SKF – Yuqian Xu – 2025

Summary

Yuqian Xu evaluated the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance of SKF China’s Ningbo factory (NGBC) against the company’s 2025 ESG roadmap, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and actionable recommendations. She also engaged in an EPD project using the LCA method.

Goals

SKF China has launched an ESG roadmap in June 2025 to guide sustainable practices across its operations. To assess the manufacturing phase’s alignment with these goals, Yuqian was tasked with:
1. Evaluating NGBC’s ESG performance using SKF’s roadmap criteria.
2. Supporting the development of EPDs for two bearing products through LCA data collection and analysis.

Solutions

Yuqian employed a structured methodology to deliver actionable insights:
1. Framework Development:
-Translated SKF’s ESG roadmap into measurable criteria for factory-level assessment.
2. Data Collection & Engagement:
-Conducted 13 interviews with 21 colleagues across EHS, Supply Chain, R&D, and other departments.

• Performed on-site observations at NGBC to validate data and assess operational practices.
  3. Analysis & Recommendations:
• Benchmarked NGBC’s performance against industry standards, identifying 4 strengths (e.g., environmental initiatives, employee care) and 2 improvement areas (governance, social responsibility).
• Proposed 7 tailored recommendations, such as empowering female employees and leveraging AI for knowledge retention.
  4. EPD Project Contribution:
  -Collaborated with suppliers to collect Scope 1’3 emissions data for cradle-to-grave LCA, enabling transparent environmental disclosures.

Potential Impact

Yuqian’s research provides SKF China with a comprehensive evaluation of NGBC’s ESG performance. The findings not only help NGBC refine its ESG strategy but also serve as a practical case study for SKF’s broader value chain, demonstrating how the manufacturing phase can align with the SKF China ESG roadmap and the company’s sustainability goal.