Meet our summer worker - Pontus
Every summer we welcome a large number of summer workers who play a vital role – to keep our production running smoothly and helping us create sustainable packaging for a better tomorrow. This time, we meet Pontus Granlund, who has been working as a Sustainability Specialist at our head office in Solna, Sweden.
Tell us about yourself. What do you do at Billerud?
"My name is Pontus, and I have worked as a Sustainability Specialist intern in Solna. I was born and raised in Skellefteå, Sweden, and moved to Stockholm for my studies. The fall of 2024, I'll be starting the final year of my master’s program in Business & Management at the Stockholm School of Economics. When I'm not working or studying, I enjoy spending time with friends, playing badminton, or going for a run."
What's it like to work as a Sustainability Specialist at Billerud?"
"As a Sustainability Specialist, I have the opportunity to both support and lead my own projects within Sustainability & Public Affairs. Currently, I’m working on electricity tax calculations, benchmarking our emissions, and reporting the climate impact of our products according to a brand-new reporting model. My workdays were therefore very varied and can include everything from attending meetings and compiling documents to analyzing data in Excel and preparing presentation materials in PowerPoint. The role requires a lot of independent work and has given me a steep learning curve, where I constantly deepened my knowledge of the industry and the sustainability field."
What sparked your interest in applying for a summer job with us?
"This was my first summer at Billerud. I became interested in Billerud as an employer when I wrote my bachelor’s thesis on sustainability reporting and have since been impressed by the company’s sustainability efforts. Personally, I’ve always had a strong interest in sustainability, and when I saw the summer job advertisement, I immediately felt that I wanted to take the opportunity to work for a company where I can develop in this area and contribute positively through my work."
Tell us about something you learned or discovered about Billerud?
"I quickly realized how central sustainability is at Billerud and how many people are working on it in various ways, to a greater or lesser extent. Through my work, I’ve connected with colleagues from many different departments and gained insight into how sustainability is integrated into various parts of the organization. I’ve also gained a deeper understanding of the paper and packaging industry and the sustainability challenges and opportunities the sector faces. It’s inspiring to be part of a company that is actively addressing the challenges society faces today."
What were you most looking forward to before starting your summer job?
"I looked forward to getting to know the organization and all my new colleagues. I also hoped to contribute meaningfully to the company through my work, while developing my knowledge in the field of sustainability."