Within the safe storage industry sector, sustainability is being addressed in different ways, with a smaller number of manufacturers such as Gunnebo Safe Storage taking a structured and systematic approach.
In these cases, environmental performance is managed through defined objectives, internal governance and clear decision-making processes, informed by regulatory developments, customer requirements and supply-chain expectations. The focus is on understanding material impacts and embedding sustainability considerations into core operational and investment decisions.
Target-setting plays a critical role in turning intent into action. While long-term climate commitments provide direction, it is short- and medium-term targets that drive change across manufacturing, procurement and operations. When grounded in robust data and shared across functions, these targets help create accountability and enable progress to be tracked and sustained.
Materials, knowledge and collaboration
Materials are among the most significant contributors to carbon impact in safe storage products. Steel presents a particular challenge due to both its emissions intensity and its essential performance characteristics. It cannot be readily substituted without a risk to compromise security or durability, and cost considerations remain central.
This is why committing to SteelZero was important. By focusing on demand-side commitments, SteelZero aims to accelerate the availability and adoption of low-emission and net zero steel through coordinated action across value chains.
For manufacturers where steel represents a major share of embodied carbon, such frameworks provide a practical mechanism for engaging suppliers and aligning material choices with long-term decarbonisation goals.
Lower-emission alternatives are emerging across global markets, although availability and maturity vary significantly by region. Progress therefore increasingly depends on collaboration across the industry, not only to stimulate demand but also to share learning and support suppliers as viable solutions scale.
Knowledge and engagement are equally critical. Sustainability cannot sit solely within specialist teams; it needs to be understood across the organisation and reflected in how decisions are made and communicated.
Customer expectations also vary, with some seeking detailed transparency and others still developing their understanding. This requires informed, practical conversations tailored to specific contexts rather than standardised messaging.
Moving from groundwork to action
Over recent years, manufacturers that have engaged seriously with sustainability have focused on building the foundations for meaningful progress. Establishing reliable data, strengthening internal capability and creating consistent frameworks takes time, but these steps enable more confident and informed action.
As attention turns toward the middle of the decade, including milestones such as SteelZero’s commitment to 50% low-emission steel by 2030 and 100% net zero steel by 2050, the emphasis is increasingly on tangible improvements in products and processes. This includes greater use of renewable energy where infrastructure and geography allow. The objective is steady, credible progress aligned with operational realities, rather than rapid change for its own sake.
Gunnebo Safe Storage has focused on putting clear structure around its sustainability efforts. Three- and six-year targets, aligned with the group’s science-based ambition to reduce carbon emissions by 42% by 2030, help ensure sustainability is treated as a core business consideration rather than an abstract objective. To read more about our decarbonisation journey, click here.
Alongside early action on lower-emission materials and a strong emphasis on education and customer dialogue, this reflects a deliberate shift from intention to implementation, grounded in the realities of safe storage industry.
Rocío Martínez Climent : Jul 4, 2025 1:31:53 PM
