Steel will remain a vital part of the world’s infrastructure for generations to come. With that comes a responsibility - not just to deliver value, but to do so in a way that respects the planet. At Ovako, we believe this starts with a purpose.

That’s why we created The Ovako Way - our way of uniting strategy, values, and action to create steel for a decarbonized society. At the heart of this effort is a clear statement that explains not only what we stand for, but why it matters:

"Decarbonization isn’t just about saving the planet. It signifies choosing the right path forward - ensuring profitability, becoming a more attractive employer, capturing the sales opportunity of a century, and ultimately, doing the morally right thing.”

But a statement alone isn’t enough. Just like an architectural blueprint, it only becomes real when people start building. So, the next step was to embed these values across the organization - early, deeply, and meaningfully.

The Ovako Way Challenge
To make The Ovako Way resonate across all our sites, we launched an internal challenge - designed to be engaging, participatory, and even fun. All employees received a personal invitation and a specially designed booklet, guiding them to take part in a web-based challenge that included:

▪ A short film explaining our strategy and purpose
▪ A values-based quiz
▪ A chance to digitally sign The Ovako Way statement

So far, over 2 000 employees have signed – a powerful demonstration of
shared commitment.

The power of the O-sign
But we wanted to go even further. Enter the O-sign challenge - a unifying photo activity inviting employees to physically express their support by forming an “O” with their arms and hands.

The O-symbol carries more than one meaning. It stands for Ovako, for zero accidents, zero emissions, and for circularity - but also for:

▪ Openness to change
▪ Optimism for the future
▪ Ownership of our role in the transition
▪ Okay – as a universal sign of support, confidence, and alignment
▪ Oneness – representing the strength of a united organization

Thousands of O-sign photos are now being shared internally and externally - making our values visible, real, and human.

A living commitment
What started as an internal activation is now turning outward. As theovakoway.com platform becomes public, we’ll share our story - from strategy to real-life actions - with customers, partners, and industry peers.

Because The Ovako Way is not a slogan. It’s a living commitment embedded at every level of our company. It’s how we lead by example in creating steel for a decarbonized society – and how we help build a better, safer future for everyone.