We focus on sustainability within all our fields of business.

Through board representation, Rasmussen participates in the companies’ work within environmental, social and business ethics-related issues (ESG).

Sustainability perspectives are also a part of the grounds for decision-making when considering new investments.

We carry out our own ESG evaluations, whilst at the same time applying evaluations carried out by other parties. For example, Rasmussengruppen has chosen not to invest in companies which are excluded from the Oil Fund investment universe.

Rasmussengruppen will ensure compliance with the obligations stipulated in the Transparency Act, which came into force on 1 July 2022.

Real Estate

Avantor – environmentally friendly before, now and forever

Focus on the environment has been a central theme for Avantor from as early as when the company began the development of Nydalen at the start of the 1990s.

Environmental issues

Avantor has constructed an environmentally-friendly energy plant in Nydalen in Oslo, supplying remote heating and remote cooling based on heat pump and geothermal technology. The energy plant was commissioned back in 2003, and at that time was one of the largest in northern Europe.

In 2014, Avantor constructed an additional energy plant in Nydalen to cover the increasing need for environmentally-friendly energy. When this area is fully developed, Avantor’s energy plants will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 4500 tonnes a year, corresponding to emissions from around 3300 fossil fuel powered vehicles.

Vertikal Nydalen (street address Gullhaug Torg 2A) is a new business and housing project incorporating innovative environmental solutions, which will be completed in 2023. The environmental project is being carried out in collaboration with Snøhetta and Skanska. Vertikal Nydalen is part of FutureBuilt, an innovation programme and ‘store window’ for the most ambitious operators in the construction industry. FutureBuilt projects will exceed the UN’s sustainability goals and Paris goals, and will always reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 50% in relation to normal practice. Vertikal Nydalen will be the first combination building in Norway with natural ventilation. The aim is to avoid purchasing energy for ventilation, heating and cooling. This will be achieved through the use of solar panels and low-temperature heat pump systems with geothermal technology.
For further information: vertikalnydalen.no


At Slemmestad in Asker, environment and sustainability will be key themes when Avantor develops a former industrial area into housing and business areas. A comprehensive environmental strategy has been drawn up for the project, which is comprised of around 100 000 square metres of housing areas and around 55 000 square metres of business areas.
For further information: slemmestadbrygge.no

Focus on the environment is an ongoing project with advancing ambitions, and it represents a central element in the company’s property development plans. Avantor was the first private property company in Norway to be environmentally certified according to ISO 14001, and the company is a central operator in the Green Building Alliance.

 

 

In 2021, Avantor developed a new environmental strategy for 2021-2023. In the strategy, the company focuses on six of the UN’s sustainability goals that Avantor can influence to the greatest degree.

For each of the sustainability goals, Avantor has set up its own separate, specific goals to be reached before the end of 2023, along with long-term goals for 2030.

Avantor will perform an annual analysis to intercept any changes that can be significant for development. In this way, the company will always remain updated and ready to perform at its best to achieve both its own and UN goals. For further information: www.avantor.no/miljo

 

 

Social issues

Avantor offers equal opportunities to all employees, regardless of their background, and the company has zero tolerance regarding discrimination. Employees of Avantor and its suppliers represent many nationalities. Avantor is an Inclusive Workplace company. Wage-related differences within the company are based on responsibility, skills, efficacy and input.

Business ethics issues

Avantor’s enterprises have consequences that tangibly affect society. The company is therefore dependent on trust from customers, suppliers, public authority agencies and society in general. Avantor has adopted and implemented ethical guidelines designed to safeguard this trust.

The company’s ethical guidelines are adopted by the Board of Directors each year and apply to all employees and board members of Avantor.

Offshore

Shearwater

Via a modern fleet, effective operations and its technological solutions, Shearwater reduces its own and cooperating partners’ greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, Shearwater’s technology will be important, among other things, for the development of carbon capture solutions.

