More than just green symbols

“The whole environmental concept has grown. Now we don’t only talk about climate impact but also the bigger picture: economics, ecology and social impact,” says Magdalena Rondahl, newly appointed Head of Climate and Quality at Coor Service Management.

For Coor, this means that quality and the environment go hand in hand. Using cheap, environmentally friendly products that break is not financially viable. Suppliers must be trustworthy. Magdalena points out that Coor has a good negotiating position as a buyer and can set demands thanks to its large purchasing volumes.

“We are convinced that everyone gains from a long-term sustainable service delivery. To achieve that we need competent personnel, knowledge of sustainable development and a constant focus on improvement work.”

Coor works continuously and systematically to improve the service delivery to its customers; it is part of the day-to-day work. If a customer sets the environment as a high priority, it is easy to steer the improvement process towards activities that reduce environmental impact.

“The environmental aspect is a parameter that’s being measured in all our assignments, via the Environmental Index. We always have action plans that are followed up. For us, improvement work is the foundation of our assignments, not just empty words.”

How can Coor contribute to an environmentally friendly service delivery?

Magdalena comments that environmental work is about so much more than buying Fairtrade and organic. Some of the most important issues are energy, logistics and transport. These are complex areas that require an insight into and access to the entire process if any serious savings are to be made, or intelligent solutions found.

 “As a supplier of total solutions we are better able to contribute to an environmentally friendly service delivery than a single service supplier. We see the big picture and can assess which changes need to be made, which in turn helps reduce environmental impact. Single service suppliers obviously want to deliver as much of their particular service as possible.”

Environmental impact is reduced by choosing the right competence, methods, tools and materials, but also by maintaining existing resources so they do not need replacing. Coor can help in this through the maintenance plans that are an important aspect of all assignments and collaborations.

It is nothing new that environmental thinking is part of the business, especially not for consumer-led companies whose environmental commitment is an important part of the brand. Serving Fairtrade and ecolabelled coffee is slightly dearer than standard coffee, but is a major investment in the company’s trust capital.

Future developments

In international terms the Nordic region, originally long among the leaders in environmental thinking, has now been overtaken by other countries. We cannot ignore our relatively large environmental impact. If the methods do not change, the processes must. If for instance we have no viable alternative to oil, we must ensure that our transport takes place in as environmentally efficient way as possible.

“We will see more legislation and higher environmental taxes and charges in the future. It will cost more to use resources, but also to dispose of them due to higher waste management costs,” says Magdalena.

Authorities and consumers will demand more of companies because environmental developments are advancing rapidly, and what were once considered innovative measures are now simply hygiene factors. It is no longer enough simply to label a product ‘Environmentally Friendly’; consumers demand more information and are sufficiently in the know to determine how committed a company really is. Burying one’s head in the sand about this costs more than it’s worth. The sooner companies change and improve their operation, the more profit and goodwill there is to gain. And Coor is happy to help.

Do you have any questions or would you like to know more?

Contact Magdalena Rondahl, Head of Climate and Quality at Coor. Phone: +46 (0)8-553 959 05, magdalena.rondahl@coor.com