International comparisons show sustainability work in Finnish companies is world class – Kesko ranked the most sustainable trading sector company in the world
Kesko and six other Finnish companies have been included on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list.
For the fifth year in a row, Kesko ranks as the most sustainable trading sector company in the world on the Global 100 list. Kesko’s overall ranking on the 2019 list is 88th. Kesko is the only Finnish company to have been included on the Global 100 list every year since the list was established in 2005.
The list was published on 22 January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The other Finnish companies that made the list were Neste, Outotec, UPM-Kymmene, Kone, Metso and Nokia. Companies on the list are assessed on indicators related to environmental and social responsibility and good corporate governance.
”The high-quality of the sustainability work done by Finnish companies is based on strong Finnish ownership and the needs of demanding consumers on the one hand, and on the companies’ willingness to meet the criteria of international responsible investors on the other,” says Mikko Routti, Executive Director of the FIBS Corporate Responsibility Network.
Finnish companies engage in significant climate actions
Finnish companies have long focused their sustainability efforts on actions to mitigate climate change. Kesko has committed to goals of international climate summits regarding the mitigation of climate change, and has set ambitious emission targets for its operations and supply chain. K Group is reducing its emissions through the use of renewable energy, energy-efficiency at its stores, and efficient logistics.
“We want to enable a sustainable lifestyle for our current and future generations of customers, in the areas of food, mobility and living. Transparency in purchasing and care for the environment are at the core of our sustainability work. All electricity purchased by Kesko in Finland is generated using renewable energy, either hydropower or bioenergy. Solar power plants have been installed on the rooftops of 30 of our stores so far, and we are the biggest producer and user of solar power in Finland. At the moment we are building a nationwide network for electric car charging at our store locations,” says Mikko Helander, President and CEO of K Group.
Several Finnish companies included on the international list of climate work pioneers
In addition to the Global 100 list, the results of CDP’s global Climate analysis were also published on 22 January. CDP is an independent non-profit organisation that annually collects data from companies, on behalf of investors in particular, on efforts to combat and adapt to climate change and on greenhouse gases. More than 7,000 companies worldwide disclosed data on climate change-related issues to CDP in 2018.
Kesko received the score A– on CDP’s Climate list. In addition to Kesko, Finnish companies with a Leadership level score of A or A– included, for example, Neste, Metsä Board, Stora Enso, Valmet, Kone and Lassila & Tikanoja. Companies ranked at Leadership level are seen to represent best practices in advancing environmental stewardship, to thoroughly understand the risks and opportunities related to climate change, as well as to formulate and implement strategies to mitigate or capitalise on these risks and opportunities.
Further information is available from Matti Kalervo, K Group’s Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, tel. +358 50 306 4081, matti.kalervo@kesko.fi, and
K Group’s Communications, tel. +358 105 350 200.
The 2019 Global 100 list: http://www.corporateknights.com/reports/global-100/
CDP's Climate program scores: https://www.cdp.net/en/scores
Kesko and K-retailers form K Group, whose sales total €13 billion. K Group is the third largest retail operator in Northern Europe and it employs some 42,000 people. Kesko operates in the grocery trade, the building and technical trade and the car trade. Its divisions and chains act in close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners. Kesko's net sales total €10 billion and it employs approximately 25,000 people. Kesko has some 1,800 stores engaged in chain operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus and Poland. Kesko is a listed company and its shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company's domicile and main premises are located in Helsinki. www.kesko.fi
