Sustainability takes teamwork
Sustainability is an essential component of the Group-wide TRATON Way Forward strategy.
Since the beginning of 2023, the TRATON GROUP has been stepping up its efforts in the area even further — with the combined strength of its Scania, MAN, Navistar, and Volkswagen Truck & Bus brands.
The road to sustainable transportation is not straightforward — it is full of challenges. According to Andreas Follér, Chief Sustainability Officer of the TRATON GROUP, the key is deep collaboration within and outside the Group: “Sustainability is not something that only a handful of people implement. It is something we work on together as a team and with our stakeholders across and beyond our value chains.” With over 20 years of experience in the field of sustainability, including nine years at Scania, Follér brings with him a wide range of expertise. Since the beginning of 2023, he has been applying his knowledge on a wider scale for the benefit of the whole Group.
“We quickly switched from a clear bottom-up approach to one in which we build on each other’s strengths.”
Andreas Follér, Chief Sustainability Officer of the TRATON GROUP
The TRATON GROUP may still be young, but the individual brands Scania, MAN, Navistar, and Volkswagen Truck & Bus (VWTB) are not: they have traditions dating as far back as 300 years, they represent different cultures, serve different markets, and are subject to different laws. Each brand has gained its own experience in the field of sustainability in recent years and established individual approaches. Follér sees this as a great strength: “We can use this impressive knowledge and existing practices to drive sustainability forward as a Group — with the brands in the driver’s seat.”
As the overarching brand umbrella, TRATON is creating a supportive environment in which the brands can learn from each other and fast-forward innovation and initiatives. “When we commit to common principles, standards, and goals, we can accelerate together and drive an ambitious agenda both locally and globally,” explains Follér. The commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) form the framework for the efforts. In order to contribute to a world where global warming does not exceed 1.5 degrees, the brands are joining the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and setting carbon reduction targets in line with what science says is needed. The climate targets of Scania and MAN have already been validated, and Navistar has now also committed to developing targets as part of the SBTi.
“When we commit to common principles, standards, and goals, we can accelerate together and drive an ambitious agenda both locally and globally.”
Andreas Follér, Chief Sustainability Officer of the TRATON GROUP
Since the beginning of 2023, the Sustainability Leadership Group, consisting of Follér and the brands’ sustainability managers, has been meeting once a week for a video conference to build mutual understanding and trust. They exchange views on their respective sustainability approaches and projects, describe the challenges they face, and share experiences. “We respect our differences. But if one of the brands has a good solution, then this practice should apply to the entire Group,” says Follér on the topic of possible synergies.
“We respect our differences. But if one of the brands has a good solution, then this practice should apply to the entire Group.”
Andreas Follér, Chief Sustainability Officer of the TRATON GROUP
Over the course of 2023, the sustainability team held intensive discussions to develop three key areas of impact: decarbonization, circularity, and human rights. The Sustainability Leadership Group is now defining joint goals and projects in line with these focal points in order to minimize environmental impact, maximize value to our stakeholders, and assume social responsibility along the value chain and beyond. The principles of cooperation form the basis for successful implementation. The principle of mutual support was especially evident during the first year together. “We realized that we have much more that connects us than what sets us apart,” recalls Follér. “We quickly switched from a clear bottom-up approach to one in which we build on each other’s strengths.”
In 2024, the Group-wide sustainability management team will focus on developing and implementing common goals. Looking to the future, Follér says: “We are a young group that still has a lot to learn. But I am very proud of the progress we have already made during 2023, our first year of working together in a structured way.”
“Sustainability is not something that only a handful of people implement. It is something we work on together as a team and with our stakeholders across and beyond our value chains.”
(Quote in Swedish)
Andreas Follér, Chief Sustainability Officer of the TRATON GROUP
Scania
Scania was the first TRATON GROUP brand to have its climate targets validated by the SBTi back in 2020. Andreas Follér says: “I believe that when it comes to driving change toward a sustainable transportation system, Scania is leading the way. Last year, the company once again showed what is possible in terms of sustainability.” In 2023, it expanded its decarbonization commitments to the supply chain and is now implementing them as binding purchasing requirements. Scania aims for all its purchases of steel, batteries, aluminum, and cast iron to be 100% green by 2030. The brand also launched a joint venture with the digital freight forwarder sennder with the aim of making it easier for small and medium-sized fleets to switch to electric trucks. Along with the more advanced electric trucks it offers for urban transport, Scania is therefore accelerating the decarbonization of European road logistics.
“I see great potential in global companies like Scania to make our world a better place.”
Fredrik Nilzén has been Head of Sustainability at Scania since January 2024. Entrepreneurship is in Nilzén’s blood: born into a family-owned transport business, he has been working on the question of how business models can be changed to achieve a positive impact since the start of his career. The opportunity to do just that is why he is so excited about his new role: “I see great potential in global companies like Scania to make our world a better place.”
