Sustainability Report 2019 · 2020-06-09 · events, education and the business community....

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Sustainability Report 2019

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ForSea stands strong.In many ways 2019 has been a defining year for ForSea, with a mix of good news and tough challenges – just like life in general.

The implementation of certain organisational changes during the year has created a platform on which we can continue to build in order to deliver good financial results for many years to come. Inevitably, however, these adaptations have also meant that we have had to say farewell to a number of very capable employees. Financial results are one of the measures of commercial success, but it is clear to me that we need to expand our focus beyond the criteria of profitability alone, so that we are able to also encompass the broader impact of our business activities. Commercial success is the result of the ability to deliver a first-class offer. The key to achieving this is to have a well thought-out strategy and to recognise the fact that we cannot deliver value to our owners if we do not first succeed in delivering value to our custom-ers, to our employees and to society at large. All of these factors are equally important for our development and success. To make sure that we maintain a steady course that will generate revenues, we have drawn up a strategic agenda that incorporates our aims and our vision. This agenda forms the basis for the work in all departments, together with our aims and the KPIs that we have identified for sustainability, customer satisfaction, employees satisfaction and digital service, which are followed up continuously throughout the entire organisation. Our prime objective is to run a sustainable operation with the least possible environmental impact and with a sustainability focus that places equal emphasis on both the environment and on social and financial issues. Over the course of the year ForSea has been proud to achieve a number of fantastic milestones. For example, 2019 was the first full year during which we operated the world’s two largest battery-powered ferries. This led to a steep decline in our CO2 emissions as our resolute work to benefit society as a whole bore fruit. We also succeeded in reducing our overall

energy consumption and increasing the pro-portion of sorted waste. In our restaurants our whole-hearted commitment to living seas was rewarded with coveted MSC/ASC certification, which guarantees that all of the fish and seafood we now serve to our guests is sustainably fished or responsibly farmed. A company needs to adapt and develop in step with the changes that are taking place in society, and I feel that ForSea has excelled in doing this. We have taken special responsibility for creating long-term value for all our stakeholders while also contributing to a more sustainable society. We have linked our own sustainability work to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, seven of which we have identified as having special significance for our operations, as they pinpoint the areas where ForSea can contribute most. Our aim is always to offer memorable experiences that leave a positive impression. Parallel with this, our own commercial activities also help to raise the status of Helsingborg and Helsingør as attractive destinations for tourists and other visitors. Over the course of 2019 we have built a strong foundation for our future work. Our new brand, our reliability, our unique green profile and our environmentally friendly ferries that provide a crucial link between Sweden and Denmark have given us a strong position and a springboard to becoming even better. We aim to build on these strengths so that we can continue to grow and increase our profitability over the coming years. Finally, I would like to thank each and every one of my employees for their excellent work in 2019. It has been a busy year with many major changes, a year when we laid the groundwork for a bright future – but most of all, it has been a year when we all pulled together to continue our exciting Green Journey towards truly sustainable business operations. We are one!

Jens Ole Hansen

CEO ForSea

Contents.The CEO’s report 3

This is ForSea 4

Our organisation 5

Our guidelines 6

Guiding objectives 8

Materiality analysis 10

Our strategies for tackling the most important aspects of sustainability 12

Risks and opportunities 14

Our strategies for managing significant risks/opportunities 15

Safety 16

Developments in 2019 17

Our employees 18


Environment – reduced environmental impact 22


Sustainable in all that we do 24


Food and sustainability 26


Corporate social responsibility 28

Awards 2019 29

The CEO’s report

It is the responsibility of the board of directors of the Group to produce the ForSea AB Sustainability Report. The following report has been drawn up in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Swedish ÅRL (Annual Reports Act).

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Our organisation.

ForSea attaches great importance to the fact that operations are managed and conducted in a way that includes and involves all departments. Work is undertaken in consultation with all the departments concerned, and responsibility for the various decisions and projects can rest with different managers.

ForSea is a matrix organisation: different departments work independently but are overseen by a shared management/leadership function. The purpose is to share responsibility for generating profits among the entire organisa-tion, thus ensuring that it is easier for all employ-ees to comprehend and recognise the relevance of the company’s vision and culture. Responsi-bility is shared among different managers both vertically and horizontally, creating multiple

channels of communication to guarantee greater transparency and boost engagement. ForSea is owned by First State Investments (FSI), an Australian-based investment company. FSI’s investment philosophy is founded on long-term investments in infrastructure and energy, under-pinned by a strong commitment to responsible investment and sustainable stewardship.

This is ForSea.

ForSea’s frequent sailings and its punctuality in all kinds of weather enable people on both sides of the Sound to meet and help the Öresund region to develop. Our investment in fully battery-powered ferries means that we are not only the most efficient transportation alternative, but also the most sustainable. We are constantly developing our offer to meet the needs of our customers and the demands of the future. We will never stop making waves.

