SACC Sustainability Committee Update

Australia has committed to progressing towards a circular economy, with a target to achieve an 80 per cent resource recovery from all waste streams by 2030. This target will only be achieved through meaningful collaborations between businesses across multiple sectors and policy makers.

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s Sustainability Committee was set up in 2022 to bring together Swedish companies that are committed to the Sustainable Development Agenda through actions and contributions.

On June 18th, together with the Embassy of Sweden Canberra, the committee will be hosting an event with government and industry players on how member companies are leading the charge through innovation, solutions and industry initiatives, plus discuss the barriers they face in making a bigger impact and achieving the collection ambitions that will also help support government agenda.

Currently, we have these member companies who have expressed interest in participating in the event – Alfa Laval, AstraZeneca, IKEA, Sandvik and Tetra Pak. Please contact us for more information: sacc@swedishchamber.com.au

Previous event: 

On 12 March the Sustainability Committee together with the SACC Brisbane Chapter organised an insightful Circular Economy Workshop at the Sandvik office.

The event started with a welcome from San

dvik Australia Managing Director Wayne Scrivens and an intro from Teresia Fors, SACC Vice President and Chair SACC QLD Chapter. Dr Nicole T Garofano, Head of Circular Economy Development Planet Ark Environmental Foundation gave us an introduction to Circular Economy for businesses followed by a workshop, led by Circular Economy Specialist Linda Nordin, on how to transition your business models from linear to circular and how this aligns with the upcoming ISO standard for CE.

Why is the transition crucial?

  1. It reduces the pressure on finite resources, helping to conserve them for future generations.
  2. It minimizes waste generation and pollution, leading to a cleaner environment and healthier ecosystems.
  3. It promotes innovation and economic growth by creating new business models, products, and services that are more sustainable and resource-efficient.

5 step process to implement circular economy (CE) in your business

  1. Define a baseline and create targets
  2. Embed CE in your vision and strategy
  3. Align business model with CE ISO standard 59010
  4. Undertake feasibility studies, priorities
  5. Evaluate and improve

After the workshop there was a thought-provoking panel discussion, featuring below panellists, who shared key initiatives, opportunities and challenges switching to circular today;

The event concluded with a brief presentation of the SACC Sustainability Committee, its members and focus here in Australia by SACC General Manager, Camilla Jennings.

At the event participants had the opportunity to:

  • Discover the 10 steps to transition your business models from linear to circular and learn how this aligns with the upcoming ISO standard for CE (anticipated release in early 2024).
  • Engage in discussions and activities with fellow participants to kickstart your Circular journey.
  • Explore real-world examples of how businesses are implementing circularity today, services and products.
  • Network with like-minded people

The Circular Economy Workshop format was a great success and the SACC Sustainability Committee aims to bring this workshop to other SACC Chapters as well, including Sydney and Melbourne.

Have your say: take part in ABB’s sustainability survey

Our future depends on more than a shift to renewable energy. With the world using up resources at an unsustainable rate, transitioning to a circular economy is just as important.

So, when it comes to your business’ sustainability journey, are you on track?  Whether it’s through market/investor pressure, government mandates, or trade tariffs you’ll need to set and meet sustainability targets to ensure your business’ long-term success.

To help you find out, please take part in this 6-8 min survey from our member company ABB to see how Australian businesses view this important topic. The results will not only shed light on how your company stacks up in the sustainability race but also where you can make the right investments to future-proof your business.

Start the survey here: https://s.pointerpro.com/abb_sustainability/?cf2=SACC&cf3=Australia

Circular economy learnings from Europe

Members may recall the presentation by Dr Nicole Garofano of Planet Ark’s Australian Circular Economy Hub (ACE Hub) to Chamber members live from Sweden in June 2023. Nicole shared her high-level takeaways from the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) held in Helsinki in late May along with 10 other Australian/New Zealand delegates.

Attending the WCEF was one component of a busy schedule of meetings and site visits in the Netherlands, in and around Helsinki, Stockholm and Gothenburg organised as part of the ACE Hub European Study Tour.

Since returning, the delegation has been busy putting their European experiences to good use in both Australian and New Zealand contexts. Six delegates so far have shared their knowledge and experience in a four-part webinar series found on Planet Ark’s Youtube Channel.

