Interim Report Q3 2024People Green Innovation Technology

In 2024, Byggma has unveiled its Sustainability Report for the year 2023. For the first time, Byggma has compiled climate accounts in alignment with the GHG protocol. The data unequivocally demonstrates that Byggma's products sequester a significantly greater amount of carbon than what is emitted from our operations. Consequently, we can assert that Byggma's activities contribute to the net removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere, positioning us as a vital player in addressing climate challenges moving forward. When considering the total carbon sequestered through a year's production of Byggma's wood-based products, the figure amounts to an impressive storage of 425 thousand tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.

Byggma ASA is strengthening its focus on sustainability and has appointed a Sustainability Director within the group. This newly created position is part of our long-term strategy to integrate sustainability into all aspects of our operations. The Sustainability Director will be responsible for leading and coordinating the group’s sustainability efforts across all our companies, ensuring that we meet our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. This initiative is not only a crucial step in enhancing our social mission but also a key to increasing our competitiveness in the market. By focusing on sustainable solutions and innovations, we aim to contribute to a more sustainable future while creating value for our shareholders, customers, and society.

Forestia has phased out ammonia from the production process during 2024. Phasing out ammonia is a significant contribution to reducing chemicals and additives and positively impacts our total CO₂ emissions. The emission reduction, based on LCA analysis and production volume in 2023, shows that Forestia reduces CO₂ emissions by 135 tons of CO₂-eq annually. The reduction is related to the production of ammonia, including transport from the producer to Forestia.

Buildings with wooden structures generally have a low climate footprint, but the foundation often constitutes a significant part of the total climate impact because a concrete slab on the ground is used. This project analyzes several types of foundations to see how the climate impact can be reduced. Masonite Beams is looking into four different alternative foundations for a four-story house to demonstrate how the climate impact can be further reduced. To meet market demands for flexibility and reuse, the possibilities for dismantling and moving the various foundation types are also being analyzed.

Forestia made changes in 2024 to transport from Wismar in Germany to Braskereidfoss for purchased goods. Transport, which was previously done exclusively by truck, has been moved to intermodal freight with truck – boat – train – truck. This results in a 65% reduction in CO2 emissions from transport compared to road transport. From the start in April through Q3 2024, we have calculated a total savings of 109.98 tons of CO₂-eq.

To reduce emissions from transport, we currently require all vehicles to be at least EURO 6 certified. Smartpanel is looking into the possibility of using electric trucks for deliveries in Østfold and Sweden. The transition to electric vehicles will not only reduce carbon emissions but also improve air quality and create a more environmentally friendly transport system.

Smartpanel will conduct a test in week 49 by delivering goods to a customer’s central warehouse in Denmark by boat instead of trucks. This corresponds to 16 full trucks and is an important step in reducing our negative environmental impact.

In the current cleaning process for paint equipment, Smartpanel cannot separate paint particles from the water. Therefore, we are now considering a flocculation plant, which causes the small paint particles to bind together into larger clumps. This process allows us to separate the paint particles from water and reuse the water in the washing process.

Uldal AS has had a meaningfull collaboration with NAV Birkenes for several years. Together, they have now engaged six men from Ukraine to work in the production facilities. We view this as more than taking social responsibility, it is about seeing the value in people. Therefore, a lot of time is spent by NAV and Uldal to find the right candidates, with the goal of continued employment in the company after the collaboration including wage subsidy is over.

From the left: Torbjørn Vik, head of NAV Birkenes, Sada Majcic, recruitment advisor at NAV Birkenes, Tronn Tellefsen production manager at Uldal, and three of the new hires - Ivan Maiko (32), Andrii Zakharov (25) and Yevhenii Pasnaiev (40) Picture retrieved from Birkeland Avis.

At Byggma, we are proud of Aneta’s subsidiary Scan Lamps VTA. A VTA company (permanently arranged work) that provides people with special needs a workplace at our company, with all that entails in terms of opportunities for a sense of mastery, independence, and social development. Extensive efforts to improve the quality of our VTA initiative are being conducted, including a focus on increased user participation in the form of participation and close follow-up of action plans, goals, and more frequent general meetings. In the last quarter, four new young employees have started working at Scan Lamps VTA.

Among other things, they produce fire starters made from recycled newspapers and candle wax residues.

A major challenge has been mobilizing young people to choose a vocational direction, especially in production technology. Therefore, we are happy that Forestia has attracted three new apprentices in this field. Together with our two new industrial mechanic apprentices, we have a total of eight apprentices at Forestia. These are the future production technicians, electricians, and industrial mechanics. This is something we are very proud of.

Forestia also contributes in regards of inclusion of people. Among other things, by providing youth with work practice through Våler Vekst AS. Våler Vekst AS is also the supplier of the canteen solution at Forestia. Here, great food is served, while providing work practice for the participants. This collaboration means that we also have a skilled employee from Ukraine who is language training in our canteen. We consider this a win-win situation and a collaboration we are proud of.