The internal price for CO2 equivalents (CO2e) emissions is being set at SEK 1,000 per tonne and will initially be tested in a number of redevelopment project investment decisions before being evaluated. Moving forward, the aim is to integrate the cost of climate impact in the decision process.

“The overall aim is to forge a more distinct connection between financials and climate impact. By pricing our climate impact and presenting this calculation already in the decision process, we derive an entirely different focus on our active climate choice,” says Arvid Liepe, Chief Financial Officer of Wihlborgs.

The indicative price of SEK 1,000 per tonne is a standard amount used by several major companies and is based on an accounting approach to climate compensation, meaning negative emissions.

Wihlborgs is also establishing a target limit for the new construction of office properties, which aims to clarify our ambition for architects and contractors. The threshold for the construction phase has been set at 270 kg CO2e per m2 and has been established jointly in LFM30 in Malmö. This threshold is at the forefront in relation to the reporting guidelines of the Swedish National Housing Board and legislation.

“Both initiatives are part of our long-term strategy to integrate sustainability efforts in business and the goal to halve all of our CO2 emissions by 2030. All three components of the ESG area – Environmental, Social and Governance – are to be integrated in our business and in all our decisions with a focus on investments that make a real difference. The initiative is also a way to leverage the lessons learned from our work with the Zero CO2 certification of Kvartetten in Hyllie. The climate calculations and balances we have implemented in the process will help Wihlborgs and our customers take better decisions in future projects,” says Ulrika Hallengren, CEO of Wihlborgs.

“This will be an important learning process for us as a Group and our ambition is for these initiatives to contribute to more day-to-day climate-smart choices. This will also provide us with the opportunity of prioritising suppliers that offer long-term climate-smart solutions, which will in turn contribute to pushing the construction industry in the right direction. The climate aspect will not be an obligatory charge, but rather a highly valued quality requirement,” says Staffan Fredlund, Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Manager at Wihlborgs.