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NCAB and the Sustainable Development Goals

by Anna Lothsson, Group Sustainability Director - NCAB Group

In 2015, world leaders agreed to 17 goals for a better world by 2030. Achieving these goals would go a long way towards ending poverty, fight inequality, promote peace and justice and address the urgency of climate change. In order to meet the goals, everyone needs to contribute.

The Sustainable Development Goals | NCAB group

Through our sustainability work, and with our stakeholders, we are working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with our main contribution being to 9 out of the 17 goals. The Global Goals document, and its targets, will serve as an important guide in our work to further build our sustainability strategy and thus develop our business in line with the direction the world needs to go: to build a better future for everyone.

The 9 global goals we focus on – and concrete actions we´re taking

No 3 – Good health and well being  Global goal no 3 | NCAB

3.4 Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health –
We promote work-life balance among employees. If employee engagement survey or PDAs would indicate that this is an issue of concern, actions would be taken by local management team or related manager, supported by Group when needed.

3.9 Reduce illnesses and death from hazardous chemical and pollutions
We control that factories handle and store chemicals and hazardous waste in a responsible way. ISO 14001, pollutant discharge permits, compliance to chemical content regulations such as REACH, ROHS, TSCA, POPS, etc, are required if to be qualified as NCAB’s main production partner.

No 6 – Clean water and sanitation

6.3 Improve water quality, wastewater treatment and safe reuse
Factories have to comply with local laws and regulations on water quality, emissions to water and waste water discharge. Waste water discharge permits and compliance control are checked during our audits, and in the factory approval process.

No 8 – Decent work and economic growth

8.4 Improve resource efficiency in consumption and production
By supporting our customers in the design phase and focusing on quality and optimized design from the start, we ensure that we only produce what is necessary.

Global goal no 8 | NCAB 8.7 End modern slavery, trafficking and child labour
NCAB is committed to responsible sourcing of minerals in manufacturing. Suppliers must have routines and management systems in place to ensure conflict-free minerals and cobalt, and compliance are checked yearly. We are committed to using only conflict-free minerals in the supply chain. Specifically, the 3TG minerals (tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold) and cobalt that cannot be linked to violence and human rights abuses in conflict areas. Tin and gold are metals frequently used in the production of PCBs, and cobalt may be included when plated gold is specified. We require our factories to work exclusively with smelters that are compliant with the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI). In this respect, we work together with our factories, training them in how to apply the RMI audit scheme to control their supply chain. The supply chain is reviewed at least once a year, and when NCAB check routines and documentation on site in the audits.

8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe working environments
Health and safety measures and good labour and working conditions are at the core of NCABs sustainability work. Factories in China are regularly followed-up on their safety measures and labour practices.

No 10 – Reduced inequalities

10.2 Promote universal social, economic and political inclusion
We have zero tolerance towards discrimination and harassment of any kind. Any violation to our code of conduct is addressed and subject to disciplinary actions. To create awareness of our zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination, the topic is highlighted and discussed in global introductions and onboarding programs. Incidents can be reported to VP People & Culture. No incidents were reported in 2022.

No 12 – Responsible consumption and production

12.2 Sustainable management and use of natural resources
By focusing on quality assurance in production, and optimize the PCB design for manufacturing, we use material and resources such as energy, water and chemicals in the production process as efficiently as possible. This is done in close cooperation with our factories and customers.

12.4 Responsible management of chemicals and waste
How suppliers handle and store chemicals and waste is carefully controlled during factory audits. Global goal no 12 | NCAB

12.8 Promote universal understandings of sustainable lifestyle – To increase awareness and engagement for sustainable development, we spread the word internally and to customers and suppliers through training, seminars, newsletters, our website and social media channels. Together with our production partners, we set goals, allocate resources and follow up sustainability performance in a systematic way.

No 13 – Climate action

13.3 Build knowledge and capacity to meet climate change
We host webinars/seminars within the field of sustainability, to help reduce climate impact throughout the value chain. Our biggest climate impact is in Scope 3, related to production and transportation of our PCBs. We are focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energy in our own operations and supply chain. We offer different ways of transportation, where sea and rail have lower emissions than air freight. In the design phase we support our customers in optimizing the design of the PCBs for product reliability and for manufacturing. Optimized design means less scrap, material, water, energy and chemicals used.

In June 2021 we started to use the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to map our emissions, set baseline and targets, and to take measures to reduce our impact. 

No 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions Global goal no 16 | NCAB

16.5 Substantially reduce corruption and bribery
We have zero tolerance for corruption. Any irregularities can be reported anonymously via a whistleblower function provided by an external party.

No 17 – Partnerships for the goals

17.6 Knowledge sharing and cooperation for access to science, technology and innovation
To create awareness and achieve change towards more sustainable products and production, we share our expertise with customers and factories and spread knowledge through our cooperations, and through many different communications channels.

Source: NCAB Group Sustainability Report 2022 (overview of NCAB and The Global Goals, page 12)
Download the NCAB Group Sustainability report 2022

Read more:
THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development (un.org)
The Global Goals

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