Anna Sundström, Sustainability Specialist at Eolus ‘From good intentions to tangible steps’

Bringing new perspectives to renewable energy

“We joined the Agreement primarily to strengthen our internal processes and amplify our positive impact throughout the renewable energy value chain. As a relatively small company, we knew that to effectively address complex sustainability challenges, collaboration with other stakeholders is crucial,” Sundström explains.

With a diverse background in human rights, NGOs, and the agri-food sector, Sundström brings a fresh perspective to renewable energy. “I was hoping to use experiences from the food sector - fresh produce & ready-to-go solutions - in the renewable energy sector. In the food sector, I saw customer demand increase significantly - for example, with traceability requirements for ingredients in ambient products that went well beyond what the law required. Material traceability is important to the renewable energy sector as well. It’s about understanding ESG risks and impacts and to have a possibility to address them,” she explains.

Embedding sustainability in core operations

Eolus has made sustainability integral to its operations by embedding a new sustainability strategy directly into the company’s overarching business strategy. “Our sustainability strategy, launched in March 2024, directly informs our business strategy for 2025-2027,” Sundström highlights. “This year, we are prioritising identifying salient human rights and labour conditions within our supply chain. For the first time, every function within Eolus has specific sustainability KPIs. This integration ensures we don’t just talk about sustainability we act.”

Sundström further emphasises the importance of setting clear and measurable targets. “By integrating KPIs into our core business strategy, we create accountability throughout the organisation,” she adds. “This clarity helps employees across departments understand their role in achieving our sustainability goals.”

Driving internal commitment

Creating internal commitment is another crucial element of Sundström’s role. Together with Sigrid Carstairs (Sundström’s closest colleague and sustainability specialist regarding environmental issues) she actively works with management and teams across the organisation, forming working groups focused on indigenous rights, biodiversity, and internal training. “Our approach is proactive,” she says with enthusiasm. “Our sustainability strategy clearly outlines actions, and I ensure these are implemented stepby-step. Our management fully supports this approach, recognising sustainability as an essential business function.”