The Helsingør-Helsingborg ferry route is a crucial link in the infrastructure connecting Sweden and Denmark, crossing one of the busiest rutes in all of northern Europe. The sustainable ferry operations use the very latest technology to minimise environmental impact while constantly supporting and strengthening cross-border integration. Operations are environmentally certified in accordance with ISO 14001:2015, and as early as in 2007 the

company’s ferries were the first to meet the SECA emission requirements that became mandatory in 2015. The ForSea Group works tirelessly in the best interests of the Öresund region to reduce impact on the marine environ-ment. We contributes to local society on both sides of the Sound by generating employment opportunities and supporting local cultural events, education and the business community.

Statistics 2019Number of vessels 5

Number of employees 630

Number of sailings 49 243

Number of passengers 6 938 497

Number of trucks 435 268

Number of cars 1 244 472

Number of buses 16 023

Vision The most sustainable, customer focused company, striving for zero emission.

Business modellWe sail with high frequency, reliability and provide excellent service, with minimal environmental footprint and the highest safety. We bring people and businesses together.

Core Values We stand for: Engagement, Respect, Cooperation and Reliability

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CEO COMMERCIAL FREIGHT

OPERATIONS TRAVEL

SAFETY, HEALTH

& ENVIRONMENTMARKETING

HUMAN RESOURCES F&B

IT

RETAILFINANCE

BUS

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Our guidelines.

Supporting standards

ForSea has been environmentally certi-fied in accordance with ISO 14001:2015 since 2016. This management system is one of the most important tools we have, not least because it prescribes a systematic approach to the work of continuous improvement. Since 2018 all of our ferries have been verified in accordance with the Clean Shipping Index (CSI), an international initia-tive that ranks vessels and shipping companies according to their environ-mental impact. Our battery-powered ferries, Aurora and Tycho Brahe, have been given a CSI 5 ranking, the highest possible score. Our safety work is based on the SMS manual prescribed by the International Safety Management (ISM) Code. This code, the maritime equivalent of the ISO 9001 quality management stan-dard, requires us to catalogue, docu-ment and systematise all the routines in our safety work. In line with the ISM Code, ForSea has a ‘Designated Per-son’ who, independently from manage-ment and the board, is responsible for ensuring that the rules and directives relating to safety are followed at all times.

Code of Conduct – our ground rules

ForSea’s Code of Conduct covers issues relating to business ethics, forms the basis of the company’s policies and routines, and lays down the fundamental principles that guide us in our day-to-day work. In addi-tion to ethical principles, the Code of Conduct also includes guidelines for equal treatment, values and leadership principles. The code emphasises that business ethics is more than simple compliance with the law; it extends to our atti-tudes towards one another and the world around us, and to how we can satisfy the expectations and demands of our stakeholders. The code also makes clear that these guidelines apply equally to everyone – directors, managers and employees– no matter where in the world they may be. It is our wish that our partners should also be familiar with our Code of Conduct, ideally even to the extent of intro- ducing similar guidelines for their own operations.

Rules and statutory requirements for shippingShipping is subject to legislation and requirements from numerous sources. The demands made on us come not only from national authori-ties in Sweden and Denmark, but also from the EU and the International Mari-time Organisation (IMO). In 2019 much of the focus was on preparing our ferries for new legislation relating to the scrapping of old vessels, which is due to come into force on 30 December 2020 (Regula-tion (EU) No 1257/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 on ship recycling).The IMO DCS and EU MRV systems, both of which aim to calculate the maritime sector’s overall CO2 emissions, and the IMO’s Ballast Water Management (BWM) Conven-tion have also been the focus of much work during the year.

Policies and other guiding principles

ForSea has formulated a number of policies to guide work in areas such as the environment, chemicals, safety, uniforms, etc. ForSea’s policies are more detailed than the Code of Conduct and provide a framework for routines, processes, targets and activities.

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Guiding objectives.

Our number one objective – as integrated into our vision and business model – is to run sustainable business operations with the least possible environmental impact. In 2019 our work to integrate the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) into our own sustain-ability work has been crowned with success. From the UN’s 17 SDGs we have chosen the seven that most specifically apply to our operations and cover areas where we can contribute most to our overall ambition. These seven SDGs form the basis for our sustainability work.

ForSea must be an attractive place to work, where there is a clear focus on the health and well-being of its employees. We must not subject any of our employees, custom-ers or neighbours to health hazards, and we have adopted a zero vision policy for accidents, drugs and alcohol in the work-place. We contribute to better health by working to improve job satisfaction and strengthen values, by reducing our emis-sions, by adopting a life cycle perspective for our purchases and by cutting down on unhealthy products.

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Reduce inequality within and among countries.

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Our ambition is to continue to play a key role within the region for many years to come by always acting sustainably, remaining flexible and driving innovation.

As the employer of some 600 people from Sweden and Denmark there is much for us to gain by embracing diversity and being a place where people of different gender, religion, age, skin colour and sexual orientation can work together in harmony. We are firmly convinced that we can contribute further to this goal through training, codes of conduct and by being pro-active in our equality work.

ForSea’s presence in the urban hearts of Helsingborg and Helsingør means that the company has an important and influential role in both cities. By focusing on waste reduction, air quality, service levels and the general appearance of our offices and other facilities, etc., we aim to be an attractive commercial enterprise that meets the needs and wishes of the cities that we have chosen as our home.

