In an inspiring demonstration of corporate environmental leadership, global industrial machinery manufacturer SKF has reached a remarkable sustainability milestone that offers hope for the future of green manufacturing.

The Swedish company has successfully verified six additional factories as decarbonised sites, bringing their total to nine facilities worldwide that have achieved at least 95% reduction in emissions compared to 2019 levels. These factories span across continents, including locations in Malaysia, Mexico, India, Italy, and the United States, alongside previously verified sites in Austria, Spain, and Sweden.

What makes this achievement particularly exciting is that SKF hasn't sacrificed productivity for sustainability. Through innovative technologies like advanced heat pumps and modern chillers, these facilities are actually delivering energy savings while simultaneously increasing production volumes—proving that environmental responsibility and business growth can thrive together.

"We are proud to see six additional decarbonised SKF factories, representing an important step in our overall net zero journey," shares Sofie Runius Cederberg, Head of Sustainability at SKF. "By reducing the carbon footprint of our products, we are also enabling our customers to develop sustainable solutions as well as supporting society in the transition to a more sustainable future."

The company's approach is both systematic and ambitious. Each factory follows a carefully crafted decarbonisation roadmap tailored to local conditions and energy infrastructure. To earn the decarbonised designation, facilities must demonstrate continuous improvement in energy performance, eliminate fossil fuel dependency, and maintain clear strategies for addressing any remaining greenhouse gas emissions.

The transformation journey has involved comprehensive energy audits, extensive employee training programs, and cutting-edge real-time monitoring systems that track progress every step of the way. Where possible, SKF has invested in on-site renewable energy generation, complemented by power purchase agreements to ensure clean electricity supplies.

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer Susanne Larsson emphasizes the broader benefits: "Climate change is a global challenge and this achievement reflects our commitment to climate action and operational excellence. By investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency and innovative solutions, we are also increasing our own resilience by lowering our energy demand."

Looking ahead, SKF's vision extends far beyond these nine factories. The company has set an operational decarbonisation target for 2030 and an ambitious science-based net zero emissions goal across its entire supply chain by 2050. As one of the first industrial companies validated by the Science Based Target initiative, SKF is aligned with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target.

Net Zero Manager Rob Jenkinson captures the company's forward-thinking spirit: "Achieving our net zero goal by 2050 is ambitious, but also needed to speed up both innovation and change in society."

This success story represents nearly 20% of SKF's baseline manufacturing emissions and serves as a powerful example for other industrial companies. By demonstrating that major emissions reductions are achievable without compromising productivity, SKF is helping to write a new chapter in sustainable manufacturing—one where environmental stewardship and industrial excellence work together to create a brighter, cleaner future for all.