Sustainability is an integral part of everyday life at Eerikkilä, and our customers are also invited to take part in it. We want to be known not only for our results, but also for our commitment to responsibility.
That is why our updated sustainability programme (2025) guides our daily operations. It consists of four key themes, identified through a materiality assessment and by reviewing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through this programme, we aim to enhance people’s overall wellbeing, develop a value-creating competence community, provide everyone with the opportunity to experience the joy of physical activity in a safe environment, and take responsibility for the environment.
Eerikkilä’s four sustainability themes:
1. People and wellbeing
2. Climate and local nature
3. Safe operating environment
4. Cooperation and community
“We want to be known for our results in sustainability as well, which is why we have defined goals for each theme, along with actions and metrics to support them. This enables us to monitor and report our progress. When developing the programme, we assessed the current state of our sustainability work, evaluated the impacts, risks and opportunities of our operations, and gathered insights from our stakeholders through a survey,” explains Eerikkilä’s Marketing Manager, Laura Sirén.
Practical Actions in Everyday Life
The sustainability themes are reflected at Eerikkilä both in larger initiatives and in smaller, everyday choices. One of the most significant recent actions relates to reducing electricity consumption, which is considerable due to the number of buildings and fields on the site. “We purchase energy produced entirely from wind power. In addition, since 2020 we have operated a domestic solar park with over 1,400 solar panels,” Sirén explains.
Customers are also encouraged to take part in sustainability efforts—and there are already measurable results. For example, the introduction of bio waste scales in the restaurant has reduced plate waste by more than 50%. The use of plastic bags in cleaning has been reduced, and waste bins have been removed entirely from staff office spaces. At the same time, sorting facilities and recycling points have been improved in staff areas.
Sirén points out that customers make a concrete responsible choice already by selecting Eerikkilä. “We are a non-profit foundation, which means that all our revenue is reinvested into our operations—namely the development of football, floorball and futsal.”
Towards Carbon Neutrality
As part of updating the sustainability programme, the carbon footprint of Eerikkilä’s operations was also assessed. The aim was to identify the most significant emission sources in order to plan and implement effective emission reduction measures in the future.
“For the first time, we examined Eerikkilä’s entire value chain, including the most significant indirect emissions. We aimed for accuracy in collecting consumption data and used only reliable emission factors. As part of the carbon footprint assessment, we also conducted a staff survey on commuting,” Sirén explains.
The carbon footprint report includes a roadmap outlining Eerikkilä’s targets and actions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In 2024, Eerikkilä’s total carbon footprint was 2,269 t CO₂e. This corresponds to the annual emissions from housing and energy consumption of approximately 900 average Finns.
The goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 by reducing emissions and offsetting the remaining ones. Only reliable compensation projects that support the wellbeing of nature will be selected.
Green Key and Sustainable Travel Finland
Eerikkilä has held the Green Key certificate, a tourism environmental label, as well as the Sustainable Travel Finland label since 2021. Green Key is the world’s leading sustainability programme and certification for the tourism industry. Certified destinations must meet all mandatory Green Key environmental criteria and report on their environmental work.
The Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) label indicates that a tourism company has taken ecological, social, cultural and economic sustainability into account in its operations.
In addition, Eerikkilä’s sustainability efforts are guided by, among others, the Finnish Sports Institute Network’s sustainability programme, the Finnish Center for Integrity in Sports (SUEK), and annual staff and customer surveys.
