At Vieser, sustainable development is more than just short-term gains. It involves a dedication to long-term objectives and transparent business practices across all levels of our company. Our focus is on balancing the importance of sustainability and profitability, with both being equally paramount in our operations. Our first sustainability report brings together the spectrum of our responsibility.
At the core of our operations lies our commitment to sustainability. Our values – Caring, Collaborative, Pioneering, and Dedicated – are not just words on paper, but principles that guide every decision we make. Since 2020, we have made sustainability a key strategic focus, aligning ourselves with the principles of sustainable development. For us, sustainability is not only a moral imperative but also a business necessity. It is essential for our market access and long-term success. We constantly strive to reduce our environmental footprint. By innovating sustainable solutions and staying ahead of market trends, we not only drive our business forward but also strengthen our brand, enhance credibility, and foster trust with our stakeholders.
Highlights of 2023
During 2023 we engaged in a double materiality analysis and finalized our first sustainability roadmap. We also made strides in measuring GHG emissions for Scopes 1, 2 and partially for Scope 3, and began incorporating recycled plastic into our packaging. Our focus on Design for Sustainability is now in practice in our new product development, and we are leading the Circular Economy Centre of Excellence of Paree group in collaboration with other Paree subsidiaries. Additionally, all Vieser staff have successfully completed Code of Conduct training by the end of 2023.
Sustainability from governance to execution
At Vieser, our commitment to sustainability starts at the top with our Board of directors, CEO, and leadership team. The CEO holds the primary responsibility for driving forward our sustainability strategy to ensure its successful implementation. Our Board plays a crucial role in approving sustainability targets, roadmap, and key performance indicators. Sustainability is a key metric used to set performance targets. Our leadership team takes sustainability risks seriously, incorporating them into our broader business risk assessments. In fact, our 2023 double materiality assessment also examined sustainability risks and opportunities.
”As a family company, we take our responsibility towards our stakeholders seriously and have a true will to create a lasting, positive legacy.” Annika Jyllilä-Vertigans CEO, Vieser Oy
Climate and circular economy
In 2023, we conducted our first carbon footprint calculations for the year 2022, focusing on Scopes 1 and 2 as well as categories 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 of Scope 3. While we found that data coverage and quality for Scope 3 are still at a basic level, it became clear that Scope 3 emissions accounted for most of our company’s emissions. This insight confirmed us that our sustainability efforts and focus should be on reducing our Scope 3 emissions moving forward.
In 2023, Vieser participated in the Circular Design training programme organized by Design Forum Finland to enhance our understanding of best practices in the field. Additionally, together with Paree Group subsidiaries we work with an initiative to minimize waste and increase the use of recycled materials in our production and packaging processes. Our key objective is the transition from using virgin plastic to recycled plastic which can also be recycled. Furthermore, we are in the process of shifting towards using more recycled materials in our products.
Upcoming milestones
Our aim is to enhance data quality and encompass all relevant Scope 3 categories to allow us to set Science Based Targets. In the meantime, we are actively collaborating with our suppliers to reduce energy consumption and improve material efficiency. As we are not owning production facilities, collaboration remains our most effective approach for achieving results both internally and externally. Our focus is on closer partnerships with suppliers, customers, and key stakeholders to work towards a future of sustainable materials reuse and recycling.
Sustainability was identified as a key strategic initiative for Vieser in 2020, and we have made significant progress towards formalizing a roadmap aiming to achieve net-zero operations by 2035. Moving forward, we will release an updated report annually to demonstrate our ongoing dedication to sustainability.
More information about our responsibility commitments, goals and measures can be found in our 2023 sustainability report (eng.) Download report
More information:
Tiina Pekola, Head of Marketing & Communications
Janina Ollberg, Head of Portfolio, Supply Chain & Sustainability
Annika Jyllilä-Vertigans, CEO
Vieser Oy, part of Paree group
Vieser has a crucial role in prolonging the life-cycle of buildings with first-in-class floor drain solutions. Vieser’s products have been manufactured in Finland since the beginning, 1973.