Environmental issues

The Shearwater group owns and operates modern seismic acquisition vessels, which chart possible natural oil and gas resources. The company has a strong focus on ESG, including six of the UN’s sustainability goals.

 

 

As the owner of the world’s largest and most modern fleet of advanced seismic acquisition vessels, Shearwater recognises its responsibility for the environment and works continually to minimise the negative impact of its activities. The company’s ambitions go further than merely satisfying regulatory requirements and guidelines for the industry. The company has made the decision to permanently adopt the use of Marine Gas Oil (MGO) fuel instead of using the cheaper and more polluting Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO). Modern ships use less fuel than older ships and are thereby more environmentally friendly. The size of the fleet allows for optimal allocation of assignments, thereby minimising transit between assignments. Reduced transit has a direct, positive effect on emissions.

Shearwater is a leading seismic technology company, and several of the solutions directly contribute to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. For example, Monowing, based on proprietary technology, is a solution that reduces resistance in water, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Seismic technology is increasingly used in mapping and monitoring of areas for carbon storage.

 

Social issues

Shearwater offers equal opportunities to all employees, regardless of their background, and the company has zero tolerance for discrimination. Diverse backgrounds and experience among employees are positive for innovation and this enhances business related decisions. Employees in Shearwater represent in total 74 nationalities.

Shearwater supports the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UNs Global Compact, UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the standards of international employee organisations. The company complies with all of these laws and principles and incorporates them in contracts with subcontractors.

 

Business ethics issues

Shearwater considers business ethics issues to be critical to commercial success and long-term value creation. The company has therefore implemented guidelines and procedures designed to ensure that the company is operated in the best possible manner. This includes transparency, responsibility and ethical conduct, and Shearwater follows all laws and regulations in the markets in which the company operates. The company has implemented a Code of Conduct, which specifies the principles for conduct and business practice. This applies equally to board members, management, employees, hired personnel, consultants and agents.

Finance

Financial investments

Rasmussengruppen invests in a number of companies, both those in an early phase and more established companies in which Rasmussengruppen is not a majority owner. Companies that are a part of Rasmussengruppen’s portfolio of financial investments work independently on ESG within their own respective industries.

Among the companies that are a part of the portfolio of financial investments, there are several that are working on innovative solutions that support several of the UN’s sustainability goals. These include Nykode Therapeutics, a company working on vaccines for cancer treatment and treatment of several other conditions, N2 Applied, which develops technology designed to reduce emissions from agriculture, and Nordic Aquafarms Europe AS and Nordic Aquafarms Group AS, both of whom develop land-based fish farming close to consumer markets in both Europe and the USA. Land-based fish farming leads to less environmental impact in the ocean and also contributes to reducing CO2 emissions, as a result of a reduced need for air freight of fish.

Social responsibility

Social responsibility

Rasmussengruppen’s most significant societal contribution is by contributing with private risk capital, for establishment and further development of new and existing enterprises.

In addition, we provide direct financial support to organisations and projects that are associated with several of the UN’s sustainability goals.

We provide annual financial support to organisations and sports associations who work to include children and young people that have limited funds available to take part in sports and other recreational activities.

We provide financial support – both ongoing and on a single-case basis – to organisations offering assistance to persons that for various reasons have a need for help, in Norway and other countries.

Some examples of Rasmussengruppen’s financial contributions to civil society:

Financial support for a number of years to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).

NOK 10 million to the Covax collaboration, which works to ensure that Covid-19 vaccine also reaches poorer countries.

NOK 7.5 million to establish a neuroscience laboratory and research environment at the University of Agder (UiA).

NOK 10 million in support to various organisations that work on improving the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

NOK 10 million for the purchase of acoustic modelling in Kilden Concert Hall.

Significant financial contributions in connection with the construction of Sør Arena in Kristiansand.

Financial contributions to House of Math, which provides supplementary education in mathematics to certain secondary schools in Kristiansand.