In September 2024, Westermo published its first EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) for the Viper-112A switch. An EPD is an independently verified document that generates data about the environmental impact of products throughout their lifecycle. This allows us to understand our emissions in Scope 3 and enables customers to compare environmental impacts, make sustainable choices, and access data to meet regulatory requirements.

The results of the EPD show that the greatest climate impact occurs during the usage phase, where the product's energy consumption is the decisive factor in combination with the energy source. This result was expected since the product has a long lifespan and there is still a significant proportion of fossil energy sources in the world. By prioritizing low energy consumption, robust design, and sustainable materials, solutions are created that are energy-efficient, reliable, and long-lasting. It also gives Westermo's customers the opportunity to make informed decisions that reduce their climate impact, as the impact is largely governed by the energy source in combination with the product's electricity consumption. The product compares well to the market average in terms of climate impact.

"We work with the entire product lifecycle – from raw materials and manufacturing to usage, recycling, and final lifespan. Our expectation was that the results would show a greater climate impact related to the extraction of raw materials. It showed the opposite, that our conscious choices of, for example, metals with low carbon footprints make a difference – which feels very good," says Anders Hanberg, Product Manager at Westermo.

 Anders Hanberg, Product manager at Westermo

Westermo's products are also designed to be repairable and upgradeable, which both extends their lifespan and contributes to a more circular economy. However, there are significant challenges in the later phases. Collaboration is required to go all the way, something Westermo wants to work more on moving forward.

"We work a lot with sustainability and do it for real. It's fun to work at Westermo with many colleagues who want to lead the way. We actively continue because every percent in efficiency makes a big difference. A switch like Viper-112A is often used for 15-20 years – one percent over those years becomes significant in actual numbers."