Lasting everyday design, since 1649

Sustainable development represents a central foundation of Fiskars' operations and the company's 362-year heritage. Good economic performance and financial responsibility are central to sustainability, and enable environmental issues, social responsibility for personnel, and cooperation with society as a whole to be given the attention they deserve. Fiskars gives particular priority to safeguarding and developing the cultural heritage associated with its birthplace, Fiskars Village. The company's mission - Lasting everyday design, since 1649 - forms part of the same continuum.

Our principles stem from our passion for quality

Products and extended product lives represent the most important cornerstone of a sustainable business approach. The best products are those with a long lifespan, often stretching across generations. Users often form a personal bond with tools and household items they particularly like and, quite naturally, pass them on to others.

It is only natural that the principles of sustainable development are also followed in Fiskars Village, where the company was born. The community, now devoted to art and design, has been presented with the international Royal Award for Sustainable Tourism in recognition of the fact that good design and a good environment are grounded in the same values.

We take environmental sustainability very seriously, and in 2010 conducted an extensive Carbon Footprint and Inventory Analysis using the WBCSD GHG Protocol, the leading standard for defining and calculating corporate carbon inventories. The Carbon Footprint Inventory produced baseline information for Fiskars' energy efficiency programs, target-setting, and performance monitoring, and will provide the foundation for further developing and monitoring the Group's environmental sustainability.

Working alongside the community

Social responsibility has a long history at Fiskars, and the company has been a major employer and cultural force in the areas where it has had its plants. A case in point is Fiskars Village, the company's birthplace, which has become an internationally renowned center of Finnish design and art, attracting around 150,000 visitors a year. The village represents a truly dynamic community, as well as a source of employment for local people.

Being known as a good employer and company continues to make good business sense. The Code of Conduct approved by Fiskars' Board of Directors in 2008 underlines the company's commitment to behaving in an ethically and socially responsible way. Fiskars wants to be a good corporate citizen in all its locations and one that encourages openness and good business practices.

We have worked with various cancer foundations since 2005, and continued to do so in 2010, donating part of sales revenue from our pink garden and home products to the Pink Ribbon campaign. Fiskars also supports local organizations in the communities where our plants are located, along with donating to a small number of carefully selected national charities.

Co-operation with the Finnish Design Museum, the Arabia Art Department Society and the Cooperative of Artisans, Designers and Artists in Fiskars forms an important part of Fiskars' cultural responsibility.