Thanks to our focus on life cycle perspec-tives, improved waste management, reduced food waste, reduced use of plastics, and the optimisation of consump-tion in our own activities, our business operations can play their part in achieving the goal of living within the limits of the planet’s resources.

We contribute towards mitigating climate change by optimising and reducing our energy consumption, by switching to alternative fuels, by reducing the climate footprint of the food that we buy and sell, by supporting local tourism and by providing a sustainable transport solution.

By focusing on our marine emissions, environmentally hazardous chemicals, marine constructions, waste and the fish that is sourced for sale in our restaurants, we have the potential to make a significant positive contribution to living seas.

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Materiality analysis.

We believe our sustainability report should reflect and report on those aspects of sustainability that we and our stakeholders consider to be most important for us to focus on and inform about. These are not exclusively environmental in character, but also include social and financial aspects.

In order to ascertain what these areas are, ForSea has conducted a materiality analysis. After discussions in a number of workshop sessions, a working group has identified the most important stakeholders for our operations and the key aspects of sustainability. ForSea has then liaised with more than 2,000 of these stakeholders through meetings, dialogues and questionnaires in order to determine how they prioritise the different aspects of sustain-ability. The results have subsequently been analysed and collated in the form of a materiality analysis.

ForSea has identified the following stakeholders:

• Owners*• Employees* • Customers*• City and Port of Helsingborg*• City and Port of Helsingør*• Neighbours to our operations• Suppliers• Authorities• Insurance companies * Stakeholders with whom ForSea has communicated for this analysis.

Aspects that have been deemed least important

• Use of municipal spaces• Financial charity• Local and regional

engagement• Noise/disturbance from

vessels• Concept development

• Spills and leakage• Waste management• Sustainable use

of chemicals• Operational reliability

• Emissions to air incl. CO2• Use of plastics and single-use

materials• Reduced consumption

of resources• Respect for the sea• Work environment and health• Safety for employees

and passengers

• Innovative technology• Sustainable alternatives

for sale • Business ethics

• Sustainable suppliers/purchasing• Prudent management of

inventories/maintenance• Co-worker satisfaction• Customer satisfaction• Equality – Diversity

– Discrimination• Competence provision and

maintenance• Financial stability

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Great Greater Significance for the company and its potential to influence

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Our strategies for tackling the most important aspects of sustainability.

Sustainability aspect

Actions Governance

Emissions to air incl. CO2

Emissions to air are minimised through the use of marine fuels that have less environmental impact and with the help of ex-haust gas scrubbers. A transition to battery-powered operation can eliminate emissions totally.

Goals & Action plansSDG 11, 13

Use of plastics and single-use

materials

A review is carried out of all types of single-use items to determine which are unnecessary and can be phased out. Those remaining must be made from non-fossil raw materials by Q2 2020 at the latest.

Goals & Action plansSDG 12

Reduced consumption of

resources

Here the focus is on reducing food waste and energy consumption. This can be achieved by sorting and measuring all food waste, and by various measures to reduce the volumes sent for recycling. With regard to energy consumption, two groups (The Energy Group and the Eco-driving Group) are working to optimise energy use.


Respect for the sea

All grey water and black water, waste and sludge is brought ashore for treatment. All fish served in the restaurants is sourced from sustainable fishing or responsible farming, and the company’s Chemical Advisory Team works to reduce the use of environmentally hazardous products. Various other projects, including Seabins and the Havsresan (‘Sea Journey’) project, aim to highlight and create awareness around the importance of clean, healthy seas.


Work environment & health

Safety drills and clear routines, toolbox meetings, etc. help to ensure that our workplaces are safe for employees. ForSea subsidises wellness activities and physical exercise to encourage and support healthier lifestyles. The Chemical Advisory Team works continuously to find alternatives to products that are hazardous to health and/or the environment.


Safety for employees and

passengers

Our safety work focuses on both employees and passengers and is based on legislation and directives from national author-ities, the EU and the UN agency, IMO. ForSea has a Designated Person (DP) who acts independently from management and the board of directors and is responsible for ensuring that the company follows the rules and directives relating to safety. Policy documents and all safety routines are detailed in a Safety Management System (SMS) Manual. Depending on their area of responsibility, employees must participate in a number of safety training sessions in order to be authorised to work on board or on shore. Safety training and practical safety drills are conducted continuously throughout a co-worker’s period of employment.


Sustainable suppliers and

purchasing

Using suppliers who share our core values and have their own sharp focus on sustainability helps us indirectly to improve our own work in this area. Our purchasing policy makes our demands clear and provides guidance for all those employees who are engaged in purchasing activities. Human rights, energy performance and lifecycle perspectives must always be factored into purchasing decisions. Special requirements apply to purchases that are classed as having a significant impact on the environment, and all capital expenditures must be environ-mentally approved before such purchases can go ahead.

Purchasing policy

Sustainability aspect

Actions Governance

Prudent management of

inventories/ maintenance

To avoid unnecessary consumption it is important to purchase good quality fittings and equipment and to properly maintain this equipment. Careful routines and strict adherence to the relevant maintenance programme are invaluable in this respect.

