Being a responsible owner is our most important role in society. We invest in and engage with companies where we believe our active ownership can make a meaningful difference, and sustainability is an integral part of how we do business. 

For 90 years, ethics and responsibility have consistently guided our business. Our owners made corporate social responsibility a priority more than three decades ago, recognising it as an integral part of responsible owneship. Climate, environmental and social responsibility, together with sound governance (ESG), remain a clear ownership priority for Aars and our companies today.

At Aars, we invest in and engage with companies where we believe we can contribute through our active ownership. This includes adding value through knowledge, expertise, capital and networks. Our ambition is always to be our companies' best owner our companies can have. This shapes both our investment philosophy and our strategy processes. As owners, we seek to provide long-term commitment, predictability and flexibility. We regularly assess whether we remain the best owner for each of our companies, or whether another owner would be better placed to support their next stage of development.

Managing a sustainable group, with a wide range of companies in the portfolio and related investments, is a continuous process. Our ambition is to be a group that meets relevant ESG standards, but where measurable impact and tangible results - what we actually contribute - matter most.

The companies under our ownership differ in terms of history, size, industry and maturity in their sustainability work. Some are already helping to set the sustainability standard for their sectors, while others are still developing their sustainability reporting practices. Aars sets overarching guidelines and requirements that apply to all our companies, while also adapting expectations to each company based on its conditions and opportunities. We are committed to helping our companies meet these expectations. To support them, we provide access to expertise and practical assistance through an external sustainability partner.

Our three main priorities 

Achieving sustainable economic growth requires us to operate within the planet's ecological limits. 

We are committed to supporting initiatives that promote environmental and social responsibility. We ensure that the governance framework between Aars and its owners, as well as between Aars and the companies we own, is transparent and clearly defined.

We belive that companies that systematically integrate material ESG considerations into their core business and strategy will be better equipped to an evolving risk landscape while creating long-term value. In our work with ESG, we have defined three main priorities that form the basis of our efforts: 

• We will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption (E) 

• We will foster an attractive and inclusive workplace while creating opportunities for more people to participate in working life (S) 

 • We will operate our businesses in a responsible, transparent and sustainable manner (G) 

Further information about our approach to sustainability is available in our annual report.

See our reports

Aarsverk

Exclusion from working life is a societal challenge that concerns us all. 700,000 people are outside work and education, while Norwegian businesses lack people and skills. As a family company, we want to help give more people a real chance to enter working life. Through Aarsverk, we give our companies access to the tools to succeed.

Read more about Aarsverk here

Culture and values

People are the cornerstone of Aars and the companies we own and invest in, and we are committed to ensuring that our employees thrive at work. This has fostered an inclusive and deeply rooted culture where we operate according to shared values. We emphasize that the leadership in our companies actively works to create a unified culture, building the best possible workplace for both current and future employees.

We will work to reduce exclusion from working life; we will have a culture in which we, as owners, and our companies challenge one another; and together we will strive to be a little better tomorrow than we are today.