Contact
Veli-Matti Aittoniemi
Deputy Chief Executive, Industrial Policy Director
veli-matti.aittoniemi@mara.fi
tel. +358 40 736 7705
Kai Massa
Lawyer
kai.massa@mara.fi
tel. +358 9 6220 2047
Low-carbon roadmap for the Finnish hospitality industry
At national level, Finland aims to be the most sustainably growing tourist destination in the Nordics. Although the Finnish hospitality sector has limited opportunities to influence the life cycle emissions generated along the value chain, the roadmap establishes a concrete toolkit for companies to reduce their carbon footprint. Moreover, emission reducing measures should decrease the emissions globally, not just locally. The Finnish hospitality industry promotes solutions that change the global value chains towards carbon neutrality.
Current and target state
The low-carbon roadmap for the Finnish hospitality industry covers hotels, restaurants and amusement parks in Finland. The industry emissions are largely set by external factors in the value chain such as logistics, leased property, food and waste. Direct emissions and indirect emissions from purchased energy were included in the scope.
In 2018 the industry emissions accounted for 0.5 Mt CO2. The roadmap estimates that 77% of the current emissions may be eliminated by 2035 as the energy sector decarbonises. The emissions would be 0.12 Mt CO2 in 2035. Today 62% of the emissions are from district heating and 31% from purchased electricity.
By 2035, the carbon footprint of the hospitality industry is estimated to decrease to one quarter of the current figure as emissions from district heating and electricity production are reduced.
Main solutions
In district heating, energy technology and energy source updates and moving to more energy efficient buildings can reduce emissions significantly. Companies can also change from district heating to geothermal heat. Additionally, means include curbing room temperatures with centralised control and improving the recovery of waste water while saving hot water with water-efficient taps and showers.
The hospitality industry can decrease its emissions by producing its own energy with solar and wind power. In addition, energy efficiency improvements can be made in lighting as well as kitchen, washing and refrigeration equipment. Moreover, by replacing fossil fuels in local heating with heat pump solutions is considered to be a moderate contributor towards the low-carbon future of hospitality.
Needs and requirements
The Finnish hospitality industry roadmap recognizes that strengthening the industry resilience and preparing to adapt to plausible future changes is crucial for long-term success.
Future and positive impacts
To enable and encourage emission reductions in the value chain functions, the hospitality industry identifies relevant measures to implement. Companies can reduce the negative climate impacts of food by preferring and offering local plant-based products while minimising food waste in different phases of food production. By establishing criteria for low-carbon procurement, hospitality companies can influence the choices made outside company limits. Finally, companies’ decisions on property locations determine what options the consumers and employees have when travelling.
Did you know that...?
• In 2019, 8.9 million foreign tourists made a trip to Finland
• Tourism represents about 2.7% of the Finnish GDP