Foreword
Foreword
“We believe that education and culture are key factors in building a sustainable and healthy society.”
We promote culture, growth, and learning
We take responsibility
We are creating the foundation for a pluralistic, democratic society by engaging in responsible journalism, publishing diverse and multi-voiced literature and learning materials, and ensuring that people can still write, publish and distribute literature in Finland.
In terms of sustainable development, the past year has been marked by regulatory uncertainties. A number of global crises, from climate change to geopolitics, are also forcing companies to re-examine their business from a variety of perspectives. Sustainability is one of Otava’s core values, and lies at the heart of everything we do. Our work is based on quality, and we also ensure that what we do meets the ever-increasing quality standards for sustainability.
We want to take a proactive and pre-emptive approach to the future. We have been preparing for upcoming statutory reporting requirements for several years, and our intention was to voluntarily publish a 2024 sustainability report that complies with the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. However, just before our sustainability report was completed, the European Commission proposed an amendment to its sustainability reporting standards that led us not to publish our pilot report. Therefore, we will not publish a sustainability report based on the GRI index for the year 2024, as we have done in previous years.
We want to make sure that we provide the best possible review of our sustainability work, whilst also serving the needs of our stakeholders. We monitor legislative developments and report on our sustainability even though we are not legally obliged to do so.
We want to act transparently and make a positive impact on society. Over the decades, we have seen how sustainable operations and transparency have built trust and strengthened our position as a reliable operator in the Finnish media landscape. Otava’s long history and family business values provide us with a strong foundation on which to take a sustainable and forward-looking approach. We believe that education and culture are key factors in building a sustainable and healthy society.
Alexander Lindholm
CEO, Otava Group
“It is important for us to tell about our sustainable business practices as clearly and openly as possible.”
Welcome to Otava’s new Sustainability Review! Sustainability is one of Otava’s cornerstones. We have been helping to create a society based on democracy and freedom of expression for 135 years.
It is important for us to tell about our sustainable business practices as clearly and openly as possible. This is why we revamped our sustainability communications in 2024. Our Sustainability Review is an overview of sustainability work at Otava. It is updated annually, and is continuously being expanded. It describes our everyday work to promote reading, learning and culture – not forgetting the environment and our diverse media culture.
I hope that our Sustainability Review will spark debate and provide ideas and inspiration for both Otava personnel and other readers. Building a sustainable future requires everyone’s input. Together we can achieve more.
Minna Karlsson
Sustainability Manager, Otava Group
Sustainability at Otava
Sustainability at Otava
It is important for us to be a good employer, partner and customer. We promote equity and diversity both at our workplaces and in society as a whole.
The Otava Group’s sustainability is based on our values: responsibility, quality, boldness and closeness. The Group’s sustainability themes are derived from these values and are divided into four main categories: societal responsibility, environmental responsibility, social responsibility, financial responsibility and good governance.
Societal responsibility
Otava’s business is founded on freedom of speech and expression. We are creating the foundation for a pluralistic, democratic society by engaging in responsible journalism, publishing diverse and multi-voiced literature, and ensuring that people can still write, publish and distribute literature in Finland.
We promote education and the vitality of the Finnish language by providing relevant, high-quality and entertaining content for a variety of audiences through multiple channels.
Environmental responsibility
We seek to minimise harmful environmental impacts in all of our operations. We make considered use of materials, and aim to maximise the recyclability and lifecycles of both the materials we use and the products we make. We invest in developing digital products with an eye to environmental impacts.
We calculate our carbon footprint and are working to reduce our emissions. We engage in dialogue and collaboration with our partners in order to reduce the environmental impact of our value chain.
We promote education and the vitality of the Finnish language by providing relevant, high-quality and entertaining content for a variety of audiences through multiple channels.
Social responsibility
It is important for us to be a good employer, partner and customer. We promote equity and diversity both at our workplaces and in society as a whole. We encourage our employees to work, learn and develop together, and offer them a broad range of wellbeing services.
We are committed to promoting human rights, equality and equity. We have clear policies for our employees, partners and customers with regard to reporting and handling cases of harassment and inappropriate behaviour. We use data and artificial intelligence responsibly, taking data security and protection into account, and provide our personnel with the required training.
Financial responsibility and good governance
We aim to create economic wellbeing through forward-looking and profitable business activities. We want our business to benefit Finnish society, and we pay taxes in Finland. We are a major employer, and we promote the development of existing and new business models and safeguard economic operating conditions in Otava’s operating sectors.
We have a Code of Conduct that our personnel and management follow in their daily work and decision making. We also expect our partners to act in accordance with our Code of Conduct.
Sustainabilty management
The Otava Group’s Board of Directors discusses our sustainability objectives and action plan as part of the company’s strategy.
The Group CFO is the sustainability owner and reports to the Group Management Team. The Sustainability Steering Group decides on sustainability issues that affect the entire Group. The Sustainability Manager holds responsibility for Group-level operational sustainability work. Our business areas have sustainability coordinators who ensure that the Group’s sustainability policies and projects make concrete progress.
We have a Code of Conduct that our personnel and management follow in their daily work and decision making.
Business areas
Business areas
As a family-owned company, our aim is to create economic wellbeing by ensuring the continuity and operating conditions of our forward-looking and profitable business activities.
The Otava Group’s supply chain in Finland consists of about 3,050 subcontractors
During the reporting year, the Otava Group’s total purchases from goods suppliers and service providers totalled EUR 160 million.
Profitable and sustainable business
The Otava Group is Finland’s third largest multi-sector media group and a major employer in Finland. We reach almost everyone in Finland in some way or another.
Contents
Contents
We fulfil our social mission by creating and providing our audience with information, insights and experiences.
We are bold, independent and open
Our approach to publishing is pluralist and open-minded. Our bold approach is also reflected in our passion, initiative and entrepreneurial attitude.
High-quality content fulfils our social mission
We create and provide our audience with information, insights and experiences.
Environment
Environment
As the majority of the Otava Group's carbon footprint comes from the value chain, we are developing our business in collaboration with our partners.
We monitor EU regulatory developments
We are preparing to apply the Deforestation Regulation.
Environment and emissions
We take the environmental impact of our business seriously and seek to reduce it. Our aim is to make the most efficient possible use of raw materials, and to reduce emissions throughout the value chain.
Personnel
Personnel
We respect human rights and are committed to equality, equity and diversity. We have zero tolerance for discrimination and inappropriate behaviour.
Our employee experience was measured a total of four times during 2024
The 2024 measurements indicate that our QWL (Quality of Working Life) index stood at 78.2 per cent in the spring and 79.3 per cent in the autumn.
Otava personnel
Otava's personnel are a key factor in the company's success. We are committed to creating a working environment that supports employees' wellbeing, personal development, involvement and success at work.
