As our Head of Sustainability, Månstråle, often says:

“We do not own the future — we borrow it from our children. That is why we must take responsibility now. Because if we fail to act, we risk leaving behind a world where nature can no longer provide the resources we depend on, where societies are too unstable to function, and where it becomes increasingly difficult to even run businesses.”

These are powerful words, and they resonate especially strongly with us because we are a family-owned investment company. What we build should continue to function — and continue to exist — even when it is the next generation’s turn to carry it forward.

Sustainability as part of business development

For us at Hammarviken, business development is about understanding our place within a larger context — and acting accordingly. Every subsidiary within our group impacts the world through the products they manufacture, the services they deliver, and the people they employ. And every decision we make has consequences throughout the value chain, in society, and for the climate.

Running and developing companies therefore means more than simply creating growth. It means taking responsibility for the impact we have — both in the present and over the long term.

Our values — openness, honesty, respect, and competence — are not only guiding principles for how we treat one another, but also for how we want to operate in the world. Honesty forces us to acknowledge that we cannot continue as we always have. Respect reminds us that we are not alone, and that future generations will depend on the decisions we make just as much as we do ourselves.

“There is no neutral position. Every time we choose a supplier, construct a property, or launch a new product, we impact the world. The question is not whether we do — but how,” says Månstråle.

A journey that has only just begun

We are humble in recognizing that we are still at the beginning of our sustainability journey. For us, this means approaching the work with curiosity and a willingness to experiment. We do not have all the answers, and we do not pretend that we do.

We are currently in the final stages of collecting data for our first sustainability report, both at group level and for each individual company. We have spent considerable time discussing and refining a structure that can work across our entire group of companies — something that is far from simple, given that our businesses operate in different industries and are at different stages of growth.

“Creating a model that works both for a smaller company and for a larger organization is a challenge. But that is also what makes it so exciting. We learn together, we test different approaches, and we are willing to adjust course when something does not work. That is where our strength truly lies — in being open and honest about the fact that we are only at the beginning of this journey.”

The ambition is to make sustainability second nature

Hammarviken’s long-term vision is for sustainability to no longer be something we speak about as a separate part of the business. It should become as natural as accounting or HR — a self-evident part of every business decision.

“I look forward to the day when companies no longer have sustainability as a separate item on the agenda, because it is embedded in everything they do. When every investment, every construction project, and every organizational change automatically includes a sustainability perspective. That is when we know we have succeeded,” says Månstråle.

To get there, we work both short-term and long-term. In the short term, the focus is on collecting data, building structures, and creating a shared foundation across the group. In the long term, the goal is to shift the culture so that sustainability becomes a natural part of our identity as an investment company.

So what makes our sustainability work unique? Perhaps it is the combination of courage, humility, and a sense of urgency. We dare to begin even when we do not have all the answers. When regulations and political frameworks around sustainability are uncertain, we need to stand firmly in what we believe in. We openly acknowledge that we are at the beginning of this journey. And we understand that we cannot wait for perfect solutions — because time is not on our side.

“Within our culture, we inspire one another through our speed, our willingness to try new things, and our ability to stay grounded in our values. The parent company can move quickly and lead the way, which creates momentum within the subsidiaries. We combine experimentation with responsibility — and that makes a real difference,” says Månstråle.

One example of this is our new business plan, where sustainability is not an added component — it is integrated into the core of the strategy. That is where we operationalize our work, and where we can create real impact.

Where do we stand today?

Today, we are actively working to:

– Build our sustainability reporting. We are collecting data from all our companies in order to establish a clear baseline.

– Create forums for knowledge sharing. Through our sustainability group, CEOs and sustainability managers from our subsidiaries meet to exchange experiences and insights.

– Experiment with processes. We are testing different approaches to see what works best in practice, and we adjust along the way when something does not turn out as expected.

– Promote circularity and community development. We are exploring how to integrate circular thinking into our business models and how our real estate investments can contribute to stronger communities.

This is work that is happening here and now — and it continues to evolve over time.

Challenges and opportunities

We see major challenges in the fact that regulations often lag behind innovation. For example, building standards and regulatory requirements can limit the use of new, more sustainable materials and technologies. At the same time, there is an inherent inertia in the fact that people are used to working in certain established ways.

But we also see enormous opportunities. The real estate industry, for example, can play a crucial role in building more equal and inclusive communities. And the circular economy opens the door to entirely new ways of thinking about business — where recycled and reused materials become the norm rather than the exception.

What we hope to inspire others with

One example of something we are particularly proud of is our sustainability days. These gatherings bring together representatives from our subsidiaries to share experiences, discuss challenges, and inspire one another. Simply having the opportunity to meet, reflect, and explore ideas together is incredibly valuable.

“I noticed quite quickly that many people developed a deeper understanding of both the risks and the opportunities. When we see boardrooms filled with discussions about sustainability, that is when you know something is beginning to change. Those are the moments when we see sustainability move from being an idea to becoming a natural part of everyday business,” says Månstråle.

We genuinely hope that our journey can inspire other companies to dare to begin — even without perfect conditions in place. We want to show that it is okay to start somewhere and work your way forward, to experiment, and sometimes fail along the way. But what is not okay is waiting.

Every day we postpone decisions makes it harder to repair the world we leave behind. By being open about our process — both what works and what does not — we hope to make sustainability work feel more accessible and achievable.

Images from our sustainability days

Looking ahead

In the short term, the goal is to collect data, build structures, and develop clear objectives and tools that help us achieve those goals through shared ways of working. In the long term, the ambition is for sustainability to become so deeply integrated into our culture and business logic — as a way of working with risks and opportunities for both ourselves and the world around us — that it is no longer something we discuss separately.

"I want companies to seek us out because we combine business development with responsibility. Because we dare to think differently and take responsibility for the bigger picture,” says Månstråle.

Hammarviken’s ambition and vision for sustainability is to build companies and communities that are sustainable in the long term. We do this by remaining curious, courageous, and open about our experiences. Our responsibility is to help create a better future — both for ourselves and for future generations.

If you would like to talk sustainability with us, feel free to contact Månstråle.

Månstråle Dahlström
Head of Sustainability

+46 723-41 59 80
manstrale@hammarviken.com