The importance of sustainable development is constantly growing in the automotive industry. It is an integral part of the industry’s value chain and a prerequisite for building customer relationships. The report shows how Valmet Automotive considers sustainability as a key part of strategic and operational planning, operations and corporate culture.

2020 was a challenging year for automotive industry because of the corona pandemic and the transformation of the industry towards electromobility. Even though the challenges were also reflected at Valmet Automotive, the company had an overall positive year. In various areas of sustainability, Valmet Automotive made significant progress during 2020.

Valmet Automotive invests strongly in the safe work environment. Thanks to comprehensive and effective anti-corona measures, there were no infection chains at Valmet Automotive’s sites in 2020. At the same time, the number of incidents and sick absences was significantly reduced, while the number of employees’ safety-related reports was growing.

Valmet Automotive’s goal is to make the Uusikaupunki plant CO₂ neutral already in 2021. In 2019 and 2020, the company reduced the plant’s CO₂ emissions by 70 percent. Furthermore, Valmet Automotive’s every business line has a CO₂ neutrality plan, and the Valmet Automotive Group will achieve CO₂ neutrality by 2024.

In 2020, Valmet Automotive sharpened its strategy focusing on e-mobility by selling a business line that focused on general automotive engineering services, launching the expansion of the Salo battery plant and the construction of a new battery plant in connection with the Uusikaupunki car plant.

• Valmet Automotive is fully committed to a sustainability strategy that aims at saving the environment. We are dedicated to do our part to stop the global warming and support the targets defined by the Paris climate agreement. Our report shows the considerable progress in sustainability we have achieved during 2020, says Olaf Bongwald, CEO, Valmet Automotive.

Valmet Automotive’s sustainability report has been prepared in accordance with the international GRI guidelines. The report covers the Valmet Automotive Group’s locations in Finland, Germany and Poland. The report is available and can be downloaded on Valmet Automotive’s website at www.valmet-automotive.com/sustainability.