HUS year 2025: Sustainability

We are developing HUS’s first comprehensive sustainability program

In 2025, we began developing HUS’s sustainability program. The aim of the program is to identify the topics that are most relevant to HUS’s activities – for customers, staff, stakeholders, and society.

Based on stakeholder expectations and strategy, four preliminary top-level sustainability themes emerged to guide the program’s future work. The topics will be finalized during spring 2026.

We are building a sustainability program together with the HUS personnel

A sustainability program is not something that is imposed from above, but rather something that is created through collaboration. The project has drawn on the good work already done by HUS in the area of sustainability, national and international examples, and broad involvement. The work has been advanced through workshops, surveys, and meetings with personnel and stakeholders.

Inclusive work methods ensure that sustainability is reflected in concrete actions in HUS’s everyday work.

What’s next?

The goal is to publish HUS’s new sustainability program during 2026.

Sustainable everyday actions reduced emissions and strengthened environmental work at HUS

In 2025, we promoted environmental sustainability in waste management, energy use, and everyday practices. As the volume of activities increased, the relative growth in waste volumes remained moderate, and several practical solutions reduced environmental impacts and increased resource efficiency.

The amount of mixed waste increased by only one percent to 3,176 tons, even though operations expanded by two percent. The collection of plastic, on the other hand, increased significantly as plastic packaging collection expanded to new units and those already involved intensified their sorting efforts. In total, we collected around 185 tons of plastic, which is 30% more than the previous year.

Environmental work was also strengthened through know-how. More than 80 new environmental coordinators completed their training, and the Teams group for environmental issues grew into a community with more than 900 members. At the Meilahti environmental meeting, 50 environmental coordinators shared their experiences and best practices between different units.

We achieved significant reductions in our climate work: HUS’s carbon footprint decreased by more than eight percent between 2020 and 2024. Reductions were achieved in particular through improvements in procurement, construction, and energy use, as well as through cooperation between the units involved. 

Practical solutions were visible in everyday life

Reusable floor mats that can be taken to be washed reduced waste and transport emissions, and nearly 1,400 mats were completely replaced with responsibly manufactured alternatives through competitive tendering. 

The 260 kilograms of material collected from the recycling of disposable electronic instruments was used as raw material in industry, saving 786 kilograms of CO₂ emissions.

In the field of digitalization, we extended the service life of our equipment from four to six years and introduced extensive internal recycling. We redirected functional, used equipment to new uses, which reduced the need for new purchases and decreased electronic waste.

Sustainable actions towards a more equal and sustainable HUS

In 2025, we promoted sustainability extensively from the perspectives of people, the environment, and the economy. Practical measures promoted staff wellbeing and equality and reduced the environmental impact of our activities.