AMOS M&P and various individual routines

Co-worker satisfaction

In order to increase job satisfaction and maintain employee morale, we use the metrics of co-worker engagement, team efficiency, leadership and the organisational and social work environment. The results form the basis for an action plan for groups of employees and, if necessary, individuals. Training sessions and joint activities are also arranged.


Customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction is measured continuously. All feedback from customers is constantly evaluated to ensure that we are always in a position to respond to their wishes.

SDG 11

Equality

Managers and the recruiters in the HR Department are given training and regularly informed so that they always have an up-to-date knowledge of current legislation in areas relating to equality.Salary mapping exercises are carried out each year.


Competence provision and maintenance

HR works actively with the shipping industry and the local labour market in order to secure access to the competences that will be needed in the future.

Financial stability

Through their choice of the capital structure our owners and the board have determined the level of risk that is considered acceptable. Long-term financial stability is prioritised to enable ForSea to invest in projects that will benefit the environment and increase profitability.

Monthly accounts – Budget5-year plan

Spills and leakageFrequent training drills and stringent routines both on shore and on board reduce the risks of spills and minimise the effects in the unlikely event that such accidents do happen.

Training drillsRoutinesAMOS

Waste management

ForSea is firmly committed to reducing the amount of waste generated by its operations and to increase the proportion of sorted waste. To this end, frequent reviews are made of how well waste management and waste stations work. ForSea currently sorts 26 different fractions of waste.

Garbage Management PlanGoals & Action plansSDG 12

Sustainable use of chemicals

ForSea’s Chemical Advisory Team works to find alternatives to products that are hazardous to the environment and human health. The Chemical Advisory Team also educates and informs other employees about the risks involved in chemical products and the importance of dealing with chemicals in the properly approved manner.

Chemicals PolicyGoals & Action plansSDG 14

Operational reliability

Vessels and facilities are painstakingly maintained. Frequent, careful maintenance is essential in order to cope with the pace and intensity of the ferry route that our vessels operate.


Innovative technology

ForSea has led the way in many areas and continues to do so. We are constantly seeking information and inspiration internally and externally in order to ensure that we always make full use of the best possible technology in our operations.

Sustainable alternatives

for sale

Offering our guests sustainable alternatives in our restaurants, cafeterias and shops is important both for us and for them. All departments have targets for increasing the proportion of certi-fied products on sale for customers.


Good business ethics

Our Code of Conduct provides guidance in good business ethics. In addition, we have also formulated various policies and initiated control mechanisms to reduce the risks of fraud and bribery, both internally and in our dealings with external stakeholders.

Code of ConductAnti-Corruption Policy

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Areas that can affect ForSea’s operations and its ability to achieve its targets

1. Increased unrest in the world – strong populist forces

2. Tougher legislation and increased demands for sustainability

3. Rapid technical development4. Electricity shortages5. Competence shortages in

the future6. Changes in what young people

demand of an employer7. Urban development in

Helsingborg and Helsingør8. Contractual agreements with

the ports9. Increased competition across

the Sound10. Possibility of an economic

slowdown11. Data security12. Changes in travel patterns

Risks and opportunities.

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ForSea’s ability to influence risk/opportunity

Tougher legislation and increased demands

for sustainability

A constant focus on legal requirements and business intelligence, together with active sustainability work that sets very ambitious targets is the key to always staying one step ahead of the rest of the field. It means that we can set the benchmark in this area instead of regarding it as a risk.

Rapid technological development

Constant external monitoring and networking, together with an openness to testing new solutions that can help to optimise our business operations, means that we see technological develop-ment as an area that opens up opportunities for us rather than one that incurs risks.

Changes in travel patterns

Among many reasons for changes in travel patterns are factors such as environmental impact, trends and the economic situation. It is important that ForSea remains alert to these shifts in behaviour and adapts its services accordingly.

Contractual agreements with the port

In order to be able to plan ahead and make long-term investments it is important that ForSea has guarantees that allow us to continue to operate well into the future. Our current contract with the port extends only to 2029, which is too short a horizon for us to be able to make the investments we would like to make.

Data security

IT security – We work continuously to analyse and secure the IT systems we use to operate our ferries and for administrative and commercial purposes. Personal data – Routines and system support are in place to ensure that the personal details of customers and employees are secure.

Changes in what young people demand of an

employer

The demands that young people of today make on their workplace and the work environment differ from those of earlier generations. For this reason we need to be flexible and responsive as an employer if we are to be able to continue to recruit and retain competent employees.

The world is filled with opportunities and risks. It is important to be aware of these, if we are to be able to adapt to and, where possible, avoid them or learn from them.

Work to identify these risks and opportunities never stops and we produce a risk map each year. Risk management work is overseen by the CFO in close consultation with the employees concerned, and their findings are reported each year to corporate management. The risk map

helps management to rank the risks and prioritise the opportunities that have been assessed. Scenarios in the right-hand field of the grid are focus areas that are considered to be significant and are therefore to be prioritised.

