Käkikuu Blog

Yrityksen digitaalinen tulevaisuus

Digital Future and Sustainable Success: The Outlook for Sustainability Work in SMEs

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of Finland's economy. In 2021, there were approximately 500,000 businesses operating in the country, over 99 percent of which were SMEs with fewer than 250 employees. These companies employed around 63 percent of the national workforce. The turnover of SMEs totaled €273.6 billion, accounting for 56 percent of all business-generated revenue. This highlights the significance of the SME sector to Finland’s economy and underscores its role as a driver of societal well-being, employment, and national economic growth. Read more

By Jukka K. Niemi, ago
yritysvastuu, olennaisuuden arviointi

Materiality Assessment in Corporate Responsibility Work

Corporate responsibility work is a broad and multifaceted process, especially in the early stages when a company begins building its sustainability strategy. Materiality assessment plays a crucial role in this phase, as it is neither possible nor sensible to try to address everything. Instead, sustainability efforts must focus on the most material impacts, risks, and opportunities related to the company’s operations. By concentrating on what truly matters, the company can achieve the best possible results in its sustainability work. Read more

By Jukka K. Niemi, ago
CSRD-raportointi

What do the ESRS Standards Under the CSRD Directive for Corporate Sustainability Reporting Include – What Issues Will Companies Report on in the Future?

The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which came into force in January 2023, places corporate sustainability reporting alongside traditional financial reporting as an integral part of a company’s financial statements and annual report. This is a significant change that sets the direction for the future of corporate reporting in companies of all sizes. The ESRS standards (European Sustainability Reporting Standards) under the directive define the information that Read more

By Jukka K. Niemi, ago
Päästökauppa, kasvihuonekaasu, hiilimarkkina

Emissions Trading – One of the Cornerstones of the European Union’s Climate Policy

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is a carbon market mechanism used within the European Union. It is based on a cap-and-trade system that applies to energy-intensive industries, electricity generation, and civil aviation. It is the world’s first and largest carbon market. Under the system, certain major emitters of harmful greenhouse gases are required to hold or purchase a permit (emissions allowance) for every tonne of carbon dioxide they emit. The total number of emission allowances issued annually by the EU is lower Read more

By Jukka K. Niemi, ago
Taakanjako, taakanjakosektori

Effort Sharing – One of the Three Pillars of EU Climate Policy

The EU’s climate policy guides the actions of the EU and its Member States in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Through its climate policy, the EU aims to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. In addition, the EU’s long-term goal is to achieve a balance between emissions and removals – that is, climate neutrality – by 2050. The EU climate policy aims to reach these targets through three main sectors: the Emissions Trading System (ETS), the Effort Sharing Read more

By Jukka K. Niemi, ago
LULUCF, ilmasto, hiilinielu, kasvihuonekaasu

What is LULUCF, What Does It Relate to, and What Does it Mean for Us?

Recent discussions have frequently revolved around Finland's forests and whether they are a carbon sink or a source of carbon emissions. In these discussions, the abbreviation LULUCF often appears. What lies behind this abbreviation, and what larger context is it related to? This is what I will address in this article. To get started and ensure we are on the same page, I have compiled a few basic concepts and their definitions related to the topic. It is worth taking a moment to read and understand these before we dive into the main subject. Read more

By Jukka K. Niemi, ago
Vastuullisuusviestintä

Responsible (Sustainability) Communication

Communication is famously a skillful art. Every day, we come across examples of poor and failed communication in the media—whether it’s politicians and parties contradicting themselves in statements, or companies stumbling, especially when caught red-handed doing something foolish. Despite all these everyday communication blunders, we as a company or organization must have the courage to communicate—including about sustainability. Read more

By Jukka K. Niemi, ago
Sidosryhmätyö

Stakeholder Engagement as a Tool for Business Development

In the context of business operations—and even in institutions and associations—the term stakeholder engagement is frequently discussed, along with how important it is. So, what exactly are stakeholders, and why is working with them so important? No one is truly alone, not even a solo entrepreneur. There is always someone involved who is affected by the company’s operations or who, through their own actions, influences the company’s activities. This influence does not have to be constant—it can also occur indirectly or in a less direct manner. Read more

By Jukka K. Niemi, ago
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