The greatest potential for real CO2 reduction lies in the supply chain.

How high a priority is sustainability for ASSA ABLOY Schweiz at present?

Sustainability and, in particular, the reduction of CO₂ emissions are very important to us. On the one hand, because we want to take responsibility as a company, but on the other hand, because we have clear targets set by the Group. In concrete terms, this means: we want to halve our CO₂ emissions by 2030 compared to 2019 and be CO₂ neutral as a company by 2050. To achieve these goals, we have initiated a number of actions in recent years – many of which concern the Scope 3 area.

Before we drill down into the details, what sustainability aspects does Scope 3 cover and why is it so relevant?

Scope 3 covers all indirect CO₂ emissions along the upstream and downstream value chain – i.e. emissions from the extraction of raw materials, the manufacture of preliminary products, transport, or disposal. In industry in particular, this is often where the greatest potential for sustainable transformation lies. As for many companies, the majority of our emissions do not arise in our own plants, but in materials, suppliers, and processes outside our direct sphere of influence.

Where does the greatest CO₂ potential lie in this area?

Our analyses clearly show that the use of materials – especially metals such as brass – accounts for the largest share of our products’ CO₂ emissions. In this context, transport routes currently play a relatively minor role. For us, this means that if we want to substantially improve our environmental footprint, we need to focus on materials.

Has there already been any measurable success?

A good example is the adaptation of the material composition of our keys. We were able to reduce the proportion of nickel silver – an alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc – from 12% to 7%. This has saved us around 30 tons of CO₂. It is crucial here, of course, that the functionality of our products is fully maintained. Extensive tests have shown that the change is only noticeable visually – the keys now have a slightly more golden color. We informed our customers about this change transparently and at an early stage.

Another important area is packaging. What challenges does that pose?

We still used polystyrene packaging in some areas. Our goal was to switch to more sustainable alternatives with recycled content. However, it quickly became clear that not every environmentally friendly solution is automatically also functionally suitable. When shipping parcels, packaging must be drop-proof – otherwise damage will occur, which would not be sustainable.

How did you tackle this challenge?

We searched intensively, invited different suppliers, and looked at various solutions. Ultimately, we chose pulp molding, which is made from waste paper. It was important to us not only to rely on manufacturer specifications, so we visited the production site and examined how energy and resources are used there. The manufacturer uses primarily rainwater, utilizes waste heat as heating energy, and all production is almost carbon-neutral. The first products have already been converted, others are currently being rolled out.

What role does the use of recycled materials play in general?

A very large one. We are in constant contact with our suppliers to consistently increase the proportion of recycled materials in our products. For aluminum, our recycled content currently averages 30 %. We were able to achieve up to 20 % for zinc, and around 60 % for brass – our most important material in terms of quantity – with our main suppliers. This is a process that is not always easy. But we consciously challenge our partners here and accompany them on this journey.

How do suppliers respond to these requirements?

It is crucial to raise awareness that sustainability is not a one-way street, but a goal that must be achieved together: our suppliers must also disclose their life cycle assessments. Many are already very advanced in this regard, operating photovoltaic systems or recording their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. This in turn has a direct positive impact on our own carbon footprint – above all because it allows us to work increasingly with real rather than purely theoretical data and to plan more precisely.

You currently also work with external partners. What are you doing exactly?

In August 2025, we launched a cooperation project with an expert group of graduates from ETH Zurich. Together, we are analyzing our locking cylinders in detail and identifying the biggest CO₂ drivers – from the material basis to production to transport. The aim is to find alternative materials or material combinations that cause significantly lower CO₂ emissions without compromising on quality and security.

What limits do security and quality impose?

Our products are security-critical and must withstand extreme requirements – such as temperatures of up to 800°C and resistance to tensile tests of up to 1t. Many alternative materials currently under discussion, such as biogenic plastics, are simply not suitable for this. We therefore always subject new material combinations, such as the increased use of zinc, to thorough testing and validation to ensure that they meet our quality promise while emitting less CO₂.