Our strategies for managing significant risks/opportunities

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Developments in 2019

There have been no reports of any significant failings in overall safety on land or at sea. A total of 16 occupational injuries was recorded in 2019, which is a significantly lower number than in 2018. The most common injuries fall into one of 4 categories: fall injuries, crush injuries, burns and head injuries. Lost working days (LWD) due to injuries totalled 36 in 2019 (2018: 133). For each 100,000 worked hours there were 0.4 injuries (2018: 0.8). This is a very low figure compared with the average for other industries and companies. The number of SMS reports submitted (incidents, accidents and suggestions for improvements, etc.) was 430 (2018: 402) In addition to highlighting accidents these reports also help to identify hazards at an early stage, so that ForSea can put preventive measures in place. During the course of 2019 ForSea transported 7 million passengers: 18 passenger-related incidents were reported, all of which involved only minor injuries.

Deck

Machinery

Retail

F&B

Shore

Non-conformances

Dangerous situations

Accidents

Incidents

Suggestions for

improvements

Safety.

The safety of our employees and passengers is the single most important focus of our operations. We have a clear policy to pursue our business with zero accidents and injuries. Our safety culture is based on a high technical standard onboard our vessels, the commitment of our well-trained employees and the competence and accountability of our corporate management team.As a minimum standard, we always comply with all statutory and other safety requirements at both national and EU level, as well as those specified by the UN’s International Maritime Organisation (IMO). In line with the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, all safety pro-cedures on board are documented and collated in an SMS manual which is available on the intranet. Depending on their role in the company, all employees must take part in a number of safety training sessions in order to be certified to work on board or ashore. Safety training sessions are part of our everyday business practices. They are continually updated, and employees are required to participate in them throughout their term of employment. Drills are conducted sev-eral times a month both on land and on board to train employees to deal with, for example, fire, spills, evacuation, crisis management and first aid. This improves safety for both employees and passengers.

Preventive measures We believe that everyone needs to take respon-sibility for the environment and for safety, and we have a long track record of raising awareness of these issues among all our employees. For example, we insist that safety-related matters are always discussed in departmental meetings and other business reviews, and we encourage the sharing of experiences throughout the entire company. Keen safety awareness improves safety for our passengers and ensures a high level of preparedness in the event of accident or illness. An internal report is submitted for any non- conformances, accidents and dangerous incidents. This is then analysed and used to implement measures to further improve safety.

Our internal auditors carry out safety audits twice a year and report their findings to the Head of Safety & Environment to be used as a basis for improvement work. Every year the authorities and classification societies carry out their own audits and safety reviews, and their findings are also used to further develop the work we do to ensure the safety of our passengers and employees.

Simulating risks and crisis situations ForSea has its own vessel simulator. This fulfils an important function in the company’s work with safety. Various scenarios are simulated to give navigators and other key personnel regular training in how to deal with different situations that involve risks and crises. In 2018 a decision was taken to relocate the simulator to premises adjacent to the ForSea head office that are better suited for the purpose. Since then a software update in 2019 has further improved opportu-nities for practising fuel-efficient operating and manoeuvring techniques.

Safety when handling dangerous goods The transportation of dangerous goods is managed in accordance with current regulations and by employees who participate in regular internal training sessions. Operations are evalu-ated every year by an external consultant, who is also a member of ForSea’s Dangerous Goods Group. This body monitors developments in the area and, when necessary, oversees improve-ments to routines and working methods.

Putting principles into practice - 2019

4%2%

5%

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Recruitment process Recruitment in the ForSea Group aims to ensure that the right person with the right competence is assigned to the right task. We have clear guide-lines and routines that quality assure the entire recruitment process, from needs analysis, re-quirement profile, advertising, selection, personality test, interview, communication with the candidate, references and final assessment to introduction. We believe that all people are equal in value, which means that all applicants are treated in the same way and as fairly as possible. We operate an open recruiting system, using both official channels and social media. All job vacancies are advertised internally and externally. All candidates are considered on their formal merits, experience and personal qualities.

Business ethics – clear routines and guidelines We have clear routines and checks designed to minimise the risk of fraud or bribery, both internally and in our contacts with customers, suppliers and other business partners. Our ethical guidelines cover areas such as giving and accepting gifts, and they provide an ethical framework for how to behave when acting on behalf of ForSea. Additionally, there are guide-lines specifying which employees are authorised

to place and approve different types of orders, and the financial limits that apply to the ordering process.

Alcohol and drugs policy ForSea has a zero-tolerance policy towards employees who are under the influence of alco-hol or drugs during working hours. All employees must be familiar with and comply with the policy, which not only ensures that the workplace is free from alcohol and drugs, but also minimises the risks of ill health and accidents. Preventive measures include unannounced random testing. Alcohol and drug testing may also be carried out after an incident or accident. The policy also includes provisions for support and help for employees with alcohol problems or drug dependency issues.

Whistle-blower channel Our whistle-blower service provides a confi- dential channel for employees who wish to report their suspicions of any irregularities to a manager or the person responsible for the whistle- blower function. Messages may be sent personally or anonymously. The service helps to minimise risk – and, also, to maintain trust in ForSea – by enabling us to identify and rectify potential irregularities at an early stage.

Our employees.

