theceomagazine.com | 93Camfil describes itself as the Rolls-Royce
of air filtration. However, this reputation
comes with a price. “Because of the quality
of our products, our pricing is higher than
some of our competitors’. Due to a lack of
industry standards, it’s very easy for cheap,
uneconomical and unsustainable air filters to
enter the market, particularly in Asia. We are
working with non-government organisations,
environmental agencies such as the Singapore
Green Building Council, and other national
agencies, to increase awareness of the
necessity of clean air, and to implement
industry standards so everyone is on a level
playing field,” explains Suresh.
“It’s also a matter of educating people
to make the right choice by investing in
a reputable air filtration system with low
energy consumption. This ambition stems
back to Camfil’s founders wanting to give
back to society through our products, and it
starts with the younger generation. They are
already more socially and environmentally
aware than those before them and we hope
they’ll go on to work for an organisation
with a social cause and choose an established
company like Camfil to take care of their air.By pushing for change and awareness like
this, we are giving back to the community
and the planet at the same time.”
Passed down through the same Swedish
family for more than 50 years, Camfil has
developed a tight-knit Scandinavian culture
that is felt across all continents. “We are flat
and consistent, and we respect our employees
and suppliers. They drive the business and
share our ethical commitment to society and
the environment. We involve our employees
and suppliers in the R&D process and our
commitment to them is strong,” says Suresh.
“This is why we’re able to work with global
companies such as General Electric, Intel,
P&G, Nestlé and Unilever, as well as some
of the top hospitals in the world. We have an
ethical culture, a social cause and innovative
products that are recognised globally.”
The striving for clean air is universal, and
so is Camfil’s appeal. Suresh believes that it’s
the company’s refusal to rest on its laurels
that truly sets it apart. “Camfil products are
the benchmark for the industry – it’s one of
our biggest strengths. We employ some of the
best brains in the business, we continuously
upgrade our factories and we have the latest
high-tech equipment,” explains Suresh. “This
R&D focus has driven us forward for more
than 50 years, and it still does today.”
Camfil’s internal sustainability efforts
are yet another indication of the company’s
mission to give back to society and the
environment. “A lot of companies do
corporate social responsibility activities,
but for us, it is much more. We are a green
company and we are proud to say that no
other air filtration company has achieved a
track record like ours,” says Suresh. Looking
ahead, Camfil will continue to expand across
the Asia–Pacific, with a strong focus on the
food, pharmaceutical, microelectronics and
healthcare industries. Despite being home to
some of the world’s most notorious polluters,
Suresh believes Asia is more than willing to
accept Camfil’s help and increase efforts to
clear the air in years to come.THE WHO ESTIMATES THAT
NEARLY 90% OF AIR POLLUTION-
RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN LOW-
AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES,
WITH 2 OUT OF 3 OCCURRING
IN SOUTH EAST ASIA AND THE
WESTERN PACIFIC REGIONS.
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