Empowering Nolato Talents Through the UN’s SDG Innovation Program

As an active participant of the UN Global Compact, Nolato has long championed innovative sustainable solutions that align and support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. In this context, the company was invited to participate in the UNGC’s Nordic SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals 2025, with three employees from the Nolato Group selected to participate. 

The three chosen high-performing young Nolato employees are respectively from Nolato's Swedish companies in Lomma, Hörby, and the Cerbo facility in Trollhättan.  Although the young talents have a mentor at their disposal, they enjoy a great deal of self-determination over which activities and direction they take in connection with the program. The focal point of Nolato´s project within this program is the creation of circular solutions, including a specific initiative in setting up a program to be able to re-use production equipment that promote more sustainable resource use. 

Maja Tagesson, Nolato MediTech-Hörby, Alexander Säreborn, Nolato Cerbo and Jenny Biver, Engagement Manager at UN Global Compact Network Sweden.

“Having our young talents participate in the SDG innovation Accelerator is rewarding for the participants, but also of great value to our organization. As a responsible employer, we strive to ensure that growth opportunities and professional development are accessible and tangible to all our employees. This is a great opportunity for these three young professionals to grow both professionally and personally and also undertake new projects that lie outside their regular work responsibilities, while gaining new tools and knowledge that they can leverage throughout their careers. We are following their journey closely and are excited for the inspiration, insights, and knowledge they can share with the rest of us,” says Kristian Sandberg, Sustainability Manager at Nolato.

The SDG innovation Accelerator is designed to empower young talent within companies to drive business innovation that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through collaboration. It runs for eight  months alongside participants’ regular work responsibilities, and there is a requirement that participants must be under the age of 35. In the program, participants learn to create and apply innovative solutions, applying a design thinking methodology and combining  advanced technologies, with sustainable business models to accelerate business innovation towards the SDGs.

“While the immediate outcome of the SDG Innovation Accelerator is the innovative solution each team develops, the true long-term impact lies in shaping a new generation of changemakers. We want participants to leave with a breakthrough mindset, equipped to navigate complex sustainability challenges, ask better questions, and apply innovative thinking where it’s needed most. One key lesson we’ve emphasized from the start is: love the problem. Only by deeply understanding the root of a challenge can we ensure that the solution truly meets a real need. Even the most brilliant idea won’t have impact if it solves the wrong problem,” concludes Jenny Biver, Engagement Manager at UNGC Sweden.