We want ForSea to be a great place to work and one that attracts the very best employees. It is also our aim for the company to be a workplace where employees are happy, secure and feel that they are given the opportunity to grow and develop professionally.

Our operations are seasonal, so our staffing needs vary greatly between high season and low season. While this inevitably results in a high staff turnover, we always focus on creating a good working environment for every employee, wherever he or she works, by providing the right conditions for collaboration, job satisfaction and good management.

We want ForSea to be a company of equal opportunities, free from discrimination, harass-ment and bullying. All employees should expe-rience a sense of community, understand that their role in the business is important, and show respect for one another. Similarly, equality be-tween men and women is key for all employees and there should be constant progress in this direction at all levels throughout the company.

Work environment – zero injuries Systematic work environment management ensures that all employees enjoy a physically safe and socially inclusive workplace, where they can develop personally and professionally, and where suitable measures are in place to prevent work-related injuries and ill health. This work is based on four objectives:

• Zero accidents in the workplace.• Zero sick days as the result of accidents in

the workplace.• Sickness absence should fall year-on-year

and be reduced to 3.7% or less.• Employees appraisals should be held on a

yearly basis.

In order to achieve these objectives, statistics relating to accidents and incidents in the work-place, rehabilitation measures and preventive action are constantly followed up. Examples of preventive measures are wellness subsidies and chiropractic treatments.

Co-worker surveys Our annual Puls survey measures co-worker perceptions of the physical work environment, cooperation within the department, trust in company management, managers’ leadership skills, etc. The results form the basis for action plans to support development and improvement in each department, and they are also followed up in individual co-worker appraisals. In 2019, 88% of our employees participated in Puls. The overall score to the questions posed in the survey was 4.06 on a 5-point scale. A halving of the number of employees who felt that they had been insulted or maltreated during the year seems to confirm that our determined efforts to combat bullying, harassment and discrimination have yielded positive results.

Human rights and diversity ForSea is a multicultural company that strives to promote equal rights and opportunities in employment regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or other belief. We embrace diversity because we are convinced that it fuels creativity and acknowledges the differences in mindsets that are so important for our continued growth. For us, this means that everyone is given the same opportunities regardless of gender, ethnicity, religious belief, functional diversity, sexual orientation or age. In 2019 we have worked systematically to combat bullying, harassment and discrimination by educating all employees in these issues and by carefully following up individual cases.We have also maintained a firm focus on indirectly protecting human rights, for example by not only advocating but also, wherever possible, working to ensure that our suppliers’ and sub-contractors’ employees are treated well, that there is compliance with work environment legislation and that human rights are respected. We do not wish our own needs to be satisfied at the expense of other people’s well-being.


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Ethics There have been no reported breaches of our ethical guidelines. Competence development We held a total of 1,149 training days in 2019, mostly in areas such as safety, service and leadership. This equates to 2.15 training days per co-worker. The year also saw the start of training within the ForSea Academy, which provides training modules for all of the Group’s key employee positions. The first training was a service training module for Retail. Employees At the end of 2019 ForSea had 527 full-time equivalents. Approximately 75% of this total related to jobs located primarily on board one of our four ferries. Female repre-sentation in both the Group’s management team and the Board of Directors was 25%. Short-term absenteeism in the company was 2.57%. Long-term absenteeism was 1.16%.

On board

On shore

Employees 2019

Men

Women

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Developments in 2019Emissions to air Carbon dioxide – The aim is to reduce our total carbon dioxide emissions by 65% (equivalent to a reduction of some 23,000 tonnes) by operating Aurora and Tycho Brahe on batteries.The reduction in emissions for 2019 as a whole was approximately 40% (approximately 14,000 tonnes) compared with the figures for 2017. Discrepancy from the target is due to some minor technical problems with battery cells and charging. Sulphur oxides and particulates – Using only battery power also reduces emissions of sulphur oxide and particulates by around 65%. In 2019 sulphur oxide emissions were reduced by approx-imately 40%, which equates to a reduction of around 4 tonnes. Particulate emissions have not been measured.

Emissions to water It is now many years since ForSea made the decision not to discharge any emissions to water, and no emissions of this kind were made in 2019. Energy consumption The aim was to reduce the company’s total energy consumption by 39%, including the savings made by the transition to battery- powered operation, changes to manoeuvring strategies and other savings achieved as a result of a further 20 or so minor technical innovations. Our total energy consumption for 2019 fell by approximately 24%.

Environment – reduced environmental impact.

As the daily operations of our ferries are by far the greatest source of environmental impact from ForSea’s business activities, we have prioritised efforts to reduce our emissions to air and water.

ForSea has a long track record of initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of our ferries in the Öresund region. For example, in 2007 our ferries became the first in Sweden to use catalytic scrubbers on all engines and since mid 1990s we have been using fuel with an even lower sulphur-content than the regulation requires today. In November 2018, after almost four years of intensive work, we were able to take the next step towards a reduced environ-mental impact by transitioning to battery-pow-ered operation on two of our vessels. In doing so, we became the first ferry company in the world to use only electricity to drive two such large RoPax vessels. It is not easy to be a pio-neer, and so work has continued throughout 2019 to optimise the function of the batteries and rectify a number of technical problems that have arisen.

