STEP COMPETITION CREATES FELLOWSHIP ACROSS BORDERSThis spring, Ragn-Sells employees in all of the Group’s countries have been taking part in a step competition. The goal was to create fellowship across borders.
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NORWAY
SWEDEN
LATVIA
ESTONIA
POLAND
DENMARK
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RAGN-SELLS UNITED 1st ISSUE 2015
We chose to direct this first newsletter at managers. That is why it is only avail-able in English. It is a starting point, and we would like your responses and suggestions to help us improve it in the
future. Is print better? Do we need a magazine?
One Company – Ragn-Sells UnitedFor me, the whole company is, of course, equally important. Requirements and conditions naturally vary in our local and daily operations, but we have more in common than separating us. Right now, there is a lot of knowledge and experience to be shared within Ragn-Sells. I believe that we are well on our way to realising this with our network groups and cross-border interactions.
Our goal to become “One Company” has grown since Ragn-Sells expanded its activities outside of Sweden to include Norway many years ago. We then started up our services in Estonia, Denmark, Poland and, last but not least, Latvia. The man-agement teams in these respective markets are, of course, helping to realise this through our “Net-work” groups, which have been set-up to coordinate and share experiences within departments such as HR, Quality & Environment, Sales & Marketing, Treatment, Finance, to mention a few.
Recyclables - a good exampleA feature in this first “Ragn-Sells United” news-letter will focus on Recyclables, which has grown since its inception back in 2013, with new custom-ers, solutions and services every day. Recyclables is a good example of how we can act across borders
to become more efficient, and to achieve leverage through larger volumes at the same time.
Curiosity is neededI personally believe that it is curiosity which drives us all as individuals, and would also like to see this attribute help us to pull together and make the whole Ragn-Sells group become stronger and more united. We all need to have “a broader perspective” from time to time, and we need to pause and reflect in or-der to see this “bigger picture”. I challenge you all to make contact with others across the group to find out how things are being done in other markets. It will make us stronger together!
I believe insight into how business is conduct-ed is an important part of being a good leader and manager in Ragn-Sells. I am sure many of you share this belief and I hope curiosity and wanting to learn from others in the group is contagious and will lead to increased interest in what goes on in the markets around us. Pulling together, and sharing ideas and experiences, will help Ragn-Sells to become strong-er and more successful.
A “United Ragn-Sells”, a company which you and all our talented employees can be proud of – that’s my goal!
Erik SellbergChief Excecutive Officer
RAGN-SELLS GROUP
SHARING IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS
We are now focusing our energies on building communication bridges between managers across the entire Ragn-Sells group of companies.
I believe an increased flow of news and information between our companies and countries will strengthen our identity and at the same time stimulate our curiosity. I hope you will share this newsletter with
your co-workers and employees as you go about your daily work. We should be proud of how much is going on!
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RAGN-SELLS ONE COMPANY NEWS
RAGN-SELLS NORWAY
NEW APP SAVES TIMERagn-Sells Norway has launched a new app to facilitate daily work. Drivers can use the app to set weights per square metre and make additions. They can also directly call customers via the app function. The app will enable transportation offices to save a lot of time, enabling orders to be approved more easily and handled more securely. The new app is also environmentally friendly as it reduces paper consumption.
RAGN-SELLS GROUP
GROUPNETAn international collaboration platform for the Ragn-Sells Group to enable a better business dialogue and to strengthen our identity. Here is your GroupNet (the link may vary depending on the country you’re in):
http://groupnet.ragnsells.net/ http://groupnet/
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It was one of the large-scale international events hosted during the Latvian presi- dency of the Council of the European Union and it integrated the presidency’s priorities: Competitive Europe, Digital Eu-rope, Engaged Europe.
The Baltic Sea Forum has taken place annually since 2009 and was held in Latvia for the first time. The EU Strategy for the
Baltic Sea Region was adopted during the Swedish presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2009. The strategy is a cooperation between the EU’s Baltic Sea states and has three key objectives: save the sea, connect the region and increase pros-perity. A revised action plan for the Baltic Sea Strategy was expected to be adopted by the Forum.
