ASKO has been awarded the prestigious EcoVadis silver medal, recognising its commitment to sustainable business practices and ongoing efforts to minimise its environmental impact and promote social responsibility.
Since its humble beginnings in Sweden in the late 1950s, ASKO has been dedicated to designing innovative products with a better future in mind from using high-quality, sustainable materials and sourcing them responsibly, saving energy, reducing emissions, and increasing recycling and reuse, sustainable design and sustainable transport, as well as ensuring its people are treated fairly and with respect.
To earn an EcoVadis silver medal, a company must demonstrate ambitious sustainability targets and the focus and passion to meet them. As part of the Hisense Europe group, ASKO has been working towards sustainability targets across five key areas – the environment, sustainable products, sustainable supply chain, people and social responsibility, and new business models.
These targets include reducing energy consumption through the optimisation of renewable energy, increasing the use of recycled materials in products, reducing waste, promoting sustainable transportation, and enhancing the sustainability of its supply chain. The focus on sustainability is evident in the efforts to recycle 96% of generated waste, use 100% recyclable packaging by 2024, and reduce CO2 emissions from transportation.
To earn an EcoVadis silver medal, a company must address all stages of production to minimise its carbon footprint, including energy consumption during manufacturing, the materials used in the products and their lifespan, as well as packaging and transportation.
In these areas, ASKO and other brands in the Hisense Europe group have made significant progress in the last five years with a 38% reduction in water consumption and a 24% reduction in electricity consumption. Another important aspect is the availability of spare parts and serviceability of ASKO products.
The EcoVadis sustainability rating and assessment process also evaluates social and ethical performance. ASKO and the Hisense Europe group received a silver for their commitment to promoting ethical business practices such as creating equal opportunities and establishing a knowledge-sharing culture.
Hisense Europe CEO, Hanson Han said, “Sustainability is at the core of our values, and we will continue to work hard to minimize our environmental impact and promote social responsibility. This certification is a great achievement, and we are proud to be part of the EcoVadis community.”
Hisense Europe management board member, Tomaž Korošec said, “Our investments in renewable energy, focus on product durability and efficiency, and implementation of circular economy principles have proven to be the right approach. We are honoured to receive the silver EcoVadis medal, as it represents our belief that companies with a consistent commitment to social and environmental responsibility are the ones that will achieve lasting success.”