Reduced emissions Battery-powered operation is a highly innovative initiative that has required significant adapta-tions on board and on land. A fully automatic laser-controlled robot arm connects the ferry to the charging station each time the vessel docks, providing enough power for a 20-minute cross-ing. The batteries are recharged using green electricity from wind, water and solar sources. Battery-powered ferries are also quieter and less prone to vibrations, which is good news, of course, for passengers, for people working and living nearby and for marine life. Initiatives are also being taken on shore to miti-gate the company’s climate impact. From 1 Janu-ary 2019 ForSea has achieved a further 300-tonne reduction in its emissions of CO2 gases by transi-tioning to the use of ‘green’ electricity.

Reduced energy consumption Converting ferries to battery power has not only led to lower emissions, but it has also reduced ForSea’s energy requirements. This is because the conversion efficiency for batteries is much higher than that of a diesel engine. Over the past couple of years this challenge has been addressed by two focus groups: the Eco-driving Group, whose work focuses on fuel-efficient sailing strategies, and the Energy Group, which works to find tech-nical solutions that will reduce energy needs. The Eco-driving Group consists of navigators from all of our vessels. They have been greatly assisted by the Blueflow energy management system that has been installed in all vessels during the year. This measures energy consump-tion in real time, making it possible to constantly monitor the effect of the bridge’s steering and manoeuvring strategies and providing data that can be analysed after the journey has been com-pleted. The installation of Blueflow technology has led to significant improvements in fuel con-sumption with savings averaging around 8%. The Energy Group, on the other hand, works with a variety of technical solutions both on shore and on board. Around 20 projects have been carried out during the year - saving approximately another 500 000 Kwh.

Emissions to seawater ForSea does not have any emissions to seawater, as all the greywater and blackwater is discharged at the terminals for treatment, either by an envi-ronmentally approved recycling company or the municipal water treatment plant. No spills were reported in 2019.


Emissions to air and water

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Purchasing and investments All goods and services impact on the environ-ment in some way or other throughout their lifespan. As sustainable consumption is an issue that is accorded high priority by ForSea, it is important for the company to adopt a life cycle perspective in its purchasing activities. This means always considering the environmental impact when acquiring, using and recycling or disposing of our purchases. ForSea has formulated a clear Purchasing Policy which specifies that it is not only a product’s own intrinsic environmental impact that must be takeninto account when purchases are made, but also the supplier’s environmental work. Purchases in excess of SEK 50,000 must be approved by ForSea’s Head of Safety & Environment, who con-ducts an analysis from a life cycle perspective.

Fewer and less environmentally harmful chemicals During 2019 our work to reduce the environmen-tal impact from the chemical products that are used in our operations has yielded good results. The focus has been on reducing the overall num-ber of chemical products, replacing them with less harmful alternatives and banning the use of products that have a particularly adverse effect. The total number of products and the number of harmful products have each fallen by 2%. We have also completely phased out the use of CMR substances. During the course of the year the Danish ferries and our operations in Helsingør have begun to use only eco-labelled cleaning products, a step that is also one of the objectives for the Swedish arm of our business operations in 2020.

Packaging/single-use materials During the year we have made an inventory of all single-use articles used in our operations and investigated the alternatives that are currently available. The shift to more sustainable materials has already begun and will be completed before the end of March 2020.

Waste It is important to see waste for what it really is – namely, a valuable resource and a raw material. At ForSea we make every effort to sort our waste, while also aiming to reduce total waste amounts. ForSea sorts waste into no less than 26 fractions, and in 2019 we commenced full-scale sorting for bio-waste.

For us at ForSea sustainability work is not only about initiatives to minimise emissions from our ferries. We factor sustainability into all that we do by addressing the issue across a broad strategic framework. To do this as effectively as possible, we have mapped each of the different activities in our operations and ranked all the environmental aspects. This information, together with the results of several surveys among our stakeholders, has enabled us to produce a materiality analysis that serves as a basis for prioritising our work with sustainability issues.

Sustainable in all that we do


Total waste volumes decreased by approxi-mately 4% in 2019 to 621 tonnes. Some 60% of waste was sorted at source, which is 7% more than in 2018. This significant improvement is thanks to the fact that, since the summer, we have also been sorting organic waste as a separate fraction. Around 30 tonnes of organic waste

has been sent to OX2, a renewable energy company that converts food waste into biogas and biofertiliser. ForSea sorts waste into 26 fractions and, as a result of our efforts, we have saved the environment from the equivalent of 220 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2019.

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Food waste Food waste can be reduced by better planning throughout the entire chain – from composing menus to purchasing, food preparation and serving. In autumn 2019 we joined a regional initiative in Sweden that was launched to help restaurateurs minimise food waste. All our food waste is now weighed to enable us to monitor our progress in this area. Since spring 2019 food waste has been sorted and sent to OX2, a renewable energy company that converts food waste into biogas and biofertiliser. The 30 tonnes of food waste delivered to OX2 since the project began have produced sufficient energy to fuel a gas-powered car for no less than 51,000 kilometres!

