This week's inspirer is Per Friberg, CEO of Nordic LeatherGroup, a company that for many years has "not just talked about social sustainability" but fully applied it in everyday life and work! Read more here and be inspired by Per's experiences and reflections.

Social sustainability is often mentioned as a soft issue. How can you link it to your business strategy and competitiveness?

For us, social sustainability is not about an extra cost, but about maximizing the potential of people who would otherwise be excluded. Including these individuals in our workforce gives us access to a unique talent pool and creates an engagement that directly impacts our productivity and innovation. It gives us a strong 'why', which not only strengthens our internal culture but also makes us more competitive globally. Our example shows that a company can grow and succeed by nurturing people and their unique talents.

How can other businesses benefit from social sustainability, is it difficult?

No, the most important thing is to start. Identify roles in your business where people on the margins can make a difference without requiring major investment. Many underestimate the potential of individuals who do not follow the norm, but by creating the right match between individual and task, the result can be unexpectedly positive.

What challenges have you faced when working on social sustainability?

One of the biggest challenges has been getting the whole organization to understand why social sustainability matters. It can be difficult to change ingrained mindsets and routines. But when we started to show tangible results, both in terms of increased productivity and stronger team cohesion, more people started to understand the value.

What would you say to companies that are still skeptical about social sustainability?

I would say that social sustainability is not only about doing good for society, it is also a smart business strategy. When you invest in people who have been marginalized, you get loyal and motivated employees who can often bring more than you expect. In the long run, this strengthens company cohesion and innovation. Working on these issues not only makes us more competitive, it also creates a working environment where everyone feels they contribute and make a difference.

Can social sustainability affect our global competitiveness?

Sweden faces a challenge if we do not learn to better utilize the potential of people who fall outside the norm. We cannot and will not compete with the wages and working conditions that prevail in the world, but we can use labor that society today indirectly already pays for. Many of these individuals have strengths that neither you nor I can match - they can be incredibly persistent, extremely accurate, fast or have outstanding focus. To maintain our global competitiveness, we need to stop wasting this talent and instead create opportunities for them to be part of the workforce.

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