Valio has been chosen, for the eighth time in the row, as the most sustainable brand in Finland. European organisation Sustainable Brand Index carries out annual consumer opinion surveys on brand sustainability in Finland and rest of Europe. The survey shows that Finns value Valio’s local production, healthy products, animal welfare, and environmental issues most of all.
“It is a great honour to be chosen as the most sustainable brand in Finland for the eighth time in a row, for which we are sincerely thankful. This exceptional pandemic year has shown us that food security and sustainability are issues that are more important than ever. We are very happy to hear that Finns value our daily work to produce healthy, sustainable food, in good times as well as challenging times like today”, says Valio CEO Annikka Hurme.
“2020 has been an exceptional year in many ways due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many fields and businesses have had a very challenging year, and many have had to make changes in their operation and find new ways to work. Sustainability has grown in importance amidst the pandemic. Finland’s food industry has shown its ability to function in an emergency, and our meaningful role in society shows in the survey”, says Sustainable Brand Index founder Erik Elvingsson Hedén.
“During the pandemic, sustainable food and the security of food supply have risen in prominence. Many in Finland have begun to notice what kind of strength a vibrant Finnish agriculture and food companies can be in a crisis”, Annikka Hurme finishes.
Valio’s sustainability work has not slowed down in the pandemic
What’s core to Valio’s sustainability work is its ambitious goal to reset milk production’s carbon footprint to zero by 2035. The emergency of the pandemic has not influenced the progress of Valio’s sustainability work, on the contrary.
“We want to be a part of the solution to global challenges: we are aware of our environmental and climate effects and take active measures to reduce them through renewing carbon farming, manure-based biogas and other plant and farm-specific emission reduction measures. All the while, we are determined to improve animal and human welfare”, says Valio’s SVP for Group Sustainability, Hanna Hiekkamies.
Valio’s operation is based on co-operatives that is owned by 4,300 Finnish dairy farmers, which produces a billion euros for Finland’s society every year, and pays out all its profits to the dairy farms. Finns feel very strongly about Valio’s products and production being local.
“We create work and wellbeing everywhere in Finland. This is our way to make sure that we have access to locally produced food whose origin we know, from the farm to the dairy. Today, what’s most important to us is taking care of our personnel and our dairy farmers, managing their wellbeing and strength so that we can continue our work towards carbon-neutral milk production as well as our other sustainability targets. We are well on our way towards reaching them already”, finishes Hanna Hiekkamies.