The webinar series captures reflections on:

  • Moving beyond theory to practice through systems thinking and radical collaboration
  • Role of government in circularity and creating enabling language to shift up the R ladder
  • Leading from the front with industry case studies
  • Local and regional government support for circularity

The final instalment in the series will be held on Tuesday 23 April at 1 pm AEST. Register for this event using this Humanitix link.

Members are invited to view any or all of the webinar recordings on the link above and/or visit the ACE Hub Knowledge Hub on the website.

And if you want to learn more of what’s happening in Australia in the circular economy, why not register with the ACE Hub Portal to join 2000+ members ready to collaborate and help accelerate your circular economy transition.

Nicole can be reached by email at nicole.garofano@planetark.org

H&M CELEBRATES 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN AUSTRALIA

Internationally renowned fashion retailer H&M marks its 10th year in Australia, celebrating a decade of fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable way. This month the brand will be hosting various promotions, in store events and a member competition as part of its celebrations.

H&M unveiled its very first Australian flagship store at GPO Melbourne in April 2014. Recently the store has undergone a refresh, presenting customers with an elevated shopping experience including an updated store layout with custom fittings for added inspiration and relevance to customers. On top of these enhancements to the GPO store, Australia will follow the global roll out to refurbish around 250 stores in 2024.

“We are incredibly proud to mark this significant milestone in Australia. Our success over the past decade is a testament to our strong company culture, the support of our loyal customers and the dedication of our talented team. We are entering a new era, with fashion and the customer at the forefront, which will be visible through our store upgrades, creating inspiring shopping experiences, elevated products and a strong customer offer, says Anna Baldwin, Country Sales Manager of ANZ.”

In celebration of this milestone achievement, H&M Australia is offering exciting in store experiences. On 19 April, customers can enjoy a sweet treat, a fun photo moment accompanied by a DJ set at the GPO Melbourne location. The 20th of April will see the H&M Pitt St activation area taken over by H&M’s signature read and an in store installation. H&M loyalty members will also receive 15% off a future purchase.

Continuing H&M’s journey of democratising fashion for the masses, H&M has recently announced the latest designer collaboration with emerging brand Rokh’s signature style of elevated staples. the evening before launch, H&M loyalty members have the chance to shop the collection before everyone else at a pre-shop event which will be held in the H&M Pitt St store. The collection is available Thursday 18 April at H&M Pitt St Sydney, GPO Melbourne and online in Australia at hm.com/au.

Today H&M has 35 store locations Australia wide and online offering Womens, Mens, Kids and Lifestyle.

THE CHOIR by ABBA The Museum from Sweden is returning to Australia in June 2024!

 

Experience the magic of ABBA with THE CHOIR by ABBA The Museum, returning to Australia fresh from Stockholm!

Celebrate with us as they unveil a new EP, featuring tracks like for example the iconic “Waterloo” together with the classically influenced “Intermezzo No.1”, recorded in the same legendary studio as ABBA’s recent album.

Born from the heart of ABBA’s legacy in 2014, this unique pop choir brings to life the band’s timeless classics with a modern twist. Selected through rigorous auditions and crafted under the guidance of ABBA’s insiders, their performances resonate with the spirit of the original masters. Having dazzled audiences from Sweden to China, the UK, and made a debut in Australia in 2023, THE CHOIR is set to captivate Melbourne and beyond with their distinct sound and spectacular shows.

Join us for an unforgettable journey of music and memories at the Better Together 2024 conference (June 14-16), Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theater (June 19-22), and ABBA Day Downunder in Williamstown. Secure your tickets now and be part of the celebration that bridges generations through the power of ABBA’s hits, all performed by this extraordinary choir.

Web: https://www.thechoir.se/

Spotify album: https://open.spotify.com/album/5STDW88B7tOnPmukIt1sUD?si=myyFZKHnSEuPsxelFxoEUg

Sweden Innovation Days 2024 – Watch the online event which took place 20-21 March

Sweden Innovation Days 2024 took place 20-21 March, this is an annual online digital event,  which this year attracted over 2,000 registered participants from 89 different countries.

The focus of the online conference is to connect innovation actors from around the world and to foster partnerships with clear and actionable missions to create a more sustainable world. Sweden is a sustainability front runner and committed to contributing to the Global Goals.