RAGN-SELLS LATVIA
CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIA OF SWEDEN VISITED RAGN-SELLS IN RIGAOn June 15th, Ragn-Sells Latvia hosted an official visit from Her Royal Highness Swedish Crown Princess, Victoria.The Crown Princess attended the VI Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, which took place in Dzintari Concert Hall in Jurmala June 15 to 16. Pär Larshans, the new sustainability director for Sweden, also participated in this event.
RAGN-SELLS UNITED 1st ISSUE 2015
RAGN-SELLS SWEDEN
20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SWEDISH WETLAND FOUNDATION
This year the Swedish Wetland Foundation celebrates 20 years. Ragn-Sells’ commitment to the fund started in 2002 when Ragn-Sells Wetland Scholarship was instituted.
In May, Erik Sellberg presented the award to this year’s two winners; Per Hjärp and Torbjörn Åhman, who both work for Holmen’s Forestry. They are passionate about birds, fish, forests and nature, and both play an active role in the restoration of wetlands.
The prize aims to promote conservation and focus the attention of media and envi-ronmental managers on the importance of wetlands. Water is the very foundation of life, and the key to keeping the eco-cycle healthy! Since the fund was established, 700 wet-lands have been created on a total of 7000 hectares.
Ragn-Sells has a long-term commitment to water issues. Besides the wetland founda-tion, we are one of the founders of the Stock-holm Water Prize.
Sustainable water management is a central concern, the cornerstones of which are Terra Futura™, Rent Dagvatten (Pure Storm water), and the acquisition of FriGeo and Chromafora. As a Group, the Baltic Sea
provides an important connection, adding an extra important dimension to our husbandry of the water and eco-cycles.
Her Royal Highness Swedish Crown Princess Victoria visited Riga the 15th of June.
The Swedish wetland foundation aims to stimulate conservation and targets media and environmental managers’ attention to the importance of wetlands.
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RAGN-SELLS GROUP
STEP COMPETITION CREATES FELLOWSHIP ACROSS BORDERS
This spring, Ragn-Sells employees in all of the Group’s countries have been taking part in a step competition. The goal was to create fellowship across borders.
– The step competition was very motivational and provided an opportunity to learn a little bit more about the other countries in the Group. It has generated interest in each other and an appreciation that we are all one company, says Kaire Soovik, HR Manager in Estonia.
To invigorate the process of change, and empha-sise how we can act as “One Company”, a step competition was launched this spring. It was open to all employees in every country, letting them challenge each other and themselves. The challenge was also intended to highlight health-care within the Group.
The competition, organised in cooperation with Tappa, started on 22nd April and ran until 4th June. Employees could join in groups of two to eight people. All participants were equipped with a pedometer and then started to collect steps. A lot of teams participated in the com-petition. Some were from Estonia, and saw the contest as a way of training together.
– We think that this was a very good initia-tive. This kind of activity, which involves a large number of employees, is of great benefit to the whole Group. It engages people, and gives us the chance to get to know each other better. For example, we found out that our co-workers like a range of different sports, and that we are much more athletic than we had previously thought! says Kaire Soovik, HR Manager in Estonia
The Estonian co-workers encouraged each other with shared bicycle tours and invited each other to different Championships, for example in extreme sports like trekking, mountain biking and canoeing.
– All participants had a different approach; some did extra sports activities for their team, and some just posted their results to the Tappa website each day.
Another benefit with the competition, ac-cording to Kaire Soovik, was that it increased people’s motivation to work.
– We know that healthy employees are happy employees. And happy employees means good results for Ragn-Sells.
Hopefully, the step competition created fellowship across borders. It created its own rewards, offering a sense of achievement at personal level and hopefully also creating a team spirit that can be carried over to the professional domain too. However all participants have been competing for Tappa’s own prizes during the competition.
RAGN-SELLS GROUP
NEW CRM SYSTEM TO FACILITATE WORK
Recently, the sales forces in Sweden and Norway started working on a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. The purpose of the new CRM system is to both facilitate and streamline daily work. The new system offers a completely different overview compared to what was provided previously, and facilitates follow-up of work. Its roll-out will include training of the system for all sales people.
– One benefit is that we will be able to bring the CRM system along to customer meetings on an e-reader, to help us handle notes, create agreements, etc. This will facilitate our work and allow us to provide the customer with a faster, better service. The CRM system will help us become a better recycling partner for our customers, says Pär Carlsson, one of the salesmen in Sweden who has received the training and started working with the CRM system.
