Embedding Eco Sustainability in Product Design
Eco sustainability is now a business necessity. ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA integrates environmental responsibility into every part of its operations. Olympia Dolla, Head of Sustainability Program EMEIA, leads these initiatives. Her expertise in sustainable development, energy, and materials is reshaping the company’s innovation and product design.
As an environmental scientist with a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development, Olympia has dedicated her career to impactful change. She studied in Greece before pursuing advanced studies in the Netherlands, collaborating with TU Delft. Now, she embeds eco sustainability into product design, procurement, and operations at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA.
A Science-Based Approach to Net Zero
Olympia advances EMEIA’s Science-Based Targets (SBTs) to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. She implements a Scope 3 strategy, aligning sustainability across procurement, operations, and innovation. This ensures products minimize environmental impact from raw materials to disposal.
“Sustainability challenges businesses to rethink conventional practices and develop innovative ways to reduce environmental impact. For ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA, this includes using recycled materials in our products, designing for durability, and ensuring that our products can be reused or recycled at the end of their lifecycle. These efforts not only reduce waste and minimize the overall carbon footprint of our operations, but they drive innovative thinking.”
Designing for Circularity and Carbon Reduction
ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA empowers engineering and design teams to integrate eco sustainability into product development. Circular economy principles guide product design for disassembly, reuse, and recyclability.
“We are also focused on reducing the carbon footprint of our products. Since 2024, all new products developed within EMEIA must achieve at least a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to their predecessors. This ambitious goal is being achieved through the use of sustainable materials and innovative design practices, demonstrating our commitment to creating products that not only meet today’s needs but also support a sustainable future.”
This strategy benefits the environment and aligns with growing customer demand for greener, energy-efficient solutions.
Innovation Through Regulatory Compliance
Many see regulatory compliance as a burden. However, ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA sees it as a catalyst for innovation. The company collaborates with industry stakeholders to turn regulations into smarter, more sustainable products.
“Compliance with mandatory regulations should not be viewed as an encumbrance but as a springboard for innovation and encourage companies to work smarter and faster. For example, through collaboration with key stakeholders on large-scale projects, we ensure that sustainability isn’t just a regulatory requirement but a value-add.”
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) provide transparency about a product’s environmental impact. These reports guide architects and developers toward sustainable choices. By the end of 2024, EMEIA had published 24 active EPDs. More will follow in 2025, reinforcing the company’s commitment to industry transparency.
Smart Factories: A Model for Sustainable Operations
ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA is also optimizing its operations. The Rychnov factory demonstrates this through digitalization and smart factory initiatives that reduce energy use.
“One key project at Rychnov was the implementation of an advanced energy monitoring system. This innovative tool tracks energy usage and identifies areas for improvement. The process involved installing sensors and devices to measure key variables such as temperature, light intensity, and the consumption of electricity, gas, compressed air, and water. This data provided precise insights into the energy demands of each machine, process, and assembly line, enabling us to make data-driven decisions and optimize operations.”
This system increased production efficiency by 10.6%, highlighting the impact of data-driven sustainability strategies.
Pioneering Eco Sustainability for the Future
ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA is setting new industry benchmarks. Its sustainability efforts go beyond compliance. By making eco sustainability a driver of innovation, the company proves that environmental responsibility and business success can go hand in hand.
“At ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA, we believe that sustainability is about more than meeting regulations—it’s about setting new benchmarks for the industry. By aligning our innovation strategies with sustainable practices, we are not only reducing our environmental footprint but also inspiring broader changes across the sector.”
As companies worldwide embrace sustainability, ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA demonstrates how eco sustainability drives innovation. The company’s approach ensures a greener future for all.
