Fintraffic is now part of the world’s largest corporate responsibility network

Fintraffic is helping Finland to build a sustainable society, and considers the economic, social and environmental impacts of its own operations. Fintraffic has now joined the world’s largest corporate responsibility network, the Global Compact, which promotes human rights, environmental issues, labour rights, and anti-corruption.

“The Global Compact is a UN initiative that has been helping companies all around the world to become more sustainable since the year 2000. Our company has made great leaps forward in sustainability, so it was a natural time to join the global network. We think that our goal of building the world’s safest, smoothest and most environmentally friendly transport system in Finland is an excellent cornerstone for our sustainability efforts,” says Mikko Saariaho, Chief Impact Officer at Fintraffic.

The UN Global Compact provides a unique global framework for companies to engage in sustainability work. Its goal is to promote responsible and sustainable business all across the world. By getting involved, Fintraffic has made a public promise to firmly commit to promoting sustainability with regard to its employees, customers and owner (the Finnish State).

Harnessing the best know-how through the network

The Global Compact network consists of more than 13,000 companies in more than 160 countries that have committed to its ten principles ( https://www.unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/mission/principles). Being part of an international network is an excellent way of obtaining new information about sustainability and its key themes at an international level. It also opens up possibilities to share practical knowledge and operating models among the thousands of companies involved.

“Our sustainability work will never be complete – we’re seeking continuous improvement. We believe that the Global Compact network provides a great foundation for continual learning. Companies hold a great deal of responsibility when it comes to building a more sustainable and lower-emission world,” says Saariaho.

Fintraffic’s materiality themes were identified in 2020. Its key responsibility and sustainability themes were defined as:

• Continual improvements in safety
• Committed, motivated and healthy personnel
• A diverse, equal and discrimination-free workplace community
• Energy and material efficiency, and carbon neutrality
• Environmentally efficient traffic control
• Social impact
• Financial added value and efficiency
• Good, transparent governance

Indicators, targets and an action plan have been drawn up for each theme. This will ensure that Fintraffic’s sustainability efforts will be defined by action, not just words.

An exceptional opportunity to influence environmental emissions

The majority of Finns use Fintraffic’s services on a daily basis. On a global scale, the company is exceptional, as it is responsible for traffic management in all modes of transport and produces traffic data and services for a wide range of stakeholders. This also gives Fintraffic a unique opportunity to influence major transport-related themes, such as climate issues and traffic safety.

“Promoting safety and reducing climate emissions form the core of our sustainability work. Over the coming years, we’re aiming to make our own operations carbon dioxide free, and also to help other operators reduce their traffic emissions. We work to improve safety every day,” says Saariaho.

The main concrete measures in Fintraffic’s sustainability efforts are reducing the company’s own emissions; reducing emissions from traffic in Finland by, for example, creating a real-time situational picture of traffic; improving traffic safety; and shouldering its social responsibility towards both external stakeholders and its own personnel.

“In addition to these, we have a responsibility to be efficient. As our operations are funded by our customers and taxpayers’ money, we must generate the greatest possible benefit using the resources we have at our disposal,” says Saariaho.

Traffic management, well-oiled logistics chains and data utilisation are key factors

Fintraffic’s business decisions and policies have great multiplier effects. The company has a strong desire to understand the indirect impact that its services have on society and the environment. For example, traffic management, well-oiled logistics chains and data utilisation can help Finland meet the requirements set by the EU for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

“We have one of the best optimised airspaces in Europe – for example, continuous descent approaches significantly reduce CO₂ emissions. We can further reduce emissions by building more optimised travel chains and services in various transport areas, as this will enable us to promote the creation of alternatives to private cars,” says Saariaho.

The impact of data utilisation and more efficient logistics chains can already be seen in maritime transport. Systems and applications for real-time data sharing are reducing idling and unnecessary manoeuvring at ports, which not only reduces emissions but also saves time for a variety of stakeholders. Digirata, the digitalisation project for rail transport, is aiming to get 20–30 per cent more trains running in the rail network. This would allow traffic to be transferred from roads to a more sustainable mode of transport.

“It’s great to work for a company that can genuinely bring Finnish society closer to a more sustainable future,” says Saariaho.