RAGN-SELLS ONE COMPANY NEWS
EditorialWhat do you think of this newsletter?
Please contact Michael Cederborg, Regional Director for Eastern Europe or Heléne Jansdotter Lindholm, Communication officer.
For Groupnet news and tips, contact web editor Emma Welander or email [email protected]
The Estonian participants in the recently held step competition gained an opportunity to exercise together and also to get to know each other better. In addition to walking and collecting steps, they encouraged each other with shared bicycle tours and invited each other to different Championships, for example in extreme sports like trekking, mountain biking and canoeing.
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RAGN-SELLS UNITED 1st ISSUE 2015
The acquisition in the healthcare waste sector is Lautus SIA, Latvia’s leading healthcare waste collection and trans-portation company. Over 800 tonnes are handled annually and volumes are
increasing. Lautus were pioneers, starting up the business in 1997. Today, the company employs 18 people and has offices and a treatment facility locat-ed in Riga. The company services all of Latvia, with some 1500 clients in total. Main customer groups are institutions that produce potentially hazardous waste, hospitals, GP surgeries and other institutions with medical services, veterinary facilities, schools, laboratories and beauty salons.
Ragn-Sells’ position strengthenedOne of the main reasons for the investment is to establish Ragn-Sells as a knowledgeable company providing a broad and complete product portfolio within the Waste Management segment.
– This complementary acquisition sig-nificantly strengthens our position, not
RAGN-SELLS LATVIA
LATVIA ACQUIRES TWO COMPANIES
Plan to double the turnover of Latvian operations
Within the last 12 months, Ragn-Sells Latvia has acquired two companies within the healthcare waste sector and the drainage and hazardous waste services sector. – The biggest challenge now is to
merge the acquired companies into Ragn-Sells, says Diana Afonina, CEO of Ragn-Sells’ Latvian operations.
only in Latvia but also across the whole Baltic region. It increases our capabilities and compe-tencies and it supports our ambitious plans in Latvia, says Diana Afonina, CEO of Ragn-Sells’ Latvian operations.
The second acquisition made in Latvia is within the drainage and hazardous waste services sector. VKB Serviss SIA, founded in 2001, is one of the leading companies in Latvia operating in this seg-ment. Ragn-Sells bought 100 percent of the shares, and this takeover will significantly strengthen Ragn-Sells position, increase capabilities and competen-cies, and support ambitious plans in Latvia.
VKB Serviss’ main customers are fuel suppliers, industrial companies, local authorities and property managers. The company can offer exclusive techni-cal experience and top level equipment, combined with loyal employees and long-standing industrial customers. Hopefully, this acquisition will cement Ragn-Sells’ position in the industrial waste manage-ment sector.
Sigits Duderis, former owner of VKB Serviss SIA, will stay at the company after its acquisition by Ragn-Sells Latvia. He will be a member of the supervisory board.
Diana Afonina, CEO in Latvia.
Michael Cederborg, Regional Director, Eastern Europe
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RAGN-SELLS GROUP
LEADERSHIP THAT LEADS TO THE FUTUREAn advanced leadership program was initi-ated earlier this year, aimed at top manage-ment within the Ragn-Sells Group, with the goal of ensuring competence in leadership at the highest level.
– Our goal is to double sales in seven years. To be able to achieve this, we need to develop our company. Un-
til now, our efforts have focused on efficiency and production. It is time to secure and develop leadership suit-ed to the type of progressive company we are building, says Erik Sellberg.
The board of directors has a focus on Ragn-Sells as a high-performing company. That is why a professional executive assessment company has been appointed. The Sight Executive Group specialises in identifying and developing top executives as individu-als and as teams. The program is a one-off initiative, and will end in December 2015. This effort is combined with other impor-tant leadership programs in different coun-tries offered by the Ragn-Sells Academy.
There is already a working concept focused on handling organic waste within Ragn-Sells Den-mark. Thanks to the acquisition of NC Miljø, Ragn-Sells will be able to handle larger vol-umes. NC Miljø specialises in the treatment of packaged organic waste and of cooking oil. The company has developed a great concept that now is ready to be rolled out across Denmark. This has been made possible through the financial strength of Ragn-Sells.
