Our focus areas
Our focus areas
As a sustainability-focused entity, we bear a significant responsibility to practice what we preach. Our products contribute to achieving climate goals, and our own processes strive to be resource-efficient and renewable.
Sekab is certified according to the ISO 14001 standard, our production is also certified according to the sustainability system ISCC. This helps us maintain control over the development of our environmental efforts and continuously reduce the overall environmental impact of our operations. Environmental work is conducted at all levels of the organization and is an integral part of our operations. While the majority of environmental work is directly linked to our production facility, we systematically address environmental issues in all aspects of our operations. Sekab’s ambition is to take responsibility for the company’s environmental impact throughout the entire value chain. We focus on reducing the operational carbon footprint through efficient use of raw materials, energy, other natural resources, and transportation. The company develops fossil-free products, thus contributing to sustainable development in society.
We are convinced that the path to a sustainable future lies through renewable alternatives. Sekab is one of the few chemical producers in Europe that can offer chemicals based on bio-based raw materials, as an alternative to oil-based ones. Additionally, we produce them using renewable input energy such as steam and electricity. Thus, we guarantee that our customers receive 100 percent fossil-free, bio-based chemicals, which generate very low emissions to air and water during the manufacturing process. By using bio-based raw materials in the process, we have good opportunities to reduce the CO2 impact in society. Furthermore, Sekab has developed and demonstrated technology for manufacturing chemicals from forest residues to further strengthen the development towards a more sustainable society. This makes us a perfect partner for companies that want to reduce their climate impact.
In a tough economic climate for the European manufacturing industry, interest in the bio-based sector continues to deepen. Many major players are undergoing certification processes to be able to receive sustainable products. The demand for certifications and detailed figures regarding product footprints is increasing, and in 2023, Sekab has been working to explain the advantage of fully bio-based products compared to fossil ones.
In our new incineration boiler, which came into operation during 2023, we burn by-products from acetaldehyde and acetic acid production. An investment that provides both environmental and operational
benefits.
Sekab continuously works to reduce energy consumption within its operations. Today, all electricity used is renewable, and over 90 percent of the steam used in the facility is also renewable.
Part of the steam Sekab utilizes is produced in its own boiler, where residual gases from production are utilized. Energy consumption is monitored regularly and taken into account during
process changes. In 2023, the total steam consumption was 49,848 tons, and the total electricity consumption was 3,198 MWh.
Air emissions predominantly stem from process exhaust gases from manufacturing, as well as from venting of storage tanks and loading. Sekab’s emissions of NOx and TOC are among the lowest in Sweden, relative to the amount of energy produced. In 2023, we had emissions of 0.4 mg TOC/m3, which naturally means that the conditions were met with a good margin. To avoid unnecessary emissions, we have equipped all major storage tanks with technical solutions intended to reduce emissions to the air.
The process water is treated in the biological treatment plant located in the industrial area and then discharged into the recipient. The biogas formed in the treatment plant is used within the industrial area for purposes such as electricity and district heating production. The average for 2023 was 0.84 tons of TOC per day, which is within the applicable conditions.