Fredrik Nilzén has been Head of Sustainability at Scania since January 2024, taking over from Andreas Follér, who is now Chief Sustainability Officer of the TRATON GROUP.
In 2024, he wants to promote ecological, social, and economic aspects of sustainability. His aim is to implement the agreed climate targets and Net Zero to the fullest extent possible and to anchor social issues even more firmly in the company. The Head of Sustainability at Scania is also striving to explore smart adjustments to the company’s governance in order to accelerate its work with sustainable customer solutions and to better understand the financial implications this has for Scania, TRATON, and their customers.
Nilzén is particularly motivated in his work by the topic of scaling. He sees the connection to the TRATON GROUP as an important lever: “I am certain that if we do things right across the whole Group and are aligned in how we move forward, we can make a bigger difference for our company and for society as a whole and have a major impact on the transportation industry.”
“I am certain that if we do things right across the whole Group and are aligned in how we move forward, we can make a bigger difference for our company and for society as a whole and have a major impact on the transportation industry.”
(Quote in Swedish)
Fredrik Nilzén, Head of Sustainability at Scania
MAN
At MAN, Fabian Heidinger oversees all issues relating to sustainability. He has been with the company for twelve years and responsible for its sustainability and decarbonization strategy since May 2021. He sees particular strength in Group-wide collaboration: “All the brands face similar challenges. By exchanging ideas and supporting each other, we can find better solutions for the individual brands and for the Group as a whole,” explains Heidinger.
When MAN committed to SBTi targets, it had Scania to help it define them — which in turn meant that MAN could pass this knowledge on further, helping Navistar with its SBTi project. “It created a chain reaction: we helped each other out in order to help the Group as a whole,” summarizes Heidinger.
With a view to further collaboration, he is particularly looking forward to the Group-wide “Net Zero” project, which is drawing up a long-term roadmap for decarbonization by 2050 at the latest. This is because he believes in its potential to create the transparency needed to effectively combat climate change. “We will discuss a lot and come up with solutions. Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” says Heidinger optimistically.
“All the brands face similar challenges. By exchanging ideas and supporting each other, we can find better solutions for the individual brands and for the Group as a whole.”
(Quote in German)
Fabian Heidinger, Head of Sustainability at MAN
Navistar
When Christopher Perzan joined Navistar around 15 years ago, he was already getting involved in the company’s first sustainability initiatives. An environmental lawyer by training, he has officially held a dual role since the beginning of 2021: Vice President, Environment & Sustainability and Chief Environmental Counsel. Perzan’s team is responsible for coordinating the calculation of Navistar’s CO2 footprint: “We know our footprint. Because of this, we have a responsibility to act.” This is why Navistar also committed to developing targets as part of the SBTi in 2023.
For Perzan, the benefits of working with the other brands lie in being able to pool employees, resources, and expertise. “We want to learn from the best experts in our organizations. Navistar, for example, has a historic strength in its remanufacturing program for used parts. So our experts try to support others with our remanufacturing expertise,” explains Perzan. “And because of my background as a lawyer, I tend to bring my knowledge of policy, laws, and regulations to the table.” Perzan is heading for two milestones next year: developing Navistar’s carbon emission targets in preparation for submission to the SBTi and further expanding the company’s circularity approach.
“We want to learn from the best experts in our organizations. Navistar, for example, has a historic strength in its remanufacturing program for used parts. So our experts try to support others with our remanufacturing expertise.”
(Quote in English)
Christopher Perzan, Vice President, Environment & Sustainability and Chief Environmental Counsel at Navistar
Volkswagen
Truck & Bus
The sustainability challenges that the company faces are closely linked to local conditions and the regulations of emerging markets. “The tasks we have ahead of us are relevant. But we are determined to tackle them,” says Rocha. VWTB can also benefit from the knowledge of the other brands — for example when it comes to carbon reduction regulations, an area where Europe and the USA are further ahead.
Priscila Rocha is an expert in strategic corporate planning for sustainability and ESG agendas. She has 22 year of professional experience, and has contributed her expertise as Head of Sustainability at VWTB since October 2021.
“VWTB has been working to build up its circular capacity through a partnership with the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and other projects that consider an increased use of renewable and recycled materials in products and materials, as well as a circular production that uses less water and wastewater,” she explains. When it comes to social sustainability, VWTB is working in line with the TRATON targets to increase the proportion of women across the Company’s management positions to 30% by 2029 and to promote awareness of diversity and inclusion.
Proportion of women across the Company’s
management positions by 2029
30%
For Rocha, debates arising from different perspectives and cultures are completely normal when working with the brands. “It’s good to have a variety of opinions and backgrounds in the Group — that’s exactly what makes teams diverse. And thanks to this diversity, we can be even stronger together.”
“It’s good to have a variety of opinions and backgrounds in the Group — that’s exactly what makes teams diverse. And thanks to this diversity, we can be even stronger together.”
(Quote in Portuguese)
Priscila Rocha,Head of Sustainability at Volkswagen Truck & Bus
