Finland world class in corporate responsibility – Kesko ranked as the most sustainable grocery trade company in the world for the sixth time
Kesko and five other Finnish companies have been included on the Global 100 list of the most sustainable companies in the world, announced today at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Kesko has been included on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list for 16 consecutive years. Kesko is the only company from the Food and Beverage Retail sector to have made it onto the list this year.
“Operational transparency is extremely important when we want to develop sustainable operations and reduce emissions on a global scale. The fact that we have been on the Global 100 list for 16 years shows that we engage in target-oriented long-term sustainability efforts to promote transparency in sourcing and to mitigate climate change. It is important that trading sector companies openly disclose the origin of the products they purchase and how sustainable the production of those products is,” says Mikko Helander, Kesko’s President and CEO.
Overall, Finnish and European companies fared well in corporate sustainability, with 49 of the 100 list companies being European. In addition to Kesko, Finnish companies on this year’s Global 100 list include Neste Corporation, Outotec Oyj, UPM-Kymmene Corporation, Kone Corporation and Metso Corporation.
Companies on the Global 100 list are assessed on indicators related to environmental and social responsibility and good corporate governance.
Climate actions in our stores: 100% renewable energy and a carbon footprint calculator for our customers
K Group has long focused its responsibility efforts on actions to mitigate climate change.
“K Group is reducing its emissions through the use of renewable energy, energy-efficiency at its stores, and efficient logistics. All electricity purchased by Kesko for K-stores and other Kesko properties in Finland is produced with renewable energy. There are 34 solar power plants located on the rooftops of K-stores, with nearly 42,000 solar panels, and Kesko is the biggest producer and user of solar power in Finland,” says Helander.
In 2019, we began developing an operating model for a carbon neutral grocery store at three K-food stores. A new energy recycling model for K-food stores can reduce heat consumption by as much as 95% and turn the store property almost carbon neutral in terms of energy.
K Group is also encouraging its customers to make more environmentally friendly choices. At the end of 2019, we introduced a carbon footprint calculator to our K-Ostokset service. It offers customers information on the carbon footprint of their food purchases at product category level.
Further information:
Matti Kalervo, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, K Group, tel. +358 50 306 4081, matti.kalervo@kesko.fi
K Group media desk (Mon-Fri 8-16), tel. +358 105 350 200, viestinta@kesko.fi
The 2020 Global 100 list: https://www.corporateknights.com/reports/2020-global-100/2020-global-100-ranking-15795648/
Kesko and K-retailers together form K Group, whose sales total €13 billion. K Group is the third biggest retail operator in Northern Europe and it employs some 43,000 people. Kesko operates in the grocery trade, building and technical trade, and 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 around 1,800 stores engaged in chain operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus and Poland. Kesko’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company's domicile and main premises are located in Helsinki. www.kesko.fi