Sofie R. Cederberg,
Director Group Sustainability, SKF
As industries worldwide race toward net-zero goals, sustainability is no longer confined to factory floors. Global bearing and rotating equipment leader SKF is demonstrating how large-scale decarbonization can be achieved across an entire value chain from raw materials and manufacturing to logistics and customer operations through innovation, collaboration, and measurable action.
Industrial decarbonization has become one of the defining challenges of modern manufacturing. While many organizations have made progress in reducing emissions within their own operations, achieving meaningful climate impact requires addressing emissions across the entire value chain. SKF, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of bearings, seals, lubrication systems, and rotating equipment solutions, is taking on this challenge through a comprehensive strategy focused on scaling proven solutions and accelerating climate action across its global ecosystem.
The company’s sustainability roadmap extends beyond reducing emissions from its own facilities. SKF has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations by 2030 and net-zero emissions across its full value chain by 2050. This ambitious target reflects the growing recognition that a significant share of industrial emissions originates outside direct manufacturing activities, particularly in raw material sourcing, transportation, and supplier networks.
One of the most important insights guiding SKF’s strategy is that steel, the primary material used in bearing production, represents the largest source of carbon emissions in its value chain. Studies conducted by the company indicate that purchased steel and steel components account for approximately 70 percent of total value-chain emissions. As a result, SKF has prioritized partnerships with steel producers and suppliers to accelerate the adoption of lower-carbon materials and more sustainable manufacturing processes.
Susanne Larsson,
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer, SKF
The company is also investing heavily in operational decarbonization. Across its global manufacturing network, SKF has implemented programs focused on energy efficiency, renewable electricity, electrification of heating systems, and the elimination of fossil-fuel dependence. These initiatives are producing measurable results. By the end of 2025, nine SKF factories had achieved “decarbonized” status, demonstrating at least a 95 percent reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions compared with 2019 levels. These facilities serve as practical examples of how industrial sites can dramatically reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining productivity and competitiveness.
SKF’s approach emphasizes that sustainability and operational excellence are not competing priorities. Investments in advanced chillers, heat pumps, energy management systems, and renewable energy infrastructure have not only reduced emissions but also improved energy efficiency and resilience. In an era of rising energy costs and increasing climate risks, these measures provide both environmental and business benefits.
However, SKF recognizes that achieving net-zero emissions requires more than transforming its own facilities. The company is actively engaging suppliers to improve transparency, set science-based targets, and reduce emissions throughout the supply chain. This collaborative approach has earned international recognition, including top ratings from global sustainability assessment organizations for climate leadership and supplier engagement. By encouraging suppliers to participate in decarbonization efforts, SKF is helping create a ripple effect that extends well beyond its own operations.
Another key pillar of SKF’s strategy is enabling customers to reduce their environmental impact. Through advanced bearing technologies, optimized lubrication systems, condition monitoring solutions, and predictive maintenance services, the company helps industries improve equipment efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Bearings with lower friction, longer service life, and improved performance contribute directly to reduced energy use across sectors such as automotive, wind energy, mining, railways, and manufacturing.
Innovation is also playing a crucial role. SKF is exploring next-generation materials, including low-carbon and hydrogen-reduced steel, to lower the embedded emissions of industrial components. Recent developments in green steel bearing prototypes highlight how technological breakthroughs can contribute to broader decarbonization goals while maintaining the performance standards required in demanding industrial applications.
Circularity forms another important aspect of the company’s sustainability agenda. By extending product life, supporting remanufacturing, and designing repairable solutions, SKF aims to reduce resource consumption and minimize waste. These initiatives align with the growing industrial shift toward circular economy principles, where value is retained through reuse, refurbishment, and lifecycle optimization.
Ultimately, SKF’s decarbonization journey demonstrates that climate action at scale is possible when sustainability is embedded into business strategy rather than treated as a separate initiative. By combining operational improvements, supplier collaboration, material innovation, customer-focused efficiency solutions, and long-term climate commitments, the company is building a roadmap for industrial transformation.
As global industries navigate the transition to a low-carbon future, SKF’s experience offers an important lesson: meaningful decarbonization is not achieved through isolated projects but through the systematic scaling of solutions that work. In doing so, the company is proving that industrial growth and environmental responsibility can advance together, creating long-term value for businesses, customers, and society alike.
For more info:
www.skf.com
