Konecranes: Sustainability must mean real action, because there is only one planet Earth

Konecranes, a Finnish listed company, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of lifting equipment. As a responsible operator, it aims for sustainability in everything it does.

– Sustainable business is the only option now and in the future, because we only have this one planet. Konecranes is committed to putting responsibility at the heart of our operations, says Anniina Virta-Toikka, Head of Sustainability at Konecranes.

Business Finland supports sustainable manufacturing

Manufacturing and energy production account for a large share of greenhouse gas emissions. Business Finland supports the renewal of the manufacturing industry and the improvement of competitiveness to make Finland one of the leading countries in sustainable manufacturing. There is a lot of work to be done, but the means to this end are clear.
"This can be done by developing technologies and our ways of operating. If we're the first to develop them, we'll also be the first to benefit from them," says Toni Mattila, director of the Sustainable Manufacturing Finland program, listing these ways of operating for companies:

• Reducing emissions: there is still plenty to do in reducing emissions from many sectors of technology, such as steel and concrete manufacturing;
• Energy use: combining green energy production with the continuing energy demand of industry;
• Energy efficiency: doing more with the same amount of energy;
• Recycling: recycled raw materials and reuse of side-streams.

According to Mattila, investment in new technologies and capabilities should be seen as a business opportunity.

– We talk about a carbon handprint, which means a company's helping hand to another company to achieve its environmental goals, such as reducing its carbon footprint. For example, this could mean developing the processes of the steel and concrete industries to reduce their emissions, says Mattila.

"We need to halve our emissions in less than 10 years"

At Konecranes, responsibility encompasses the entire business. The company's responsibility strategy includes:

1. Eco-optimized offering and circular economy,
2. Climate action and resource efficiency,
3. Safety at work and safe products,
4. A diverse, inclusive and engaging working environment; and
5. Responsible business practices.

– Our climate targets are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. The target supports our intention to halt climate change at 1.5 degrees Celsius, which means we need to halve our emissions in less than ten years. This will require resources, but we believe it'll be worth the investment, says Virta-Toikka, Konecranes' Head of Sustainability.
Responsible operations are important to the company's customers, employees, and investors alike.

– We need to help our customers achieve their own goals, including environmental ones. These days, company values really matter to our employees, and only by acting responsibly can we attract the best people to our team. Investors are also constantly demanding higher levels of responsibility, says Virta-Toikka.