Helsinki, Finland, 2018-Jan-25 — /EPR Retail News/ — Kesko has been ranked 31st on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list, and as the most sustainable trading sector company in the world. Kesko is the only Finnish company to be included in the list every year since it was established in 2005.
“We at the K Group have always believed in the power of sustainability and have been open-mindedly working towards it for decades. Responsible actions originated with our retailers and our comprehensive corporate responsibility work expanded from there. We wish to make sustainable choices easier for the consumers. We firmly believe that welfare in the society around us also means welfare for the K Group. We highly value this recognition and will continue our determined work towards a better society and better environment”, says Mikko Helander, Kesko’s President and CEO.
The Global 100 list is prepared by the Canada-based Corporate Knights Inc. and it is based on a global evaluation of 5,994 publicly listed companies. Companies were evaluated on a set of up to 17 environmental, social and governance indicators.
The list represents the top companies in the world in terms of sustainability. The 2018 Global 100 list was published today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Last year, Kesko ranked 25th.
Sustainability demands actions
In autumn 2017, Kesko rose to the world’s most prestigious sustainability indices, the DJSI World and the DJSI Europe.
Also in 2017, Kesko was the first Finnish company to set science-based targets for reducing the emissions resulting from its facilities, transportation use, and supply chains. To achieve the ambitious emission reduction targets, Kesko is increasing its use of renewable energy while also improving its energy efficiency.
K Group systematically invests in renewable energy. Since the beginning of 2017, all electricity purchased by Kesko in Finland has been renewable. Twenty solar plants are already in operation on K-store rooftops.
K Group promotes circular economy with various actions. For example, inedible food waste is collected from 200 K-food stores and Kesko’s central warehouse and made into biogas, which is then used as energy in the manufacture of new Pirkka products. K Group is constantly developing new operating models for the recycling and reuse of plastics to prevent plastics from ending up in waters and nature.
Further information is available from Matti Kalervo, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, tel. +358 50 306 4081, matti.kalervo@kesko.fi
The 2018 Global 100 list is available at www.corporateknights.com/global100/
Kesko and K-retailers form K Group, whose sales total over €13 billion. K Group is the third largest retail operator in northern Europe and it employs approximately 45,000 people. Kesko operates in the grocery trade, the building and technical trade and the car trade. Its divisions and chains act in close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners. Kesko’s net sales are €10 billion and it employs approximately 28,000 people. Kesko has nearly 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Belarus and Poland. Kesko is a listed company and its shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company’s domicile and main premises are in Helsinki. www.kesko.fi
SOURCE: Kesko Corporation