A systematic approach With a focus on SGD no. 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, for ex- ample, Actona Group is turning the spotlight on circular products. The overall ambition is to map CO2-data for all materials by 2025. Among other targets, this ambition unfolds through designing for disassembly, which makes it easier for the consumer to recycle a product correctly. “We strive to consider the whole product lifecycle and our primary ambition in regard to circular products is to establish that much-needed transparency, which enables consumers to make the responsible choices in the store,” Rasmus explains. The same systematic approach is used with SDG no. 7, which is targeted through a focus on more sustainable production. Actona Group’s overall goal is to cut CO2-emissions from operations in half by 2025. In collaboration with an external partner, scope 1 and 2 baselines for the financial year 2019/20 have been es- tablished and scope 3 material assessment will be completed in the following financial year. “Through the work of establishing our baselines, it has become more clear to us, what the main sources of our emissions are. This provides us with a founda- tion for determining the right actions and adjusting our behaviour accordingly,” Rasmus says. To target SDG no. 15, Actona Group is working with responsible procurement as a headline and the overall ambition is to use 100 percent sustainable certi- fied wood by 2025. But the company is also focusing on the use of packaging material, responsible fabrics, and supplier management systems. For example, Actona Group works on establishing a complete overview of all packaging materials used for Actona Group-products, enabling the company to bring down the amount of plastic types not qualified for recycling, move towards more paper-based materials, and increase recycled content in packaging ma- terials used. Targeting the upholstery-division Part of the ‘Sustainable Business’-strategy is to substantially strengthen the com- pany’s position in the European upholstery market for business-to-business. Therefore, in 2021, Actona Group acquired Theca, a producer of sofas, armchairs, and more with production in Lithuania. Becoming part of Actona Group meant that Theca joined the journey towards more sustainable business. “We regard the strategy set out by Actona Group as very positive for Theca and we are strongly committed to contributing to reaching the ambitious goals,” says Jurgita Misenioviene, General Director of Theca. “Theca has done a tremendous job already and we are so excited to join forces to reach our ambitions collectively,” says Rasmus Munksgaard Mathiasen. Due to the choice of a very systematic approach, Actona Group is focusing the effort towards the challenges, where changes can have the biggest impact in- stead of trying to target all of the emission sources at once. “Based on the knowledge we now have, one of the things we are doing to reach Prior to becoming part of Actona Group, Theca was already on a path towards more sustainability. In 2018, the company became FSC TM certified and in 2021 Theca also achieved the OEKO-TEX® certification. Certifications, however, are only a part of Theca’s efforts to increase sustainability in the upholstery division specifically and the value chain in general. “What we see is that once the different initiatives are implemented, our suppliers are actually cutting their costs by being more mindful with their use of packaging material, improving load ability, etc.” Jurgita Misenioviene our reduction target is to install 16 new Clever charging stations at our facility in Tvis, where we are also implementing a waste sorting system specifically for plastic and cardboard to reduce the amount of waste going to incineration,” Rasmus elaborates. “We are continuously optimising the energy consumption of our buildings, e.g., by improving the insulation, switching to LED lights etc.,” Jurgita says. “Waste reduction is also a big focus area and every month we take stock of our PAGE 68

“Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important part of the public agenda and our customers are requesting and expecting more from us in that regard.” Jurgita Misenioviene Jurgita Misenioviene, General Director of Theca foam, leather, and wood-yield, to identify new ways of further reducing waste,” she adds. Energy optimisation and waste reduction are both efforts closely linked to SDG nr. 7, Affordable and Clean Energy, and Actona Group’s focus on sustainable pro- duction. and our customers are requesting and expecting more from us in that regard. So, we have actually been able to use our efforts as a competitive advantage in the upholstery market,” Jurgita adds. And the benefits are not only visible for Theca, but for the suppliers and partners of Theca as well. Joining forces for maximum impact To maximise the impact of the efforts in relation to sustainability, Theca is actively working to influence suppliers as well, which is linked to SGD no. 15, Life on Land, and in line with Actona Group’s general focus on responsible procurement. “When entering new partnerships, we make demands towards our suppliers in terms of their use of packaging material and load optimisation. Some suppliers are very proactive and others we have to nudge a little more,” Jurgita says. As the name of the Actona Group strategy implies, focusing on sustainability needs to be sound business as well. And according to Jurgita, Theca is benefit- ting a lot from the increased focus on sustainability: “It is our experience that our certifications and our general focus on sustainabil- ity is very valuable for us,” she says. “What we see is that once the different initiatives are implemented, our sup- pliers are actually cutting their costs by being more mindful with their use of packaging material, improving load ability, etc.,” Jurgita says. There is no doubt in Jurgita’s mind that the increased focus on running a sustain- able business has made a huge difference and she is proud that Actona Group is ambitous in that respect. “Someone has to take initiative, lead by example, and drive the agenda forward,” she says. “And I am glad that we are doing that together. It makes all of us stronger,” she concludes. “Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important part of the public agenda LARS LARSEN GROUP | ANNUAL REPORT 2021/22 | RESPONSIBILITY | PAGE 69

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