Certified food ForSea wants to increase the proportion of certified and eco-labelled products in order to reduce emissions of toxins into the environment. In 2019 the proportion of certified products we offered to our customers almost doubled from 7% to 12%. Our Food & Beverage team has been working actively with this objective, which at some point in the future will also be one of the focus areas for Retail. In 2019 a baseline was created for future calculations: this now registers an increase of 4.6% which is expected to rise to 5.3% in 2020. Climate impact Since 2017 we have been calculating the CO2 emissions generated by our food in order to provide a better basis for understanding how our menus and choices of food affect the climate. To reduce climate emissions from the food we serve, our chefs are choosing climate-smart meat and working hard to increase the proportion of vegetarian alternatives on offer.

Sustainable seafood Meeting traceability criteria for MSC/ASC certified fish was the focus of much of our efforts during the year, and in December 2019 ForSea became the first shipping company in both Sweden and Denmark to be approved for certifi-cation. This means that our customers can now rest assured that the fish we sell has been sustainably fished and can be traced all the way back to its point of origin. We are especially proud to be the first shipping company in the world to be able to say that, with effect from 1 January 2020, all the fish and seafood in our entire operations is MSC/ASC certified.

With several restaurants, cafeterias, canteens and huge numbers of diners each year, food purchases for our operations are significant. In 2019, for example, the 28 tonnes of fish and 548,240 red sausages that we sold obviously had a significant impact on the environment. We recognise the importance of reducing the environmental impact of the food we serve, and we have therefore decided to focus on 5 key areas – food waste, certified food, climate impact, sustainable fish and seafood, and packaging/single- use materials.

Food and sustainability


In December 2019 ForSea became the first shipping company in both Sweden and Denmark to meet the traceability criteria for MSC/ASC certification. We are proud to say that, since 1 January 2020, all the fish and seafood in our entire operations is MSC/ASC certified.

We are also making every effort to offer our guests certified goods and products, and the proportion of certified raw ingredients used by our restaurants rose almost doubled from 7% to 12% during the year.

In 2019 certified products accounted for 4.6% of sales in our onboard shops.

For each bottle of wine we sell from our own selection of South African wines, ForSea do-nates SEK 5 to the Starting Chance organisation. In 2019 ForSea donated no less than SEK 70,000 towards measures to improve conditions for schoolchildren in the Republic of South Africa.

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Awards in 2019

ForSea received a number of prizes in 2019 for its achievements and ongoing sustainability work:

• Electric and Hybrid Propulsion System of the Year: June

• Shippax 2018 Environmental Stewardship Award: March

• Årets samhällsbyggare 2018 (‘Community Builder of the Year’) – Johan Röstin: March

• Företagsstjärna 2019 (‘Corporate Star’): May

Corporate social responsibility.

Our ferry links contribute to the development of local communities on both sides of the Sound. ForSea’s CSR commitments include generating employ-ment opportunities in the region, supporting sports and education, and help-ing the local business community to develop along greener lines. The follow-ing are just a few examples of the many ways in which this commitment is put into action.

• In 2018 ForSea received the City of Helsing-borg’s environmental award for its transition to battery-powered operation on two of the company’s ferries. ForSea used the mon-ey from the award to purchase a so-called Seabin, which was originally deployed in the docks in central Helsingborg to collect rubbish floating on the surface of the water. The Seabin has, however, been relocated to Helsingborg’s Norra Hamnen to overcome problems associated with its initial location.

• Active recruitment of newly qualified mari-time officers who can acquire the basis for their professional experience with ForSea. Maritime cadets also carry out part of their vocational training onboard our ferries.

• Collaboration with the aid agency Human Bridge, which collects uniforms and other items that ForSea can no longer use. This not only helps to improve the lives of people in need in other countries; it also benefits the environment, by ensuring that materials are put to good use throughout their entire lifespan.

• Helsingør is one of seven cities in the world that are participating in the ‘One Planet Living’ initiative. ForSea is one of the contri- butors. The project aims to increase the pace of green conversion at local level. ‘One Planet Living’ works in conjunction with schools, organisations and individuals to reduce consumption and emissions by following ten simple principles. ForSea has based its own goals and action plans on these principles.

• Partnership with Gröna Städer (‘Green Cities’), where ForSea’s CEO sits as a member of the board. Gröna Städer is a business-oriented organisation that works in conjunction with several innovative companies producing and exporting a variety of sustainable products and services.

• Sponsorship of the football teams FC Helsingør and Helsingborgs IF.

• In May ForSea sponsored the Havsresan (‘Sea Journey’) project, for which the focus in 2019 was on Helsingborg. Havsresan takes place over a one-week period each year in different areas of Sweden under the aegis of the Swedish Coast and Sea Centre (SCSC). The objective is to generate awareness about the seas and their status and to make people understand how important it is that the seas remain in good health.

• ForSea works closely with some of the growers in South Africa who supply the wines that we sell. For each bottle of South African wine sold, a donation of SEK 5 is made to Starting Chance, a South African aid organisation established to help children through their first years of formal education. In 2019 ForSea donated SEK 70,000 to the organisation.


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