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A team player for sustainable business

4 SEPTEMBER 2024

The many hours Scania’s Head of Sustainability, Fredrik Nilzén, spent in his grandfather’s and father´s truck as a child made him curious about business, the environment and the truck itself. Now, he’s deep into developing our part of the transport industry in the most sustainable way possible.

Here at Scania, we are proud of our products, and occasionally, we receive an award or two for our fuel-efficient vehicles. For this to happen and for us to lead the way to sustainable transport, we need great people. Being the Head of Sustainability at Scania comes with many responsibilities. You need to understand every piece of the Science Based Target’s puzzle, including our scopes 1, 2, and 3, and keep up to date on trends and development across Corporate Governance and People Sustainability. All the while keeping electrification, fuel efficiency and financial results top of mind.

So what did we do when sustainability manager of the year 2021, Andreas Follér, moved on to a position within TRATON Group? Welcoming the sustainability manager of the year 2023 Fredrik Nilzén, known from the world of banking and with a Master of Science in Industrial Economics to Scania. Nilzén took on this role in early 2024. Since he basically grew up in a truck, he is also back to his roots. He brings extensive knowledge in sustainability and a mindset that doesn’t revolve around what he does but what he can inspire others to accomplish to scale up change, maximise people’s potential, and create value, preferably as a team. Much of what Scania has stated in recent years is that we can’t do it alone; we need to team up.

Live as you learn

As a dedicated endurance athlete who navigates through demanding terrain and swims in open water for fun (and in the occasional World Championships), being a high-performing team is essential. “Big companies mean big changes, but it takes heart and mind to make it happen. I believe in the power of the team and what people can accomplish together. Get people to lean in and help each other become the best version of themselves. I love taking on challenges that may seem impossible, building teams, developing, launching and scale-up.”

So what’s his drive? What makes him get out of bed in the morning – except for 3,000 meters of open water swimming? It’s about the love for business and the care for people. “We must bring people and business on board this transition. We know the industry, where we stand, and how our products and services can be decarbonised. It is time to deepen our focus on a just transition for people and realise it in the line of business.”

At work, Nilzén works hard to influence others in our eco-system and beyond: “Scania has a strong company culture and is driving the shift to a sustainable transport system on a global level. This journey is concrete, with a big impact. I am at the very core of the business in this industry finding the solutions for tomorrow with our partners.” But also, at home, his actions reflect that he walks the talk. It’s to go by bike, use an electric car, use solar panels, and reuse things. “All of us can contribute and inspire others to act.”

The passions are many but can be boiled down to a few essential ones: “Sustainable business models, digitalisation and making large societal impact via business and partnerships”. But the favourite? “Building strong teams with ambitious goals and adding a challenge worth striving for.”