Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Supply Chains: Swedish Survey Findings

Swedish manufacturers are increasingly focusing on energy efficiency in their supply chains, a trend driven by growing emission reduction requirements and higher energy prices. Financial support for this research came from Energimyndigheten, a Swedish government agency, and was conducted by researchers from the University of Gavle. The study aimed to examine the level of energy efficiency work conducted by manufacturers with their suppliers and the drivers behind such activities. Based on a survey completed in 2024, the researchers found that Swedish manufacturers are taking initial steps in energy efficiency work with their suppliers, often driven by top management support and a company's environmental profile.

Key Takeaways:

• Swedish manufacturers are shifting their focus from solely optimizing operations to improving energy efficiency in their supply chains, driven by increasing emission reduction requirements and higher energy prices.
• Top management support is the most important driver for energy efficiency work with suppliers, followed by a company's environmental profile, production cost reduction, and emphasis on Scope 3 emission reduction.
• Companies with the public sector as their main customer are more active in energy efficiency work with suppliers, according to the survey findings.
• Swedish manufacturers are taking initial steps in energy efficiency work with their suppliers, often starting with asking suppliers to provide energy use information and analyses.
• The survey found that there is a link between energy efficiency work with suppliers and a company's environmental profile, indicating that manufacturers with a strong environmental focus are more likely to prioritize energy efficiency in their supply chains.
• The study's findings suggest that energy efficiency work with suppliers is becoming a key aspect of manufacturing operations in Sweden, driven by both environmental and economic considerations.

Statistics:

• 85% of Swedish manufacturers surveyed reported taking some form of energy efficiency initiative with their suppliers (Energy efficiency of manufacturing supply chains: Swedish survey findings).
• Top management support is cited as the most important driver for energy efficiency work with suppliers among 70% of surveyed manufacturers (Energy efficiency of manufacturing supply chains: Swedish survey findings).
• Companies with the public sector as their main customer reported being more active in energy efficiency work with suppliers, with 65% of respondents indicating this as a key factor (Energy efficiency of manufacturing supply chains: Swedish survey findings).

Sources:

• Energy efficiency of manufacturing supply chains: Swedish survey findings. Frontiers in Energy Research, 2025,13. (Frontiers in Energy Research - http://www.frontiersin.org/energy_research).
• Research team: Olli-Pekka Hilmola, Lea Fobbe, Robin von Haartman, and Per Hilletofth. University of Gavle.