Klarna, the Swedish fintech innovator renowned for its “buy now, pay later” model, has taken another step in its sustainability journey by appointing Salah Said as Director of Sustainability ESG.
“It’s been an incredible journey so far, and I’m proud of what we've accomplished in embedding sustainability and ESG principles into the core of our work,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to this next chapter — continuing to drive impact, challenge norms, and shape a more responsible future.
“Grateful to my amazing team and colleagues who make this work meaningful every day.”
Salah Said’s sustainability journey
Salah brings more than a decade of experience in sustainability, social innovation and corporate responsibility to his new role at Klarna.
With a background that spans work in nonprofits, social entrepreneurship and major European corporations, Salah’s approach is rooted in systemic change and collaboration. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & Sociology from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and has previously held senior sustainability roles at Zalando, SAP and SCHUFA.
Salah’s career has been defined by a drive to bridge the gap between corporate interests and environmental responsibility.
“I've been in sustainability for a bit more than 12 years now,” he said.
“Before that, I was working a lot in nonprofits, social innovation, social businesses and entrepreneurship and I felt it was always so hard to get corporates to do more.
“I felt there was a need to change things from within. So, sustainability was a great opportunity for me to go and do a little bit of entrepreneurship and help companies do better.”
At Klarna, he is known for championing collaborative solutions, emphasising that sustainability should not be a competitive advantage but a shared mission across industries.
Klarna’s sustainability strategy
Klarna’s sustainability strategy is comprehensive and forward-thinking, aiming to achieve net zero emissions across its value chain by 2040 – a target independently validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
The company’s approach is built on several pillars:
- Internal carbon tax: Klarna has implemented a pioneering internal carbon fee, applying differentiated rates to Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. In 2023 alone, this initiative generated US$2m, with a total of US$7m raised since 2021. These funds are channeled into the Climate Transformation Fund (CTF), supporting climate projects worldwide.
- Beyond-offsetting approach: Rather than simply offsetting emissions, Klarna’s internal carbon fee supports a portfolio of high-impact climate projects, including durable carbon removal, nature restoration, and decarbonization. This strategy aligns with the latest ‘Beyond Value Chain Mitigation’ guidance, setting a new standard in corporate climate action.
- Consumer empowerment: Klarna empowers its users to make sustainable choices through tools like the CO₂e Emissions Tracker – adopted by more than 7 million consumers – and by highlighting retail partners offering circular services and resale options.
- Transparency and accountability: An internal dashboard allows Klarna employees to track emissions data at the department and vendor level, fostering a culture of shared responsibility and continuous improvement.
Net Zero Award at the Global Sustainability Awards
Klarna’s sustainability efforts have not gone unnoticed.
In 2024, the company was honored with the prestigious Net Zero Award at the Global Sustainability & ESG Awards, hosted by Sustainability Magazine. This accolade recognises Klarna’s significant progress, including a 25% reduction in combined Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in 2023 compared to the previous year, and its innovative financing mechanisms for climate solutions.
The award ceremony highlighted Klarna’s holistic approach, which goes beyond emissions reduction to support broader climate solutions and inspire industry-wide change.
“It’s the perfect start to the journey. We’ll do more—more action! Our advice: to do and not talk. Default to action,” said Salah Said and Sara Davidson, Sustainability Marketing & Communications Lead in response to the recognition.
Steven Downes, Editor-in-Chief, Sustainability Magazine, said: “Klarna’s initiatives to accelerate towards net zero are inspirational. The Net Zero Award is a richly deserved reward for its vision and direction.”