In conjunction with the acquisition, Ragn-Sells won two major contracts with super-markets, and will handle waste from all Net-to and Coop supermarkets in Denmark. The acquisition is fully in line with Ragn-Sells’ policy to specialise in transforming waste into new, reusable resources. It follows the company’s overall circular economy strategy, with a strong focus on extending resources.
RAGN-SELLS DENMARK
DENMARK MAKES AN ACQUISITION WITHIN THE ORGANIC WASTE SECTOR
Ragn-Sells Denmark recently purchased the majority stake in the Fyn-based organic waste handling company NC Miljø. The acquisition is a part of a
broader strategy to specialise in Denmark’s organic waste sector.
RAGN-SELLS ONE COMPANY NEWS
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Until 2013, all countries within the Ragn-Sells Group’s were individually respon-sible for the handling, sales, trading and logistics solutions for the most common waste products within their country.
– Each subsidiary company had its own local organisation for sales of raw materials and waste for energy production, sometimes even competing against other Group companies. Work was com-pletely decentralised, and any cross-border work that was done was voluntary, says Lars Pärnebjörk, CEO at Recyclables.
The owners of Ragn-Sells Group decided to start a trading desk that has sole responsibility and authority to sell raw materials for the Ragn-Sells Group.
Working with seven materialsRecyclables AB was founded in January 2013, and since then they have coordinated all sales of raw materials, including waste for energy production. Recyclables is also responsible for procuring deliv-ery logistics for raw materials.
– By handling these aspects centrally, we can offer larger volumes and offer customers better de-livery reliability.
Today, Recyclables has 23 employees across all six Ragn-Sells countries. The company works with seven waste material groups: paper, plastic, wood, metal, fuel, rubber granulate and organic.
– Our mission is to do the best possible business at the best possible price. That includes finding the lowest transportation costs.
The handling of organic waste is a new sector for Recyclables, and they will need to find new custom-ers. Another task is to increase business across all recyclable materials.
– A major challenge is to pick up on local solu-tions that could be used to benefit the whole Group, says Lars Pärnebjörk.
Saving millionsThe formation of Recyclables allows Ragn-Sells to make significant savings.
– Initially, in 2013, this was a key issue, and we were charged with making savings of 50 million Swedish crowns compared to 2012. We managed to save 42.7 million, which was a considerable im-provement.
The goal for 2015 is to save 20.6 million Swedish crowns across the seven material groups.
– That is a great challenge. Another big challenge is to convince people with-
in the Group of the importance of Recyclables. – We are still working on explaining, persuading
and informing others about the need for Recyclables. Hopefully, the whole Group will soon understand the usefulness of Recyclables for the whole compa-ny, says Lars Pärnebjörk.
RAGN-SELLS GROUP
RECYCLABLES WITH WORLDWIDE CUSTOMERS
Each year The Ragn-Sells Group recycles 1.5 tonnes of waste. The raw material that is recycled is sold to customers worldwide. Since 2013,
Recyclables, which acts as a trading desk within the Group, has been selling and transporting all of the raw materials. With the right knowledge, channels
and contacts they have managed to both save millions and bring in new customers that have benefited the entire company.
RAGN-SELLS UNITED 1st ISSUE 2015
Facts Ragn-Sells Recyclables AB
Head office: Väderholmen, Stockholm, Sweden
Employees: 23, across all six countries within the Ragn-Sells Group
Activities: Has the sole responsibility and authority to sell and transport the 1.5 million tonnes of recycled waste that Ragn-Sells handles each year.
Customers: Ragn-Sells recycled waste is sold on a global market, with customers in Scandinavia, Northern Europe, the Baltic countries, Russia and Asia. Storage facilities are located throughout the world, primarily in Europe and Asia.
Handles: Seven waste material groups: paper, plastic, wood, metal, fuel, rubber granulate and organic.