Sweden Innovation Days is dedicated to fostering international collaboration, so whether you are a start-up, intermediary or corporate, working in the public sector, civil society, academia or a government agency, there will be key takeaways for everyone.

The event is organised by Vinnova – Sweden’s innovation agency, the Swedish Energy Agency – leading the transition to a sustainable energy system and Formas – a Swedish research council for sustainable development in collaboration with Swedish Incubators & Science Parks (SISP) and Business Sweden.

Watch the sessions for the 2-day online event here:

https://swedeninnovationdays.se/past-event/lets-innovate-for-resilience/

Swedish garden designers win award for ’New Nordic Notes’ sustainable garden design in Melbourne March 2024

Swedish garden designers win award for ’New Nordic Notes’ sustainable garden design at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show in March 2024

’New Nordic Notes’ show garden, created by design duo Annika Zetterman and Kajsa Björne, was awarded Silver Gilt at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show 2024, which attracts over 100,000 visitors every year. “The garden is a place for reflection, deeply rooted in the culture and nature of the Nordics, with details that keep surprising, which makes it a winner.”

The ’New Nordic Notes’ garden was highlighted on various YouTube and podcast channels and broadcasted on Better Homes and Gardens (Channel 7), Garden Gurus (Channel 9) and Gardening Australia.

”- New Nordic Notes show garden is a celebration and inspiration of the Nordics. The garden was created to encourage generations to look at their past with pride and respect. A place which motivates you to storytelling and create meaningful design expressions, to stay curious about materials and to appreciate nature, despite living in Australia or the Nordic countries.”

There is a particular word in Swedish, “smultronställe”, which translates to a place in the wild where an abundance of wild strawberries grows. Smultronställe is referred to as a beautiful place you can escape to from everyday life, a place which gives you sentimental and personal value.

“- We decided at an early stage to create a garden as a place free from stress, a place to relax and reflect, not to be dictated where to stand or sit. As an anecdote to ‘smultronställe’ we added strawberries in the planting beds, a variety with red flowers, much appreciated by visitors.”

After the show, memories and photos are what remains of the garden. All materials have been reused and all plants have been returned to suppliers, with sustainability in mind.

More info, Instagram @newnordicnotes

Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show: https://melbflowershow.com.au/

 

Designer Profiles

Kajsa Björne

Kajsa holds a Master of Science in Landscape Architecture, with international experience, having worked and studied in Sweden, England, Japan and Australia. Kajsa was the lead designer for the award-winning Ian Potters Children’s Wild Play Garden in Centennial Park, in Sydney. She resides in Central Coast, NSW.

 Annika Zetterman

 Annika is a leading garden designer in Sweden, where she runs her design practice in Stockholm with projects in the Nordics and beyond. She is the author of the bestselling book ‘New Nordic Gardens’ and lectures on the subject both in Sweden and abroad.

 https://thamesandhudson.com.au/product/new-nordic-gardens-scandinavian-landscape-design/

https://www.booktopia.com.au/new-nordic-gardens-annika-zetterman/book/9780500296141.html

 

Photography by Allie Aszodi

 

Volvo Group Australia recently hosted A Night with Volvo Group at their headquarters in Wacol, Queensland

Volvo Group Australia recently hosted A Night with Volvo Group  at their headquarters in Wacol, Queensland to celebrate a new benchmark in trucking performance. The customer event was attended by His Excellency, the Honourable Pontus Melander, The Ambassador of Sweden and executive leaders from across the Volvo Group global organisation, including Volvo Group President and CEO, Martin Lundstedt, President Volvo Trucks, Roger Alm and Head of Volvo Construction Equipment, Melker Jernberg.

The international guests took part in revealing Australia’s most powerful on-highway truck, the FH16 with 780 horsepower D17 engine. The new engine delivers increased fuel efficiency with savings up to 5% and is compatible with renewable fuel HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil).

“A world of possibilities has been built into this engine platform,” says Shayne Commons, Director of Product and Performance, Volvo Group Australia, “Highly efficient drive trains capable of using alternative fuels will be a key part of our path to net zero emissions.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swedish Business Awards and Christmas Dinner 2023 – WHAT AN EVENING OF CELEBRATION!

