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Business Tampere / Services for businesses / Sustainability
Competitive advantage and sustainable growth through responsibility
Responsibility is reflected in various ways, such as environmentally friendly practices, fair personnel policies, and transparent, honest communication with stakeholders. Responsibility is not only a value but also a practical way of operating.
E – Your company is environmentally responsible when you understand and manage the impact of your operations on the environment, climate, and people’s well-being.
S – Your company is socially responsible when you consider the impacts of your activities on people and society.
G – Your company follows good governance practices when you are committed to operating carefully in accordance with laws and regulations, while also considering the ethical and responsible aspects of business.
Sustainability helpdesk
Sustainability event series
Business Tampere’s Sustainability helpdesk offers companies confidential and free support on sustainability-related issues, advising on how to initiate sustainability efforts, regulatory changes, and selecting appropriate tools.
Through the helpdesk, you can get answers to sustainability-related questions such as: Where and how should we start our sustainability work? Which reporting obligations apply to our company? How have others addressed these challenges?
This advisory service is available to companies in the Tampere region aiming for growth and internationalization. An individual company with a business ID can receive up to 2 hours of free consultation.
Contact: Sustainability Expert Kaisa Kurittu email helpdesk@businesstampere.com phone +358 40 455 0323
Book a time from Kaisa's calendar
Business Tampere’s sustainability event series brings companies together to discuss and learn about sustainability from various perspectives. The events cover a wide range of sustainability topics, where participants will hear expert insights, share their own experiences, and network with other businesses and organizations. These events offer companies practical tools and perspectives for integrating sustainability into their business strategies.
Event calendar
Here you can find explanations and definitions of the most commonly used terms and abbreviations in the field of sustainability.
CSR Corporate Social Responsibility refers to a company’s responsibility to consider its impact on society and the environment in its operations.
ESG ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. It is a concept used to assess a company’s sustainability and responsibility.
NFRD Non-Financial Reporting Directive requires large companies to report non-financial information. The CSRD is designed to replace the NFRD.
CSRD Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive is a directive requiring companies to report on sustainability risks and impacts.
ESRS European Sustainability Reporting Standards define the content for sustainability reporting by companies in line with the CSRD.
GRI Global Reporting Initiative is an initiative that publishes guidelines and standards for sustainability reporting. GRI standards cover both general and topic-specific standards.
SDG Sustainable Development Goals are global goals adopted by the UN in 2015 to promote development worldwide, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and enhance social justice by 2030.
CSDDD Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.
HRDD Human Rights Due Diligence refers to the process through which companies assess and manage their operations’ impact on human rights.
QEHS Quality, Environmental, Health, and Safety Management System. This term is often used in manufacturing industries to describe a company’s integrated approach to these areas.
SFDR Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation is an EU regulation requiring financial market participants and other financial products providers to disclose sustainability information.
TCFD Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures is an international reporting framework that helps integrate climate-related financial risk into corporate reporting.
IFRS International Financial Reporting Standards are a set of international accounting rules developed to ensure comparability, transparency, and consistency in financial reporting across countries.
LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is the world’s most widely used green building certification system.
BREEAM Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method is a leading environmental assessment method for buildings in Europe, based on a common European standard.
In the European Union, sustainability-related legislation is advancing rapidly and covers various aspects of corporate responsibility. EU sustainability regulations directly impact companies’ operations, so early preparation is essential to maintain competitiveness in a changing regulatory environment. On this page, you will find key regulatory initiatives related to corporate responsibility that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should also prepare for.
The purpose of sustainability reporting is to increase transparency regarding a company’s sustainability activities and improve the comparability of the reports. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is an EU directive that requires companies to report more comprehensively on their sustainability practices. Companies within the scope of the CSRD follow the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), which define the content that must be included in the reports. The reporting must broadly cover ESG issues (Environmental, Social, and Governance).
Read more about the ESRS implementation guidelines here.
Companies that are not covered by the CSRD reporting requirements can report on their sustainability by using GRI Standards. The GRI standards include general, sector-specific, and topic-specific standards.
Read more and download the GRI Standards here.
The EU Taxonomy for sustainable finance provides a unified framework for defining which economic activities are environmentally sustainable. The taxonomy is primarily targeted at major financial market participants and large companies. It sets mandatory reporting requirements for large companies but also provides a useful assessment tool for voluntary use.
Smaller companies can benefit from the voluntary use of the taxonomy.
Companies can use a variety of available tools and metrics to develop their sustainability efforts. On this page, you will find tools and metrics designed for businesses.
Environmental and material efficiency Calculating a company’s carbon footprint and climate emissions is an important step toward sustainable business practices. The carbon footprint reflects all greenhouse gas emissions generated throughout different stages of the company’s operations, such as production, logistics, and use. Measuring climate emissions helps companies identify the largest sources of emissions and develop effective strategies to reduce them.