CEO: Lars Pärnebjörk
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RAGN-SELLS ONE COMPANY NEWS
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RAGN-SELLS UNITED 1st ISSUE 2015
RAGN-SELLS POLAND
FOCUS ON QUALITY OF SERVICE IN POLAND
In Poland, Ragn-Sells is trying to stand out from the crowd within the Polish industrial and waste management market. Generally speaking, the company already has a good
RAGN-SELLS ESTONIA
SILVER MEDAL FOR ESTONIAN CSR
The seventh edition of the CSR (Corporate Sustainability and Re-sponsibility) competition takes place in Estonia. This award was set up to recognise companies in-vesting in responsible business in Estonia.
RAGN-SELLS SWEDEN
RAGN-SELLS MILJÖKONSULT MERGES WITH ASKENGREN
Miljökonsult is an independent subsidiary within the Ragn-Sells Group with expertise in the areas of energy and process engineering, environmental, quality, education and working environment. Recent-ly Miljökonsult acquired Askengren & Co and the two companies will now offer a wider range of consult-ing services to a larger geographic market.
CSR is designed to help companies define, evaluate and monitor their economic, social and environmental impact. It enables them to receive feedback and compare their re-sults with other companies, identifying fu-ture development needs to ensure long-term success.
Companies were able to apply for the award. Applications were approximately 30 pages long, and included a business strategy, integration of CRM principles, issues man-agement, stakeholder reporting and commu-nication.
There were two categories of award: one for small companies, and one for large com-panies. Three different prizes were awarded in each category: gold, silver and bronze. Ragn-Sells won silver in the large company category. Ragn-Sells was the only waste man-agement company in the competition.
Ragn-Sells Miljökonsult has experienced positive growth in recent years, but wanted a presence in all the markets where Ragn-Sells Group operates. In May 2015, Miljökonsult acquired Askengren, a consulting company based in Gothenburg and a well-established player in the sustainability consultancy sec-tor. Both Miljökonsult and Askengren have been marketing their own web-based sys-tems for compliance with environmental and working environment legislation. Now, the two systems will merge into one and become the largest on the market.
– We have looked at several different companies and found Askengren & Co to be a very interesting prospect. They have exper-tise in quality assurance and improvement, and have established training activities, says Daniel Doeser, CEO at Ragn-Sells Miljökon-sult.
The acquisition will see Ragn-Sells Mil-jökonsult increase from 40 to 70 employees.
reputation, but in order to make it even bet-ter the Polish company focuses on the every-day quality of its service. Questions, issues or enquiries from customers are all handled or resolved within 24 hours.
In fact, most of the top corporate cli-ents in Poland benefit from Ragn-Sells key accounts department, who are either in di-rect contact with daily customer operations or have their offices inside clients’ produc-tion premises. This not only allows for better identification and integration, it also helps us to understand the possibilities behind complex production processes. This is espe-cially important in providing services to com-plex or technologically advanced customers who need instant answers to their material management questions.
Rainer Pesti (centre) and the rest of the Estonian Ragn-Sells employees received an honourable award for their CSR strategy earlier this year. Marko Siller (left), Head of CSR Estonia, and Hanno Tomberg (right), CEO of Enterprise Estonia.
Daniel Doeser, CEO at Ragn-Sells Miljökonsult, welcomes Lars Askengren, CEO at Askengren & Co, to the Ragn-Sells Group.
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RAGN-SELLS ONE COMPANY NEWS
The new IT service company at Ragn-Sells Group level, RSGIT, has been operation-al for almost five months.
A special newsletter has been pub-lished on Groupnet, with information
about ongoing IT projects. Here are some of the solutions worth high-
lighting:
NetshopA group solution for a Netshop was launched in Norway in 2014 and has been a success. The same solution will be launched in Sweden.
Bente Åsen Sørum, head of sales and market-ing in Ragn-Sells Norway, is very happy:
– April was a real hit for our netshop! We are close to 1.1 million in revenue compared to last year’s 518,000 NOK. We wish Sweden the very best of luck, as you enter the netshop arena!
Common Group InfrastructureOffice 365 has been implemented in the Cloud in Sweden, Latvia and Estonia. It is scheduled to be rolled out to the rest of the group. Lync (Skype for business) is up and running so we can
join on-line meetings and share presentations from different locations within the group.
Customer PortalThis is also a group solution and was launched in Sweden and Norway in 2014. The Customer Portal for Denmark is going live soon!
