Both customers and employees inquire about companies’ environmental responsibility.
About 40 percent of companies report to receiving more inquiries from their customers about environmental responsibility than before. This has been revealed through a survey conducted by Ekokompassi and the Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce. According to a press release from the Chamber of Commerce and Ekokompassi, it is not only customers who inquire about environmental responsibility, but also the companies’ own employees.
“The increase in inquiries is likely due to a broader understanding of corporate responsibility,” says environmental expert Irina Niinivaara from Ekokompassi in the press release. One of the companies responding to the survey, family-owned business MTB, confirms the growing interest in environmental matters. The company started developing its environmental policies two years ago and received certification in the spring of 2017.
“Many customers even demand proof, when requesting a quote from the company, that environmental friendliness has been taken into account,” mentions MTB’s Environmental Manager Nea Backström in a statement to Kauppalehti. MTB’s environmental policies includes the use of cleaning agents that can be safely returned to nature, recycled, or reused. Additionally, the correct methods allow for precise dosing of detergents, thus reducing their environmental impact on bodies of water.
The survey indicates that 80 percent of companies believe that operating in an environmentally responsible manner provides tangible benefits for their business. “Companies with clear objectives report that they primarily gain financial advantages from their environmental efforts, while also enhancing their reputation. For companies without environmental policies in place, many perceive the main benefit to be reputational,” Niinivaara explains. While MTB has also experienced a boost in reputation, Backström highlights the financial benefits as the main advantage.
“Taking the environment into consideration doesn’t just give us a “good feeling”, but we’ve actually noticed significant savings in energy and material costs,” says Backström. For instance, through proper dosing, MTB has reduced its detergent purchases by a third. It’s important to note that the survey’s results cannot be generalized nationwide, as it was conducted with Chamber of Commerce member companies based in the Helsinki metropolitan area. A total of 95 companies participated in the survey.
“Considering the environment doesn’t just give us a “good feeling”, but we’ve actually noticed significant savings in energy and material costs.”
Nea Backström, Environmental Manager, MTB Cleaning Services