Here you can find tools developed for businesses to calculate and assess their carbon footprint:
Climpactor – Technology Industries of Finland Climpactor is a tool designed for companies to calculate the climate impacts of their operations and products, as well as to assess their societal handprint.
Y-Hiilari – Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Y-Hiilari is a tool developed by the Finnish Environment Institute for calculating a company’s carbon footprint. It includes a calculator and a detailed guide.
Material Efficiency Test – Motiva This tool is specifically designed for small and medium-sized manufacturing companies aiming to evaluate and improve their material efficiency. The practical test helps determine your company’s current material efficiency level and provides detailed recommendations for improvement.
ILPO Guide – SeAMK The ILPO guide is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) calculate their climate emissions, or carbon footprint. The guide assumes no prior knowledge of carbon footprint calculation, providing step-by-step instructions for beginners.
Climate-SWOT – Turku University of Applied Sciences The Climate-SWOT tool enables businesses to plan their strategy and operations based on how climate change is expected to impact their operating environment. It combines the functionalities of two tools: the SWOT analysis and the lifecycle assessment method.
Green Office Climate Calculator – WWF The Green Office carbon footprint calculator, produced by WWF, is tailored for office environments. This tool allows you to measure workplace emissions and consumption efficiently.
Sustainability communication is a vital aspect of modern business, where companies strive for open and transparent communication about their actions related to environmental, social, and economic sustainability. It involves sharing information about a company’s sustainability goals, achievements, and challenges with stakeholders such as customers, employees, investors, and communities.
You can find guides for promoting responsible communication:
Responsible Communication Guide for SMEs – SeAMK The purpose of the Responsible Communication Guide is to guide small businesses starting their sustainability efforts to communicate reliably and comprehensively about their responsibility initiatives. Responsible communication is not a separate aspect but should be integrated into the company’s overall communication strategy.
Guide to Responsible Communication – Centria An e-guide on responsible communication that provides practical tips and tools for implementing responsible communication practices.
Responsible Communication Guide – Kestävä RuokaHäme This guide is intended as a tool for companies to either start practicing responsible communication or further develop their existing responsible communication strategies.
Sustainable business management is becoming increasingly important in today’s corporate world. It involves integrating environmental and social responsibility considerations into a company’s strategic planning and decision-making processes.
The goal is to create long-term value for all stakeholders, including customers, employees, investors, and local communities. Sustainability management encompasses a wide range of practices and principles that help organizations operate responsibly and sustainably.
Below you can find tools for evaluating sustainable management and operations:
Sustainable Business Management Tool | Finnish Commerce Federation The Sustainable Business Management Tool includes checklists emphasizing five key themes relevant to commerce: employees, customers, economy, society, and the environment. The “Communicating Responsibility – Tips for Communication” package introduces various methods and channels for sharing information about responsible actions.
Sustainability Self-Assessment for Small Businesses | SeAMK Discover your company’s sustainability level across three key areas: environmental, economic, and social responsibility.
Corporate Responsibility Self-Assessment | vastuullisuusarviointi.fi This tool provides an overview of your company’s current level of responsible operations, helps identify areas for improvement, and enables performance comparison with other companies. Additionally, the tool offers practical tips for managing corporate responsibility.
Gaining a Competitive Edge with Responsibility Guide – Sustainability Training This guide is aimed at small and micro-enterprises. It compiles materials and tools used in micro-entrepreneur sustainability training. The purpose is to help you create a sustainability development plan for your business, the ViVa Road Map.
The circular economy is a growing concept that aims to reduce waste and maximize the use of resources. It is based on the idea that products and materials remain in use for as long as possible, reducing the consumption of natural resources and environmental impact. The circular economy offers businesses opportunities to innovate, develop new business models, and promote sustainable development.
Below is a list of tools to help your business incorporate circular economy perspectives:
KIERTOLIIKE This tool provides an understanding of what the circular economy is and what it could mean for your business.
Circular Economy Roadmap A guide for SMEs to start circular economy-based business practices, tailored especially to the needs of SMEs in the South Ostrobothnia industrial sector. The guide and its supporting materials also serve as tools for internal business development and are adaptable to other industries beyond manufacturing.
Circular Economy Business Planning Tools – SeAMK Projects A set of tools, including two guides, designed to help businesses systematically develop their circular economy practices.
Circular Economy Thinking Toolbox – Circular Economy Finland This toolbox helps businesses better understand and optimize material and waste flows within their operations and value chains, identify strategies for transitioning to a circular economy, and recognize collaboration opportunities with different stakeholders.
Circular Economy Business Models in the Chemical Industry – Sitra A handbook compiled by Sitra, the Chemical Industry Federation, and Accenture, offering chemical industry companies tools for evaluating their operations and developing new business aligned with circular economy models.
Senior Service Advisor, Business Service Development and Business Environment
+358 41 4350 883
noora.vaaraniemi@businesstampere.com