– This an important step in making us more competitive. Working together in the Group as we have done is a strength. It feels great to have come this far as we are running several, parallel projects. The response from the first customers using the Customer Portal has been positive so far, says Henrik Skogh, responsible for sales in Sweden.
GroupnetDuring 2015, an upgrade will be carried out, including a facelift of the existing intranet solutions we have within the Ragn-Sells Group and its countries.
– Please send us any interesting news, says the Swedish communication team who are editing Groupnet.
RAGN-SELLS GROUP
IT AS A HUB FOR A MORE PROGRESSIVE RAGN-SELLS
One of the first targets for the One Company mission was to develop a smart IT strategy. – Having different IT solutions within the Group was clearly
unproductive. That is why recruiting Maria Gustafsson as a leader and implementer for the new IT strategy was such an important
step towards the future, says Erik Sellberg.
The Nordic walking event,a 120-kilometre walk around the island of Bornholm, takes place on 8th August.
RAGN-SELLS POLAND
RS POLAND SUPPORTS A CHARITY RUN AROUND BORNHOLM
Ragn-Sells Poland wants to foster close connections with society, according to CEO Wieslaw Cieplinski.
– We particularly want our participa-tion to offer real added value. Recently, we have lent our support to Ada Szklarz, a former employee who has decided to combine her passion for active living with raising awareness of triumph over life’s adversities, says Wieslaw Cleplinski.
Ada and her friend Iza, who are both transplant recipients, are hosting a Nordic Walking event, which involves a 120-kilo-metre walk around the island of Bornholm on 16th August.
The purpose of this charity event is to show that people that who have had to overcome severe setbacks in life, such as needing an organ transplant, are important and capable members of society.
There has been interest and support from the media and from other firms. In-terestingly, so far no one has carried out a Nordic walk around Bornholm as a sin-gle event. The Transplant Nordic walkers plan to do it in seven days.
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After more than 12 months of intense planning and producing supports for the campaign, the Value & Brand journey went public in Swe-den on 23rd April.
– The first step focused on recruitment activity to boost overall awareness of the journey ahead and to find dedicated and energetic employees willing to take a leading role in the introductory phase, which includes the various training programs that will be deployed during the autumn of 2015, says Henrik Samuelson, Communications Director and Program Director for the Value & Brand journey.
After a campaign lasting just one month, a total of 424 ambassadors, known as “Certified Ragnars”, signed up on the micro site www.alltborjarhar.se. In all, just over 2000 unique visitors have been to the site – an extraordinary total that clearly indicates that the vast majority of employees have been con-sulting the information that has been made avail-able.
– For the time being, the project team is working on the educational platform that will be activated after the summer break, aimed at increasing the “Ragnars’” understanding of the company’s long term goals and financial status and, of course,
teaching them how to pass on their knowledge about the essence of the value journey and why it is vital for the future performance of the company, says Henrik Samuelson.
A large-scale program will also be launched this autumn, targeting all managers with staff re-sponsibilities. Ragn-Sells Sustainability Director, Pär Larshans, and Kristina Eklund Nielsen, head of strategic learning at Ragn-Sells, will be in charge of this plan. The project has a steering group delega-tion, represented by Rain Vääna, Bente Sørum, Argo Rannamets and Cecilie Lind. Norway is likely to be the next country to embark on the Value & Brand journey.
– The matter will be discussed during a strategic meeting held in mid-June, with some sort of launch most likely taking place this autumn. However, it is too early to define the scope of such a launch.
A clear signal has been sent regarding the Baltic regions, which is that no activities will take place in 2015. There is a clear understanding in the project group that additional time is needed, as the Baltic regions have been running a similar successful, pro-fessional campaign for a long time, which will need to be synchronised with the new initiative.
RAGN-SELLS SWEDEN
VALUE & BRAND JOURNEY LAUNCHED IN SWEDEN
How do you change the mindset and cultural behaviour in an organisation spread across approximately 70 sites in Sweden, with a total of 1700 employees? The answer for
Ragn-Sells was to recruit dedicated, energetic colleagues willing to take an early lead and coach others to join the value and brand journey. In April, a massive internal
campaign was launched and within 20 days a total of 424 persons decided to join – we call them Certified Ragnars.
