Is there a need for Environmental Product Declarations Alfa Laval’s communication of environmental information to their customers

As an international actor it is preferable to make an effort to understand how your performance affects the long-term sustainability, both in local and global terms. Sustainability includes subjects such as integration between economical, social and environmental spheres. It can be achieved by reorganizing living conditions, reappraising economic sectors and work practices, develop technologies in a sustainable perspective and adjust individual lifestyles. Sustainabe Devlopment - “Meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” - United Nations General Assembly (1987): Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future. During this thesis the reader will get the relevant background information, to understand the theoretical part of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and how different companies work with its application in real life. But also if any of Alfa Laval’s customer show best practice in this area and in which sectors Alfa Laval may start up their work of producing EPDs. The aim with this thesis is to investigate if there is a market need for EPDs among Alfa Laval’s customers and what benefits that may come from such environmental information, for both the customers and Alfa Laval perspective. The study investigate both external and internal driving forces, barriers, pros and cons, best practice and different actors connected to Alfa Laval. Thesis methodology is based on literature review about EPDs; and its tools, methodology and Alfa Laval’s database; personal observations from the authors, adaptive learning method and systems thinking method. In the empirical part called “Analysis” will the eight sub objectives be discussed. The analysis and proposal for the future will be based on the interview, our personal observation, and literature review. Finally; the conclusion which is followed by a summary of the findings from our research project and critical discussion. This part provides learned lessons and recommendations for Alfa Laval: First of all an EPD is not the right communication tool for Alfa Laval, and therefore they should not create one. Secondly we recommend Alfa Laval to develop the internal communication and knowledge before finding the right target customer and tool