Hello CEO: Linus Wallin, Atea

- We have been working on a select number of sustainability issues and targets for many years, which allows us to challenge not only ourselves fundamentally, but our entire ecosystem. We were the first retailer in the world to join the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) and one of the first companies globally to set a science-based climate target, verified by the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTI). By working so systematically, dedicatedly and thoughtfully together with our customers and partners, we can also see the impact we create together," says Linus Wallin.

What does the Global 100 award mean to you?

- We are of course humbled and proud to have received this award, and for the second year in a row. Being recognized globally shows that we are on the right track in our journey to build a sustainable future. To bring about long-term change, we need to influence the whole ecosystem, which includes both our customers and our partners in the sustainability journey, but also competitors. There can't be just one winner, but everyone must become a sustainability winner. Our efforts are having an impact, but we are far from done.

Where has your focus been in the area of sustainability?

- Given our position in the market, one of our strongest focuses is on the transition to a circular economy. Atea was one of the first companies in the IT industry to offer a take-back concept, which has now evolved into the innovative Goitloop service that enables circular transformation. Today, we collect used IT equipment from our customers, completely wipe it clean of data, and prepare it for reuse and, when that is not possible, recycling. A crucial goal of our sustainability program is that for every piece of technology we sell, we will take back at least one unit. This creates the conditions for the reuse of entire units, but also of components and materials needed for new and more sustainable manufacturing," says Linus Wallin and continues:

- We are in a fantastic position to engage both our customers and partners in our work. A cornerstone of our sustainability work is the Atea Sustainability Forum - the Nordic region's most important meeting place for sustainable IT. It brings together manufacturers, experts and IT buyers to share knowledge and experiences. The forum also coincides with our annual sustainability report, Atea Sustainability Focus, which we have been producing since 2018. In the report, we bring together the voices of Swedish IT buyers to powerfully and transparently tell the rest of the world what needs to be done to achieve a more sustainable IT industry. Both the report and the meeting place are strong contributing factors to the fact that the IT industry, for example, has increased its ambition both in terms of circularity and transparency.

What are your plans for future sustainability work?

- We see that IT will play a crucial role in creating a net-zero and circular future. The IT sector accounts for around two percent of global emissions, but can make a significant contribution to reducing the other 98 percent. We have set high ambitions to reduce our own carbon footprint in line with the Paris Agreement and at least halve our emissions by 2030. The strongest contribution we can make is to help our customers avoid 100 times more emissions than the carbon footprint of our own operations. We can achieve this through both established solutions such as video conferencing, cloud services and smart offices, but also through innovative solutions within the framework of IoT, AI, analytics and streamlining of entire processes. We have all the technology, experience and knowledge needed to identify and develop solutions that make us more energy efficient. At the same time, we are doing the planet a great service.

What do you think are the biggest sustainability challenges facing the industry?

- Right now, we in the business community are leading the way when it comes to sustainable development in society. As the Nordic region's leading supplier of IT, we have an incredible opportunity to help build the future Sweden with IT, and this is something we are constantly working on together with our customers and partners. But the climate transition requires that everyone in society contributes, and to succeed in making the transition requires both courageous and concrete decisions. Politicians, both nationally and internationally, need to step forward and show that they take these issues as seriously as we do.