigeration appliances to hydrocarbons, which has substantially reduced our carbon footprint.
Our Goal
Eliminate harmful materials
Electrolux will protect people and the environment by managing chemicals carefully and continuing to replace those that cause concern.
Roadmap to 2030
- Implement a best-in-class global system for improving the control of chemicals throughout our complex supply chain and work with suppliers to replace chemicals of concern.
- Raise the bar on chemical requirements, taking into account new scientific findings.
- Eliminate high-impact greenhouse gases from our products.
The case for action
As the use of chemicals increases – including in the appliance industry – the impact of chemicals on people and the environment is high on our agenda.
We want consumers to feel reassured that Electrolux has a robust approach to choosing materials for its products – to protect both human health and the environment. Consumers are raising their expectations on appliance companies such as Electrolux on the management of chemicals in products.
Our approach
Chemical management and compliance
The Electrolux Global Chemicals Office coordinates and manages the chemicals listed on our Restricted Materials List throughout the Group and among our suppliers. The Restricted Material List, which is an integral part of our contracts with suppliers, provides information about chemical phase-out as well as the requirements for the use of chemicals. We continuously update the list in light of new legislation and research, as well as demands from consumers and NGOs.
Our environmental management process tracks material use on a site-by-site basis. Focusing on high-risk applications and suppliers, we test thousands of components every year for chemical compliance at Electrolux laboratories and selected approved institutes.
Phasing out the use of high-impact greenhouse gases is an important part of our approach to chemical management as they have historically been a significant contributor to our climate footprint.
Eco@web
Eco@web is our Group chemical management tool, and includes detailed information on the chemicals used in our products as well as in our manufacturing sites. It allows us to avoid unwanted materials and track those that might cause concern in the future. Eco@web helps to manage our complex supply chain of over 1,700+ direct suppliers. The tracked data and collected documentation provides proof of chemical compliance for consumers and institutions.
Challenges
- Driving the phase out of chemicals where it is not supported by regulation.
- Completing the substitution of HFCs in air conditioners, where there are no common industry solutions available.
- Replacing high-impact greenhouse gases needs to be driven industry-wide as solutions are dependent on legislation to enable viable alternatives.
The progress on our Goal
How we measure progress
- Level of implementation of the Group chemical management tool Eco@web throughout the organization.
- Annual update of the Electrolux Restricted Materials List.
- Progress on the phase-out of high impact greenhouse gases.
Chemical management and the Electrolux Restricted Materials List
We are working to expand the use of our Eco@web tool. During the year, we developed the tool to cope with the new Swedish chemical tax legislation.
We will continue to work toward completing the global implementation of Eco@web and to cover a larger supply base in the areas where the tool has already been implemented. North America and Latin America will be our focus regions going forward.
Phase-out of high-impact greenhouse gases
We have made significant investments in North America to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used as refrigerants or for foam blowing agents. HFCs have a high Global Warming Potential but can be replaced by hydrocarbon refrigerants (HCs) that have a low-climate impact. These investments allowed us to phase out a HFC foam blowing agent in 2020 and a HFC refrigerant in 2021, so all Electrolux refrigeration brands manufactured in North America now use gases with low Global Warming Potential. We will complete the phase out of HFCs in our North American operations by removing HFCs from room air conditioners and portable air conditioners in 2022.
In Europe, our new highly efficient range of heat pump driers uses a HC refrigerant in the compressor instead of a HFC refrigerant. Following the phase-out of HFCs in refrigerators ahead of legislation in Australia and several countries in Asia, we are in the process of phasing out HFCs in other markets in the region.
Cool Coalition initiative
We continue to work with our plan that was submitted to the UN Cool Coalition initiative to accelerate the removal of F-gases from the production of new products and to introduce gases with reduced Global Warming Potential. The plan aims to replace high-impact greenhouse gases in all Electrolux appliances by 2023 at the latest. One challenge in North America is that hydrocarbon refrigerants have not been approved for use in our dehumidifier product category.
Next steps
| Roadmap to 2030 | Next steps | Status |
|---|---|---|
Implement a best-in-class global system for improving the control of chemicals throughout our complex supply chain and work with suppliers to replace chemicals of concern. | Improve the coverage of supplier declarations of chemicals throughout our regions. | Additional effort is required |
| Raise the bar on chemical requirements, taking into account new scientific findings. | Annual update of the Electrolux Restricted Materials List. | Additional effort is required |
| Eliminate high-impact greenhouse gases from our products. | Continue to phase-out high-impact greenhouse gases in air conditioning, food preservation and fabric care globally. | Additional effort is required |
- On track
- Additional effort is required
- Off track
- Work has not yet begun