"Sustainable preparedness can be crucial"

Rapidly increasing competence and developing "sustainable preparedness" at all levels can be crucial for our time of destiny.

This is what Lars Hedström, international advisor in total defense and Joakim Netz, Assistant Professor Work Organisation at the School of Engineering (JTH) at Jönköping University write on DI Debatt.

Read their debate article below.

"Sustainability criteria and deeply rooted norms among financial and pension actors continue to inhibit investment in the defense industry," Edward Hamilton and Anna Rennéus Guthri recently pointed out . This description resonates with investors in the upper echelons of society as the industry struggles to incorporate - not necessarily remove - sustainability principles for investment in readiness and defense innovation.

There are good reasons to dismantle the administration of sustainability that counter the needs of Swedish industry to grow total defense. The reverse should be equally important. As Gunnar Hökmark concludes in the Free World report A Backward Industry: "It is time for a debate on the activist attitude that puts the defense of democracy in opposition to democracy and human rights and freedoms and that threatens the principles of sustainability. Because there are reasons to quickly bring sustainability expertise and knowledge into preparedness and defense innovation.

Increasing resilience

In Ukraine, this is being done. In construction and repair preparedness, materials are being reused, for increased resilience, which is strengthened by the benefits of the circular economy. Reduced impact on the environment is a bonus.

Circular construction and repair readiness shows how the many different sectors of the supply chain can and should incorporate sustainability principles. These do not inhibit capital for innovations but enable them and thus investment opportunities. Why are there still relatively few investments in products and services that address both sustainability and preparedness?

Knowledge of sustainability is not lacking

Knowledge about sustainability is certainly not lacking. Research we have done with colleagues in the Formas-funded InnoLab project also describes how knowledge about preparedness has increased. The expertise in both areas has remained introverted to the specialized agendas of policy makers: sustainability is sustainability and preparedness is preparedness. This reflects a dominant idea in Swedish society. We see it in both business and government. And more research and studies are needed. Because most of us do not understand the new playing field where sustainability principles in preparedness and defense innovation bring benefits.

Few exceptions

Exceptions exist, and they are important but few. They arose during the pandemic, where the resource waste of protective clothing became an innovation issue of how socially critical but contaminated products can be reused. Trioworld invested and solved the problem. Pipettes are another example, where the reuse of plastics provides increased supply to meet demand in times of societal crisis and reduces the environmental impact of the pre-war period we are experiencing now.

More experiments are underway across Sweden and industries such as food, textiles and forestry. This is of course good. But the players are few. So too are investments, despite the fact that gains are seen in both economic and environmental effects while lives can be saved.

Can be crucial

Rapidly increasing 'sustainable preparedness' skills at all levels now could be crucial for our time of destiny. One need not exclude the other. But understanding the new complex logic between sustainability and preparedness requires dialog. That dialogue can make a difference is well documented by research, as competence increases when people understand more of the complex connections between different areas of expertise that are new to them. Regulations on sustainability, like preparedness, are part of this competence issue.

Our society needs more productive dialogues to better understand sustainable preparedness. Then perhaps more sustainability principles in preparedness and defense innovation will become investments for both resilience and competitiveness."