Social sustainability
Scania’s social sustainability approach spans the entire value chain and addresses both risk‑based responsibilities and opportunity‑driven contributions. A sustainable transport system must protect human rights, safeguard health and safety, and ensure fair conditions for all.
The risk‑based foundation – aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights – guides Scania in identifying, preventing and managing potential negative impacts across suppliers, operations, customers and product use.
In parallel, Scania advances focus areas where it can create significant societal value: road safety, responsible transition and social impact. Together, these dimensions strengthen Scania’s ability to contribute to a safer, more inclusive and socially resilient transport system.
Risk-driven social sustainability: Respect Human Rights
Scania is committed to respecting human rights across its operations and value chain in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This commitment is reflected in the company’s Policies and Codes of Conduct tailored to different target groups.
Upholding human rights is fundamental to Scania’s licence to operate. To ensure this, Scania is continuously improving its structured human rights due diligence, strengthening governance and monitoring mechanisms, and providing training to employees to identify, prevent and address potential adverse impacts across its global value chain.
Opportunity-driven social sustainability
Scania’s opportunity-driven social sustainability work focuses on areas where the company can create the greatest positive impact beyond its risk-based approach. Road safety, responsible transition and social impact represent the areas where Scania can contribute most, reflecting its ability to leverage its products, expertise and organisational strengths to enhance stakeholder value, support resilient communities and contribute to the development of a sustainable transport system.
Road safety
Road Safety has been a core component of social sustainability for many years. Given the more than one million annual road traffic fatalities, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and the disproportionate involvement of heavy-duty vehicles in severe collisions, Scania acknowledges its responsibility to mitigate risks for drivers, passengers and vulnerable road users. Scania’s long-term ambition is to help drive the shift towards zero fatalities and serious injuries. To achieve this, the company applies a system-wide approach combining safe vehicle design.
Scania invests in enabling safe driver behaviour. This includes technologies that support awareness and reaction, such as ADAS systems, geofencing tools like Scania Zone, improved visibility features including the City Safe Window and camera systems, as well as pre-drive safety checks integrated into the vehicle interface.
Passive safety features, including side curtain airbags, reinforced structures and underrun protection, further reduce harm in the event of an accident. In addition, Scania contributes to the development of vehicle standards through participation in international regulatory forums, including the UN World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, and engages with industry bodies such as Euro NCAP to support the effective implementation and continuous improvement of standards.
Beyond vehicle design, Scania´s commitment to zero fatalities extends to own transport operations, where logistics-related road safety performance is monitored and reported to support continuous risk reduction.
Responsible transition
Scania views a responsible transition as integral to its long-term ambition to drive the shift towards a decarbonised transport system. Achieving this requires reducing emissions while protecting people, upholding human rights and promoting meaningful social dialogue as a central enabler of this approach, with the objective to leave no one behind.
The transition from fossil-based systems to electrification brings significant changes in risks and impacts for people across Scania’s operations and global value chain. To manage these responsibly, Scania is introducing a more structured approach to the transition, building on work that has been ongoing.
The approach aims at supporting employees, suppliers and communities throughout the shift while addressing human rights and labour-related risks linked to electrification, including those associated with battery raw material sourcing. Within its own operations, it includes preparing the workforce for new technologies and evolving competence needs.
Social impact
Social impact is a developing focus area in which Scania is bringing greater structure and clarity to both existing and new community initiatives. The goal is to ensure contributions are meaningful, relevant, and focused on areas where the company can create the most positive change, while remaining aligned with Scania’s identity. Initiatives leverage Scania’s expertise in transport, mobility and logistics, as well as engagement in local communities such as Södertälje and key markets like Brazil.
To improve effectiveness, Scania is strengthening coordination and mapping of initiatives. Examples include mentoring programmes, youth education, collaborations with the Red Cross, and the Marikana community development project in South Africa. Social dialogue ensures these actions align with local needs.
The ambition is to consolidate initiatives, increase transparency, and generate measurable, lasting positive impact.
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Explore our other sustainability focus areas: decarbonisation and circular business.