Sunpines Sustainability Award to Lindbäcks Group

Lindbäcks Group wins SunPine's Sustainability Award. They win the award for their holistic approach to sustainability and their focus on gender equality in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

– The fact that we have managed to go from 6 percent women to 20 percent is a feat, says the chairman of the jury and SunPine's CEO Magnus Edin.

Lindbäcks Group has established a sustainable approach throughout its operations. Lindbäcks builds in wood as it is the only renewable building material. By increasing the proportion of wood in construction, the construction industry becomes more climate-smart. A wooden apartment building emits 50 percent less carbon dioxide during its total life cycle than a house with a concrete frame. With a rational and streamlined construction process in the factories, waste and waste of materials and energy is also minimized. In addition, the new factory is self-sufficient in solar energy and district heating.

When Lindbäck's new factory on Haraholmen was to be staffed, it was also obvious to break with the industry's dominant male structure and recruit more equally. The result was 20 percent women, previously the proportion of women at Lindbäck's first factory was 6 percent.

Magnus Edin, CEO of SunPine and chairman of the jury:

– It's a seven-mile journey to go from 6 percent to 20 percent, a giant leap towards the government's goal for the industry of 25 percent women by 2030. It's concrete and inspiring. Worth praising.

Why does Lindbäcks Group win and not Lindbäcks Bygg?

– To limit the price to Lindbäcks Bygg would have been to turn a blind eye to the whole. Lindbäcks Group is more than just a construction company. Sustainability is about looking at the whole and the Lindbäcks Group really does that. They have a positive commitment to society at large, says Edin and continues:

– In the justification, we highlight their change work, where they have focused on gender equality in recruitment... "It is difficult to change. To break with both structures and cultures. But... if you build sustainably from the ground up, you achieve winning results," we say there. And they have really succeeded with their gender equality work.

Linda Rosén, CEO of Lindbäcks Group, is delighted with the award:

– It feels extra good that this award goes to all of Lindbäcks, to all of us who work in the company. And that we receive it precisely for our sustainability work, as sustainability is a fundamental value for us. It feels really nice that our work is recognized in this way. Thank you!

For Magnus Edin, the initiative to award the Sustainability Prize is an important decision:

– For SunPine, sustainability is part of our DNA. We ourselves strive to be sustainable in every way we can and deliver sustainable products. With this award, we want to highlight other companies in the region that inspire and act as role models in sustainability. And by sustainability, we mean the full meaning of the concept, of course climate-smart solutions that protect our environment, but also social sustainability and good long-term economics. For us, gender equality is an important part of this, which is why we have chosen it as this year's theme.

On Friday, November 9, the Sustainability Award was awarded for the first time at the Business Day gala at Pite havsbad. The winner, Lindbäcks Group, received, among other things, a specially designed glass bowl from Linda Isaksson, Heta Hyttan in Piteå.

– She has made a completely unique glass bowl where she blows our tall diesel and resin into the glass itself. We dare to say that it is both locally produced and unique in its kind, says Edin.

The other two nominees who will receive honorary diplomas:

SCA Wood, Munksund sawmill, Lars Bogren

When the sawmill in Munksund was looking for summer temporary workers, they decided to exceed SCA's own goal of 30 percent female temporary workers. They wanted to reach 50 percent. And, they succeeded!

Piteå Science Park for Biobase, Helena Karlberg

Despite its technology and industry focus, Biobase was unusually gender-balanced. 39 percent of the participants were women, as were 39 percent of the speakers. Piteå Science Park succeeded in the equally difficult but obvious task of delivering quality and gender equality.