The SACC Swedish Business Awards and Christmas Dinner co-hosted by the Embassy of Sweden took place on 23 November 2023 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney. The event was a success with over 160 people attending from the Swedish-Austraian business community. Members and guests enjoyed the seamlessly blended elegance of the Swedish Business Awards presentation with the warmth of the Swedish Christmas celebration, complete with a traditional “Julbord” Christmas buffet.

 

A highlight of the evening that captivated the audience was the entrance of the enchanting Lucia procession by the Swedish School in Sydney. With a crown of candles adorning her hair, Lucia and her procession illuminated the venue with notes of beautiful Christmas carols.

The event was further elevated by the esteemed presence of HE Ambassador of Sweden to Australia, Pontus Melander. As the Guest of Honour, Ambassador Melander shared insights into the enduring cultural bonds and collaborative efforts that strengthen the relationship between Sweden and Australia.

The SACC Swedish Business Awards took center stage celebrating the outstanding achievements of organisations that have demonstrated exceptional dedication to sustainability, innovation, entrepreneurship, partnership and collaboration, and social impact.

The venue was transformed into a winter wonderland, with decorations that captured the essence of a Swedish Christmas. The atmosphere was filled with joy, laughter, and the spirit of camaraderie as guests mingled and shared in the festive cheer.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to all who attended, performed, and contributed to the success of this event. Your presence made the evening truly special, and we are thankful for the shared moments of celebration, inspiration, and cultural exchange.

Click on images below to see the presentation of sponsors and images from the event.

 

THANK YOU!

Warm Regards,

The Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce

sacc@swedishchamber.com.au

www.swedishchamber.com.au

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SACC 112th AGM followed by Networking, Sydney 31 Oct

The Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce 112th AGM took place on 31 October in Sydney at the Business Sweden office.

The AGM was held in person with a link available for members who were unable to join in person. 

Jan Gardberg, President of the SACC, opened the meeting and welcomed all. A special welcome was made to His Excellency, Mr Pontus Melander Ambassador of Sweden to Australia. Jan then proceeded with the president’s report highlighting that the past year had been another eventful year and that we have a lot to recognize and to celebrate. There were many remarkable achievements, close cooperation, and success.

His Excellency Pontus Melander, Ambassador of Sweden to Australia shared a few words reflecting on his first year here in Australia.

Camilla Jennings, General Manger SACC, presented a summary of year including presentation of Honorary Board Members, Chapter Board Members and the Young Professional Board, national events and activities for SACC in 2023 as well as a teaser of what’s to come in 2024.

Jan Gardberg presented the focus and progress for 2023. He then expressed gratitude by saying: “It is amazing to see the quantity and quality of all the committee work, something we all can feel proud of. It is a testament of great collaboration across many people and companies. There are so many fantastic members that have volunteered and invested time to make it happen. Fantastic work, well done!”

Kristina Melin, Treasurer, presented her Treasury report which was distributed prior to the AGM. Another successful year has passed and the membership income Membership income for financial year 2022/23 was similar compared to 2021/22.

Board members were discharged of responsibility for the passed financial year and the new board were elected as follows.

SACC BOARD MEMBERS 2023 – 2024

President – Jan Gardberg, New Retail Business Development Manager, INGKA Group IKEA

Vice President – Teresia Fors, Commercial Director NatRoad Australia

Vice President & Secretary – Mikael Dahlgren, CFO Treotham Automation

Treasurer – Kristina Melin, Sales and Commercial Logistic & Planning Manager, Volvo Group Australia

Membership Committee Chair – Anders Mangen, former SKF

Marketing & Events Chair – Isabel Wagner, Cluster Communications Manager, Alfa Laval (South East Asia & Oceania)

Sustainability Committee Representative – Carin Varverud Härdin, Vice President Brand, Marketing & Communications Volvo Group Australia

Corporate Affairs and Collaboration – Australia – Penny George, Director of Corporate Affairs, AstraZeneca

Collaboration – Sweden – Carl Wallberg, Head of Digital & CX, Electrolux

Permanent Attendees:

SACC General Manager – Camilla Jennings

Chapter Chairs – VIC John Rieusset, WA Joseph Olsson/Pia Nilsson, QLD Teresia Fors

YP Chair – Henric Nordenborg