Seco Launches Advanced Digital Tool to Boost Sustainability in Factories

Post by : Meena Rani

Seco Tools, a global leader in cutting tools and industrial solutions, has taken a major step toward responsible and sustainable manufacturing by launching a new digital sustainability assessment tool. This tool is designed to help factories and production sites measure, track, and improve their sustainability performance. With increasing global focus on environmental responsibility, Seco aims to lead by example, setting ambitious targets such as achieving 90% circular waste by 2030 and reaching net-zero operations across its production units by 2035.

This digital tool is not just software; it is a structured guide for factories to understand where they stand in terms of sustainability and how they can systematically improve their environmental and social impact. It comes at a time when industries worldwide are under pressure to integrate eco-friendly practices into daily operations, reduce emissions, and use resources more efficiently.

The Need for a Sustainability Assessment Tool

Seco observed that while many of its production sites had strong health and safety measures, sustainability areas like circularity, carbon emissions, and waste reduction were less structured. To address this, the company decided to develop a comprehensive Industrial Sustainability Assessment Tool.

This tool allows each production site to see its current sustainability performance and take practical steps to improve. By providing clarity and structure, it helps factories make informed decisions, prioritize sustainability initiatives, and track measurable progress over time.

Key Focus Areas of the Tool

The Industrial Sustainability Assessment Tool evaluates sustainability performance across four major focus areas:

• People and Communities

• This section assesses employee health and safety, workplace diversity, inclusion, and equity practices, and involvement with local communities. It ensures that factories are responsible not only to the environment but also to the people who work and live around them.

• Climate, Biodiversity, and Circularity

• Here, the tool examines how production sites manage energy use, water consumption, emissions, and waste. It also looks at recycling and reuse practices to promote circular waste management.

• Site-Specific Factors

• Each production site has unique operations, and this section evaluates how sustainability practices are integrated into daily processes, facility infrastructure, and ongoing site development.

• Suppliers and Local Responsibility

• This area ensures that suppliers follow responsible practices and that factories maintain proper documentation and collaboration with their local supply chains.

The tool defines six levels of sustainability performance. Level 1 represents basic compliance with legal regulations, while Level 6 represents the highest standards of best practices. Levels 2 to 5 provide clear, step-by-step improvements for production sites to move progressively toward better sustainability outcomes.

Development and Evolution of the Tool

The concept of the Industrial Sustainability Assessment Tool was first proposed in 2021. Seco worked closely with production sites in Sweden and the Netherlands over the following years to co-develop the tool. The first version was launched in Excel format in 2023, but users requested a more efficient and easier-to-use platform.

Responding to this feedback, Seco digitized the tool within the MyPages platform, making it more accessible and user-friendly. This digital version allows production sites to assess sustainability performance directly, track progress in real-time, and access actionable insights for continuous improvement.

Benefits of Seco’s Digital Tool

The digital Sustainability Assessment Tool offers multiple advantages for production sites:

• Real-Time Monitoring: Factories can track their sustainability progress continuously, identifying areas that require attention.

• Practical Guidance: The tool provides clear, actionable recommendations to help sites improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, and manage emissions.

• Mobile Accessibility: Production teams can use the tool on mobile devices, allowing flexibility and convenience in assessing sustainability performance anytime.

• Alignment with Global Goals: The tool ensures that factories work in alignment with Seco’s global sustainability objectives, supporting long-term environmental and social responsibility.

By combining these features, the tool provides a comprehensive approach to sustainable manufacturing, ensuring that factories can meet global expectations while optimizing operations.

Leading the Way in Sustainable Manufacturing

Seco’s digital Sustainability Assessment Tool marks an important milestone in advancing responsible manufacturing practices worldwide. By providing a clear roadmap for evaluating and enhancing sustainability performance, the tool empowers production sites to achieve environmental and social goals efficiently.

Through initiatives like this, Seco demonstrates how industrial companies can embrace sustainability without compromising productivity. The tool not only strengthens Seco’s global commitment to reducing waste, managing emissions, and promoting circular practices but also sets a benchmark for the wider manufacturing industry.

With sustainability becoming increasingly critical for businesses, Seco’s digital assessment tool offers factories a practical and measurable way to contribute positively to the environment and society.

Seco Tools, Digital Sustainability Tool, Industrial Sustainability